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Orchard of Delights Vayigash
His glorious kingdom for all eternity,” contain six words in Hebrew. King Saul also serves to demonstrate music’s healing qualities.
Thus, Jacob and his sons together recited twelve words, corresponding When he was king, he was often plagued by an “evil spirit.” His
exactly to the number of Jacob’s sons and to the number of the servants advised him to find a musician to calm his troubled soul.
future tribes of Israel. Together, Shema and “Blessed is the name” Saul agreed and asked them to find a musician who could both play
are comprised of forty-nine letters, corresponding exactly to the and sing lyrics that would bring him peace of mind (Me’am Loez on
number of letters in the names of the twelve tribes!! 1 Samuel 16:17) A youth, later to be known as King David, had such
The forty-nine letters of the tribes’ names were inscribed on the skills and he was brought before the king. When an evil spirit would
two stones the High Priest wore on his shoulders, as well as on the plague Saul, he would call for David to play for him, and the music
breastplate he wore opposite his heart. Symbolically, the High Priest would calm and heal his tormented soul.
carried on his shoulders and upon his heart the awareness of his This story teaches us that music has healing and therapeutic
awesome responsibility and the love for the entire Jewish people. properties. Oftentimes a depressed or troubled mind will be soothed
Following the destruction of the Temple, the Sages structured the by listening to certain music. However, as Saul also teaches us, it is
daily prayers to parallel the Divine service performed in the Temple. not only the melody, but sometimes the lyrics that go with it that
Thus it is now incumbent on all Jews to perform the role of the High touch us so deeply. If we were to read those same lyrics without the
Priest, carrying the responsibility for all Israel on their shoulders melody, it is doubtful the experience would have the same effect.
and within their hearts. (See “The Tabernacle, the Temple, and the The Mishnah tells us how joyous music and song filled the air
Synagogue” in the portion of Terumah and “The Holy Garments: A during Simchat Beit Hasho’evah, an event that took place in the
Message of Oneness” in the portion of Tetzaveh.)
Temple every year during Sukkot. The Sages describe how water
Having established the nature of this Torah portion as “closed,” was festively drawn each day from a spring in Jerusalem and
an additional connection between the Shema and Vayechi becomes brought in a great procession to the Temple altar over which it
apparent. When we recite the Shema during the Morning and was poured. This libation symbolized the people’s prayer for rain
Evening Services, we customarily close our eyes and cover them with and sustenance. Throughout the evening, the generation’s most
our hand. Why do we do this? Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach taught that illustrious Sages would lead the people in joyous singing and dancing
sometimes to see clearly we need to close our eyes, for that which is — praising God to the accompaniment of the Levites who played on
below the surface can only be seen by the inner eye of the soul. This instruments too numerous to count. Summing up the incredible joy
portion too can only be truly understood when we close our eyes and at this celebration, the Talmud states, “Anyone who has not seen
see with the inner eye of the soul, for it touches on matters relating Simchat Beit Hasho’evah has never really seen true joy” (Sukkah
to the End of Days. 5.1). Although on a peshat level, clearly only water was drawn, the
words “Simchat Beit Hasho’evah” mean “The Joy of the House of
Drawing.” What was actually drawn goes unmentioned. Responding
to their own rhetorical question, the Sages explain that the spirit of
prophecy was being drawn. Music, joy, and prophecy all met at this
unique celebration.
Clearly Jewish mystics throughout the ages were well aware of
music’s unique ability to create the spiritual atmosphere necessary
to allow one to enter a deep meditative state of consciousness. A
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