Jan. 31, 2024
The Celestial Symphony of Jewish Music and Spirituality
When the sweet harmony of music intertwines with the joy of Shabbos, something extraordinary happens. Our recent gathering with a group of Yeshiva Bochurim—those dedicated students of Torah—unfolded into an unexpected symphony of discussion, exploring hobbies that range from sports to the great outdoors, but most significantly, the universal love for music.
As the melodies played and the brisket was savored, we traversed the sound landscape, contemplating its profound effect on our souls and spiritual journey. Our guests shared thoughtful insights into how music, a heavenly gift, can evoke the deepest of emotions and sanctify moments, guiding us to select tunes that enhance our connection with the Divine. This episode is a feast for the ears and nourishment for the spirit, resonating with the rich tapestry of Jewish song and its capacity to express boundless gratitude and love for Hashem. Join us in a conversation that promises to leave your heart singing long after playing the final note.
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Recently I had the great fortune of hosting some really special Shabbos guests.
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They were the choicest crop.
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They were some really holy Jews.
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They were some sweet Yeshiva Bahram they learned any Yeshiva nearby.
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They needed a meal.
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My wife made some delicious brisket and we had ourselves a holy, good and fun meal.
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And because sometimes I was stuck in that uncomfortable seat with the legs of the table hitting your chair when I was a Shabbos guest, and because sometimes I was at the other end of the table where I couldn't hear the conversation going on around the table, it has become my pet peeve and I try to make a real exerted effort to have the conversation be heard by all.
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And sometimes I'll even bring up a question or a point to ponder and ask everyone at the table to give their own two cents.
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It's always fun.
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You always get to pick people's brains apart and see what's going on inside their heads.
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And this past week I asked the Bahram.
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I said when you're not learning Torah, what do you like to do?
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What is your go-to hobby?
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One of the Bahram said if I'm not learning, then I like to learn Muser.
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So he's obviously a holy Jew.
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Another Bahram said I like to go for walks, take a bike ride, go swimming.
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I like to listen to music.
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Another, bahram, said he likes to read books, watch sports.
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All regular, nice answers, but it should be noted that every single one of them also included in their hobbies one most common denominator they all said I like to listen to music.
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Like singing All of them, and it was interesting.
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We began to talk about how much music is a part of our lives.
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When you go to the grocery store, music is on.
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When we are in the car, music is on.
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It almost comes out that almost most of our days we have music on either in the loud speakers or in our headphones.
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So it's very important.
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Today we're going to have a conversation about something that we spend so much of our time in our lives doing, which is listening and creating music.
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Music is a magical thing.
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Music is a holy thing.
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Arizal says it's one of the gifts that God gave us from Ghan-e-Ten.
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It makes people feel certain ways.
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It makes distinct sounds and melodies out of notes that form a certain pattern, and even from silence music can be made.
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Music can create kadoosha and deep feelings of love, and also the opposite.
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So, as we just passed Oz-Yoshir, shabbat, shira, we were probably most enlightened by how song can become what a person turns to when he simply has no words to express his love and his gratitude.
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So the first takeaway, it seems, is that one should be careful about the music that he listens to.
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One should be excited to listen to music that excites and encourages love and fear of Hashem, for where it seems to really have a place in our buddha's Hashem, exavahakabola.
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I heard from a great rabbi says that song, shira, actually al-Pitura has certain laws there needs to be a low part and then going to the Gnus, to the Shvah, to the high part.
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Music has stanzas, it has choruses, it has choirs, it has people joining together to create one symphonic, beautiful dancing of their thoughts and their emotions.
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And it's remarkable to see how an equintessential Jewish song, unlike other champions that only sing about their own abilities, as we won the game, we destroyed the opponent, but our song is just us.
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Yahshir, ahshir, al-ashem, g'ai G'asus, ve'ra'ich Vairom Mava'ayom.
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It's all about Hashem, it's all about our leader, it is a song that mentions the greatness of the Jewish people at all.
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Hashem, we love you, we are thankful for you.
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