Cantorial Comments

By

Cantor Elihu Feldman

Shirat Hayam- A Triumphant Song of Jewish Victory

On Shabbat January 18, 2003 we have the privilege of reading from

the Torah the Sedra entitled B'shalach. B'shalach contains one of the oldest

songs in Jewish history that will be sung and has been sung by Jewish people

all over the world. It is the song of national triumph sung by Moses and the

Children of Israel after our miraculous deliverance from the Egyptians at

the Red (or Reed Sea). It appears in the Book of Exodus (Chapter 15) and is

popularly called "Shirat Hayam" (The Song of the Sea), or simply The Shirah

(The Song).

During the annual cycle of Torah reading the Shirah is read on

January 18, 2002 this year and again on the 7th day of Passover. Tradition

dates this event as having occurred on the seventh day after the Exodus from

Egypt.

In Temple days, the Levites sang the Shirah at the afternoon

sacrifice of Shabbat day. Later it became fixed as a daily recital at the

conclusion of Pesukei Dezimrah in the morning service. Sefer Hamanhig

attaches great significance to its recitation, for Scripture states, "That

you may remember the day you came forth out of the land of Egypt all the

days of your life..." (Deuteronomy 16:3).

The Shirah is read publicly in the synagogue on the seventh day of

Passover as part of the Scriptural reading, as well as on Shabbat Parashat

Beshalach. This Sabbath is called Shabbat Shira. Among Hassidic sects

there is a special ceremony at midnight on the seventh day of Passover where

the Shirah is sung again. In Israel it is sung ceremonially on the seventh

day of Passover at the beach in Tel-Aviv and Eilat.

The chant is, based on the cantillation accents, but differs in

melody especially at verses 15:1, 2, 3, 6, 11,16, and 48. In the Torah the

verses of the Shirah are written in two parallel columns. The stylistic

device of parallelism in these verses is emphasized by utilizing a festive

melody. The special melody is intentionally adapted to these verses in

order to publicize the miracle of the splitting of the sea. In other locales

(e.g., Poland, Galicia) each verse, of the Shirah is rendered with this

special melody.

In order to recall a sentiment of victory, the two-part melodic

Shirah tune has been adapted as a representative theme for a variety of

texts. The unanimous response theme Hazak Hazak Venit'hazzek -("Be strong!

Be strong! And may we be strengthened!") declaimed by the congregation and

reader at the completion of each of the Five Books of Moses utilizes the

second part of the tune. In this case it is no doubt used to mark a moment

of triumph and jubilation at the completion of a book of the Torah, and to

take courage and start a new book.

Adapting the Shirah melody when reading Berashit on Simchat Torah (at

Vayehi erev, -vayehi Voker...) for each of the six days of Creation

designates a moment of exaltation. Each stage indicates a moment of

achievement, and thus the victory tune is most fitting. The entire Shirah

tune is adapted for the Biblical section in "Eileh Maasai in describing the

journeys (masaot) of the our people through the Sinai. All of the events

events and vicissitudes that confronted the Israelites: their wanderings

after the Exodus, until 38 years later when they were about to enter the

Holy Land, are recounted. Each halting-place is marked by some attainment

in their lives.

The entire Shirah melody can be identified with the Ashamnu

confessional recited on Yom Kippur. While reciting this confession, the

worshipper hopes and prays that he/she will be exonerated from all sins and

as a result leaves the synagogue victoriously. On Friday evening, at

Kabbalat Shabbat, the Cantor or Shaliach tzibbur may also use the Shirah

chant for the opening--psalm Lekhu Neranenah. We use this tune to emphasize

that we were able to live through the past week successfully and will be

recharged for the week to come.

The Shirah is noted for its forceful text, poetic fire and vivid

imagery, and its tune became associated, throughout Jewish history, with

attaining a state of triumph, joy, and exultation. The Shirah is so special

that the Midrash makes reference to it in commenting on the verse, in Song

of Songs (2:14), "My dove in the clefts of the rock... let me hear your

voice." The Midrash states that G-d is speaking to the people of Israel

saying, "Let Me hear the same voice with which you cried out to Me in Egypt

(Shemot Rabbah21:5).

At B'nai Shalom we mark the day by standing when we read the

Shirah and by asking our Teen Torah readers to participate in its reading.

May this Shabbat Shirah with its special message, traditions and melody make

the Shirat Hayam Torah reading a wonderful and joyous experience for all of

us.