The Power of Music
There are many forms of expressive communication. Words can articulate our thoughts and ideas, poetry creatively conveys our emotions, and music has the power to express and impact our inner soul.
While it is usually easier to speak about business, sports and politics, it may be more challenging to properly express our deepest and most personal feelings and emotions. At times we may find ourselves at a loss for words or speechless following an extraordinary experience. Music can reveal that which can not be articulated in words.
Music also has the power to externally impact our character, behavior and mood. The melodies and lyrics of songs which we may have heard even as a young child often remain etched in our memories for the rest of our lives.
Restaurateurs typically play background music to create a pleasurable ambiance and atmosphere for their clientele. Retailers will incorporate music in their advertisements to help with their branding and influence our perception of their products.
Being cognizant of the power of music and its impact on our mood and character enables us to be careful about our choice of music and to listen to melodies and songs which reflect our values and enforce positive messages and outlooks.
Music has served as an integral part of Judaism since the beginning of time. Songs are mentioned in the Torah numerous times. From the Jewish people’s song of praise following the splitting of the sea to Devorah the prophetess' song after she led Israel’s victory over the forces of Sisera. Of course, perhaps most famously, King David’s songs are recorded in Psalms and are included in a majority of our prayers.
When we pray, we do not read; we sing. When we engage with sacred texts such as reading from the Torah, we do not recite; we sing with the cantillation notes. Every text and every time has, in Judaism, its own specific melody.
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, we learn about Jacob’s journey from his hometown in Israel to Charan (present day Iraq). He was running away from his brother Esau, who wished to kill him, and was heading to the home of his uncle Lavan with the intention of finding a wife, raising a family, and earning a living.
On his way, he stopped in Jerusalem to pray and stay over the night. As the verse states: “And he encountered the place and lodged there because the sun had set, and he took some of the stones of the place and placed [them] at his head, and he lay down in that place (Genesis 28:11)”.
The Midrash explains that the term “encounter” means to pray. From this we learn that Jacob instituted the evening prayers. The Midrash relates further that during the 20 years in which Jacob worked for his uncle Lavan, he was busy reciting the 15 psalms that begin A Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
Now, Lavan was known to be a swindler, as is evident from the way he treated Jacob both in regards to marrying his daughters and in regards to their business dealings. What kept Jacob motivated and connected to his roots despite the hostile environment in which he found himself? The songs of Psalms and prayers enabled him to rise above his challenges and stay focused on his mission.
The importance of song in our lives and in our service of G-d has taken on greater significance in the last few hundred years since the times of Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), the founder of the Chassidic movement.
Chassidic melodies, or Niggunim as they are popularly known, composed by holy Rebbes and their righteous disciples, tell the story of our souls' descent into this world and its desire to rise above the limitations and challenges of the physical world. Many of these melodies have become a staple of Jewish life in communities around the world.
The Rebbe Rashab (1860-1920) once said: “A Chassidic melody strengthens one’s hope and trust, brings joy, and positions the home and the entire household in a ray of light.”
In the 1940s, under Stalinist rule, my grandfather, Rabbi Pinchas Levitin, was sentenced to slave labor in Siberia due to his “crimes” of practicing and teaching Judaism in Soviet Russia. Despite the extremely challenging circumstances he found himself in, he maintained his positivity by singing Niggunim during his difficult labor. One of the prison guards was inspired by his singing and took a liking to my grandfather. The labor was extremely strenuous and my grandfather felt that he would not make it much longer if he had to keep up with the workload. After submitting a request for an easier job, miraculously, this particular guard granted his request.
After surviving the labor camps and eventually emigrating to America, my grandfather would often relate that singing Nigunim is what saved his life.
We can each dedicate even a few moments of our day to prayer and song which empower us to bring positivity and warmth into our lives and stay focused on our goals.
When two people speak simultaneously, one will inevitably interrupt the other. However, when two people sing together, it creates a beautiful harmony. Let us begin to sing/pray more so we may bring more harmony into our homes, workplaces and communities.
Regarding the times of Redemption, our Sages state that “All the world will sing a new song”. In the messianic era, we will tune in to the essential song of creation and unite as one people in a peaceful and prosperous world!
