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THE POWER OF SONG
BY C A N TO R C H A I M D OVI D B E R S O N
According to the experts, singing has the power to alter our moods and conjure up memories and feelings. Singing also provides an emotional release, a way to express our thoughts and feelings, says Margaret Schaper, a USC professor of voice. We sing because something inside us needs to express something beyond words. Everyone can do this to some extent. The human voice is the most perfect of all instruments. She continues: Singing is the cheapest therapy you can find. During these challenging times, music and song have played an essential role in our lives. Now more than ever there is a need for the spirituality, emotion, and healing that music brings. Singing is an integral part of every ritual and life cycle event - and the holiday of Pesach is no different. We all have our favorite Seder tunes that get us into the Pesach spirit. The Seder is all about celebrating and passing on the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim and the Jewish people from generation to generation. And there is no better way to that than through song. As we say in the Haggadah:
I recently came across an article that extolled the power of our voices. It was written by journalist Susan Jaques in the LA Times, on April 2, 1992, and it resonated deeply with me. We do it in the shower. We do it in the car. We do it under our breath at work.
And when no one’s home, we even do it in front of the mirror with an imaginary microphone. And some of us even do it in the rain. Singing. Ballads and blues, show tunes and classics. But what separates us from professional crooners like Michael Crawford and Aretha Franklin is that they sound good. Fret not, though. As it turns out, carrying a tune isn’t all that important. The experts and James Brown agree that the very act of singing—even off key—makes us feeeeeeeel good.
C antor C haim D ovid B erson / / K E H I L AT H J E S H U R U N B U L L E T I N
,ַבח ֵּ ש ַ ׁ ְ ל,הלֵּל ַ ְ ל,לְפִיכ ְָך אֲנַחְנּו חַיָּבִים לְהֹודֹות לְעַלֵּה ּולְ ַקלֵּס, לְבָרְֵך,ה ֵדּר ַ ְ ל, לְרֹומֵם,לְפָאֵר סּים ִ ִ אבֹותֵינּו וְלָנּו אֶת־כָּל־הַנ ֲ ַשׂה ל ָ ָ שע ֶ ׁ לְמִי מעַבְדּות לְחֵרּות מִיָּגֹון ֵ הֹוצ ִיאָנּו:האֵּלּו ָ אפֵלָה לְאֹור ֲ מ ֵ ּו,מאֵבֶל לְיֹום טֹוב ֵ ּו,מחָה ְ ש ִׂ ְ ל שירָה ִ ׁ וְנֹאמַר לְפָנָיו.שע ְּבּוד לִג ְ ֻאלָּה ִ ּ ׁמ ִ ּו,גּ ָדֹול .הלְלּוי ָּה ַ :שה ָ ׁ ח ָד ֲ Therefore, we are obligated to thank, praise, laud, glorify, exalt, lavish, bless, raise high, and acclaim He who made all these miracles for our ancestors and for us: He brought us out from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from mourning to [celebration of] a festival, from darkness to great light, and from servitude to redemption. And let us say a new song before Him, Halleluyah! Wishing you all a !חג כשר ושמח
C antor C haim D ovid B erson
