Torah, Moods and Music

Moods and Music

Jewish tradition places great importance on the power of music. There are three places in the Torah

where a song is sung. The first is by the Red Sea, as the Israelites escaped to freedom. The second is as the people traveled through the wilderness and celebrated the miraculous well that provided their waters. The third is the oath taken by God promising reward and punishment for the people, depending upon their loyalty and observance of His law.

Each of the songs has a different nature. In fact, the source of the songs in the human soul is not the same. The Song of the Sea is a spontaneous expression of joy at the deliverance of the people. It flows effortlessly from the lips of those who witnessed God's miracle. This is a classic song of joy.

The Song of the Well is a more circumspect expression of appreciation, and it emanates more from the heart. Thirdly, the Oath of Haazinu, also known as the Oath of the Torah, is an expression of deep reflection and thought. It stems from the soul and mind of the nation. In truth, the direction of this third song is opposite to the first two. They come from inside the human being, while this one comes from God, and is to be be internalized.It would be nice to think that we are always deciding our decisions on the basis of rational, logical thinking.

In truth, we are swayed greatly by different moods. These moods may be the result of things that happen to us, or may simply reflect what we are thinking at any particular time. Nonetheless, moods may be the most powerful motivating factors in all we do. For this reason, a prophet must be in a mood of joy in order to receive prophecy. The prophet Elisha had musicians to play for him in order to lift his spirits so that he should receive Divine guidance. Similarly, David's playing of the harp was necessary to cheer up king Saul so that the spirit of God could rest upon him.And this itself as a powerful message.

To be able to transcend the mundane issues of this world and see beyond immediate obstacles, one must connect to the Divine. In order to do this, a mood of serenity and happiness is crucial. There is no better way to achieve that than through song.

Here are some common moods that we all experience, followed by a Biblical verse or saying to reflect on, and to which a melody has been written.