What is your freedom song?

February 2, 2012 | 9 Sh'vat 5772

The following Shabbat message is offered by Shalisha Erenberg, JCC Chicago's Jewish Music Educator. This is one of a periodic series of music related messages.

This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Beshalah, talks about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. This Shabbat is also called “Shabbat Shirah” (or Sabbath of Song). Why? Because right in the middle of the Torah portion is the singular event that describes the Jewish people bursting into song. What are the words of the song? Well, I won’t share the whole text with you (you can look it up here: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?AID=15562&p=4) but part of the text will probably be familiar to you: “Who is like You among the powerful . . . too awesome for praises “ (mi chamocha) * which has now become part of our daily and weekly liturgy. What made the Jewish people burst into song like that?

I believe the answer lies in the word “process”. Where did we come from and where were we going? We came from slavery into the unknown. Yes, it was scary. Yes, we had to take a huge risk. (There is a midrash that says Nachshon had to take those first few steps into the waters up to his nose before the waters actually started to recede.) We went from Egypt or mitzrayim (“narrow place”) into a place of potential freedom. We all have our personal mitzrayims or constrictions – whether in our jobs, our relationships or within ourselves. It’s hard to take those first steps towards greater freedom but when we make the effort to “get to the other side”, as the Jewish people did, imagine the result! Joy! Gratitude! Wonder! Freedom and spontaneity of expression that is unguarded. Have you ever burst out into song after a particularly harrowing experience? Try it! It’s liberating!

This Shabbat Shirah, congregations are joining together to honor Debbie Friedman.** This extraordinary woman went through her own mitzrayim – resistance to acceptance; struggle to success. The result of her process? An incredible legacy of song and music that forever changed that way Jews pray. It’s poignant that her life is reflected in this very Torah portion – the process of working through difficult challenges and arriving transformed in triumph. One can only marvel at the ruach (spirit) and energy she brought with her and infused into everyone she came in contact with. The other part of this week’s text which must have inspired Debbie is the following: “Miriam, the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women came out after her with timbrels and with dances.” (Link to the song is below***) As you listen, you may find that you cannot help but sing, clap and dance along with her. It is one of the most uplifting and energetic songs which for me, reflects the spontaneity of joy and wonder that the Jewish people must have felt in “reaching the other side.”

This Shabbat, express your individual song which comes from your unique accomplishments, strengths and gifts that you share with others and with the world. My hope is that through the challenges we face, whatever they may be, that we are able to “get to the other side” and rejoice – wholeheartedly. This Shabbat Shirah, sing loudly, sing often and sing in your own unique voice!

*Here is a sampling of different artists’ renditions of Mi Chamocha, the prayer that expresses our overwhelming wonder and unbridled gratitude.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=mi+chamocha&sprefix=mi+cham%2Cdigital-music%2C364

 **Tribute and Info on Debbie Friedman:

http://urj.org/debbiefriedman/

http://www.debbiefriedman.com/Home/Healing

Join the Movement: Debbie Friedman’s Shalom Aleichem will be sung by tens of thousands this Shabbat. To listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAcg1-qhhCE

***Debbie Friedman’s “Miriam’s Song”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZdSEsZ8bMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dcBTze-T4o

Extra: SoulAviv’s upbeat version of the process of crossing the “freedom river”: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=crossing+the+freedom+river

Note: Many of the tunes in the links are also available through iTunes.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Nina J. Mizrahi