CANTOR CHAIM DOVID BERSON

IN THE KEY OF LIFE

BY CANTOR CHAIM DOVID BERSON

ונכלמ וניבא – Our Father, our King. While we are all familiar with these two small, powerful words that keep appearing in our tefillah, during these Days of Awe we recognize that they, in fact, epitomize the theme of this time.

These words embody the two facets of our relationship with God. We refer to God our Father, but simultaneously, we acknowledge Him as our King. Where our Father loves us like children, our King commands our fear and respect. As our Father, we are confident that God is always there for us, loving us ןידה תרושמ םינפל – beyond what we deserve. On the other hand, God is also our King and Judge in front of Whom we

stand – לארשי תוליהת בשוי דחפמ דחפנו שערנ – in fear and

awe.

These different aspects of our relationship with our Creator are manifest and discernable in the music associated with the High Holiday liturgy. The unique nusach set to many parts of the tefillot of Rosh Hashanah and Yom HaKippurim is considered unalterable, or in Cantorial terms, Mi’Sinai – as if it was given at Sinai – and will be consistent in every Ashkenaz synagogue around the world. One of the distinctive characteristics of this nusach is the frequent alternation between major and minor scales, even within the same sentence! Examples can be seen during the recitation of תובא (the Avot prayer) at the opening of ץ״שה תרזח (the repetition of the Sh’monah Esrei), הדובעה רדס (the Seder HaAvodah), and in parts of Ne’ilah. Why is this significant and what does it convey to us?

In the context of the Days of Awe davening, a discerning ear will note that a major scale conveys confidence, security, and certainty, while a minor scale emotes fear, tension, and trepidation. This alternation between major and minor keys is a way to express the dual aspect of God as our Father, confident in His love, and as our King, fearful of His judgment. This can also explain a seeming contradiction between text and nusach, such as in Viduy and parts of selichot, where our instincts would tell us to come before God as our King in fear and trepidation, but the nusach of a major scale tells us to sing with the confidence and security of children who know that a Father will always accept them with love and forgiveness.

םידבעכ םאו םינב לע בא םחרכ ונימחר םינבכ םא״ ״ונטפשמ רואכ איצותו וננחתש דע תויולת ךל וניניע

May God accept our prayers as His children and grant us forgiveness as our King.

I very much look forward to a meaningful and inspiring High Holiday season together!