Sivan Rahav Meir

THE DAILY

BY SIVAN RAHAV-MEIR

PORTION

The Power of Music

עֲ שֵׂה לְ ךָ שְׁ תֵּ י חֲ צוֹצְ רֹת כֶּ סֶ ף מִ קְ שָׁ ה תַּ עֲ שֶׂה אֹתָ ם וְ הָ יוּ לְ ךָ לְ מִ קְ רָ א הָ עֵ דָ ה וּ לְ מַ סַּ ע אֶ ת הַ מַּ חֲ נוֹת.

Make for yourself two silver

trumpets; you shall make them from a beaten form; they shall be used by you to summon the congregation and to announce the departure of the camps. (Num. 10:2)

When the words cease and the music begins, everything changes. The world of music is higher than the world of speech, and the Torah tells us to go up a notch every so often and let the music take over. Moses is instructed to prepare two silver trumpets and blow them on certain occasions, such as when he wants to assemble the entire nation, when they are forced to go to war, or for happier events and offering sacrifices during the festivals.

The Sefer HaHinukh explains the reasons for this special commandment of blowing the trumpets. Although the explanation was written seven hundred years ago, its message is still relevant today.

Given a person’s physical nature, one needs great awakening to do things, and there is nothing that will awaken more than the sound of music, especially the sound of the trumpets, the greatest sound of any musical instrument. There is another advantage of the sound of the trumpet, in addition to the fact that it awakens a person to act. The sound of the music also brings a person to remove thoughts of all other matters from his heart, so that he can focus only on the sacrifice. Why should I speak at length about this sound? Anyone who has listened to the sound of the shofar with concentration will understand my point.

The author of Sefer HaHinukh explains that we are awakened when we hear a musical tune and our thoughts and concerns are washed away. He added that he has no need for lengthy explanations; anyone who has ever listened to the shofar blowing will understand what he means.

Sivan Rahav-Meir is an Israeli journalist, currently on shlichut of World Mizrahi movement to the US. She is the author of #Parasha (Menorah Press) and Reaching to Heaven (Artscroll). To receive her daily insight on the portion of the week, text your name to: 972-58-679-9000

Mayanei Hayeshua Closes Emergency Coronavirus Unit Remarkable 85% Recovery Rate Achieved

With the last of its patients returning home, the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit of the Coronavirus Department is now closed, enabling the hospital’s senior executive to assess how our staff managed the pandemic. Most significantly, Mayanei Hayeshua recorded an astonishing 85% complete recovery rate among patients who received respiratory assistance due to their critical condition. Most of the patients hospitalized were residents of Bnei Brak, which was subjected to a community lockdown order because of the disproportionately high rate of infection.

Professor Eliyahu Patrick Sorkine, who led Mayanei Hayeshua’s emergency response team, proudly announced: “We can report that zero patients inside the Medical Center and zero members of the medical staff became infected. This zero cross-contamination means that right now, Mayanei Hayeshua is Israel’s safest hospital.”

From the outset, Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center was quick to understand that Bnei Brak, as a densely populated city with a community character, would likely suffer disproportionately from a pandemic outbreak. Regardless of cost, the hospital sprang into action to ensure the safety of all patients, including the busy maternity wards, and all medical staff.

Chaim Fachler, Director of Resource Development, notes: “It is truly gratifying to see how all Mayanei Hayeshua’s staff rallied to the cause of saving lives. Everyone performed way beyond the call of duty as we fought the battle against the pandemic. The high rate of recovery, unrivaled anywhere in Israel or worldwide, reflects our relentless devotion to the sanctity of life.”

For more details, please contact Chaim Fachler at chaimf@mhmc.co.il or visit our website at https://www.fomhmc.org/