Moses is in the middle of his last address to the Israelite nation. He is aware of the conclusion of his life’s work and his imminent death. He tells the people: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Eternal your G-d: all the men of Israel; you children, you women, even the stranger within your camp…to enter into the covenant of the Eternal your G-d which the Eternal your G-d is concluding with you this day, with its sanctions.” (28:10-11)
I have learned from Rabbi Charles Kraus, Elkins Park resident and revered scholar, that Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbat just before Rosh Hashanah. Last week’s portion, KI Tavo, was filled with horrible curses that will befall us if we don’t observe G-d’s commandments. Nitzavim describes the blessings that will come to us if we observe G-d’s laws.
The portion begins with the words, “You stand this day…” The pronoun “You” should be understood as including both the Israelites about to enter the Promised Land, and all of us! As we prepare for the coming High Holy Days, we must be ready to judge our behavior to our spouses, to our children and grandchildren, and to our friends and colleagues in order to consider how to improve our conduct toward all whom we love. We must also look at our relationship with G-d Almighty! We should decide what new Mitzvot we should make part of our daily lives.
Nitzavim concludes with an essential command for the future: “I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life-if you and your offspring would live…. For thereby you shall have life and shall long endure upon the soil that the Eternal swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them.” (30:19-20). During this painful and troubling period for us and for Israel, we must fulfill this Mitzvah, and do everything we can to support peace for Medinat Yisrael!
MISINAI MELODIES IN THE HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
For the last few weeks, the members of Shir KI, our fabulous volunteer adult choir and our professional quartet, have begun to renew, revive, and relearn the music of the High Holy Days! When we completed our first chanting of Kol Nidrei, no one could utter a word, or even breathe! We were all aware of the powerful melody and its impact on all of us. For the singers, Cantor Levy, Andrew Senn, virtuoso organist, and me, the sound of our traditional High Holy Day music was such an intense and dramatic refresher of the role Jewish music plays in our lives. As we sang Kol Nidre, Avinu Malkeinu, B’rosh Hashanah Yikateivun, L’dor Vador, and all the other golden “hits” of our High Holy Day repertoire, our hearts were opened both to our cherished memories of family members and past High Holy Day prayer experiences, and to the coming of the Days of Awe and our collective need for repentance and renewal.
I want to tell you about a collection of Jewish musical materials that scholars call MISINAI MELODIES! These melodies were born during the eleventh century at the height of the Crusades, in the European communities of Worms, Mayence, Speyer, Cologne, and Trier, as a result of confrontations between Jewish and non-Jewish communities. These confrontations led to musical borrowings between cultures, and the creative efforts by poets and composers to create new poetry recognizing these often tragic collisions. These new literary texts were inserted into our prayer books. Their accompanying melodies were eventually treated AS IF THEY CAME FROM MOUNT SINAI; they were regarded with veneration, sanctity, and respect. They came to be considered immutable and unchanging, and were therefore called MISINAI MELODIES, from Sinal, the ultimate location of G-d’s revelation.
The MiSinai melodies have two characteristics: 1. they are assigned to only one text in our liturgy; 2. once the melody has been sung, we do not hear it again until next year! The most well-known MiSinai Melody is the Kol Nidrei prayer sung at the beginning of the Yom Kippur Evening Service. The Kol Nidrei MiSinai Melody is immediately recognizable and unforgettable. In this example, as well as in the case of the other MiSinai Melodies, the sound of the tune evokes a variety of emotions and memories from past observances of the holiday. We remember when we heard the melody the last time! We remember with whom we were praying as we heard the Kol Nidrei MiSinai Melody.
The MiSinai Melodies of the High Holy Day season are unforgettable! Their sounds, whether loud or soft, slow or fast, move us together from one crescendo to the next diminuendo. The melodies for Barchu, Hatzi Kaddish, Ashamnu, and ultimately Kol Nidrei keep us together musically, liturgically, and emotionally. The contemporary American setting of L’dor Vador by Craig Taubman that Cantor Levy and I sing together has become a “de facto” MiSinai Melody in our High Holy Day service; it is associated with one and only one text from the liturgy and is a musical landmark in our services. The melody was written by the composer Craig Taubman only 25 years ago. Although it is very contemporary by the standards of the MiSinai tunes that are over 1000 years old, for us it has become a modern MiSinai melody!
A FEW MUSICAL REMINDERS
Please be with us at Congregation Adath Jeshurun on this coming Saturday evening for our participation in “Hush of Midnight,” a contemporary setting of the Selihot prayers. Shir KI will join together with singers from Adath Jeshurun and the community to present this immortal setting of the Selihot Service written by Cantor Charles Davidson, of blessed memory, long time Cantor of Congregation Adath Jeshurun. The service will take place at AJ promptly at 7:30 pm. Rabbi David and Cantor Levy will join Rav Shai Cherry and Rabbi/Cantor Howard Glantz. Hush of Midnight will be conducted by Alyssa Davidson, a member of the KI music staff and daughter of Cantor Davidson.
During the KI High Holy Day service, Cantor Levy and Shir KI will sing two important songs: V’Hi Sheamda on Rosh Hashanah, and Acheinu on Yom Kippur Day. These songs are contemporary; they will connect us with the Israel Gaza War and the pain that we all feel during this difficult time. Please listen, and let us know your reactions!
FOR THE FUTURE!
Immediately after Yom Kippur, we shall begin to prepare a special program of Israeli music to be presented on Shabbat evening, December 6. This program will be joyous and inspiring. We shall show musically just how the State of Israel has been the rightful inheritance of the Jewish people for centuries!! New singers are welcome to join Shir KI for this powerful Shabbat Service and concert. The first rehearsal of this program will be on Tuesday evening, October 15, at 7 pm in the Chapel. If you are interested in participating, call the Clergy Office.
All the Tilman’s wish you Shabbat Shalom and L’shanah Tovah Tikateivu V’Tehateimu-Shalom Al Yisrael!