How Music and Judaism Came to be so Closely Tied

By Hannah Estrin
KOACH Field Worker

Song – Webster’s Dictionary defines it as a poetic composition, or a short musical composition of words and music. Yet songs today convey much more. They tell stories, express emotions, they transmit the state of being of the creator. In Judaism, song contains these things – and yet again, they surpass this definition.

We sing around the table, around the campfire, during tefillah. In fact, few places in Judaism have not been touched by song in some way. So, what else does song do for us? It creates community – within our kehillot, throughout the Jewish world, across Jewish history – song brings us together today and connects us with everything that came before.

Perhaps the most widely known biblical song, the first song we ever sang, was Shirat HaYam. The Song of the Sea comes on the conclusion of our crossing the Reed Sea. We read this section of parashat Beshallah not only when it arrives in the cycle of Torah reading and again during Pesah, but every morning during Psukei D’zimra as we prepare ourselves to enter into prayer. Its placement serves to remind us of having just left Egypt and all that is connected with that experience. We stand in a position to look forward to things yet to come. Its placement can also be a reminder that God cares for the people of Israel. Shirat HaYam does not celebrate the splitting of the Reed Sea, rather it celebrates the Israelites’ commitment to God and their faith in God after having crossed that sea.

In Mishnah Sotah 5:4, there is a disagreement between Nehemiah and Akiva as to exactly how the song was sung. Nehemiah states that Moses and the Israelites sang together, while Akiva holds that Moses sang a line which was then repeated by the community. Look at these two opinions as models for how we act as a community. There are times when members of the community are in the same place – they are ready to sing together. Everyone knows the words and the melodies and our voices join together in expression of the power of that place. At other times, we need someone to take the lead and show us the way – a way after which we can follow. When we are the leader we need to have the strength to step out and help others along the path, while knowing that sometimes we need to be led and to recognize when others are there to help us. Both leaders and followers are essential parts of community – if one sings and no one replies little exists. When one sings and others join in, we are strengthened.

As a community, we are made stronger through song. Shirat HaYam was "recorded" and passed down through the generations as a cogent part of our history, one which connects the past with the present. Song today, particularly still in Israel, continues that tradition. Just look at some of the major Israeli artists: Kaveret sings about the biblical Goliath and the establishment of the state, Etnix about past and present relations with surrounding countries, Rita and Rami and Sarit Hadad sing about living in the Israel of today – its challenges and pleasures. The list goes on. Israeli artists are continuing the trend begun by Shirat HaYam, putting us to music, drawing us together through our commonalities.

It is through community that we are most strongly connected to our past, present and future. May each of us be inspired to songs filled with praise of God, joy and connection – to the past, to the present and to things yet to come.

[Posted 1/22/04]