A Person Who Plays and Sings Immediately Connects to Hashem

Song is the deepest connection between a person and their Creator. The soul, having heard the song of the ministering angels in the upper worlds, yearns for a melody that will awaken it here, in this world as well. It is not by chance that it is said: "Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song," for song is the supreme expression of faith, gratitude, and joy. In this article by our teacher, the Tzaddik, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, we will discover how melody elevates a person, how faith breaks boundaries, and how, precisely within the darkness, one can find the melody that illuminates the path.

"Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song to Hashem" (15:1)

When a person plays and sings, they immediately connect to Hashem. Song and melody are the most wonderful connection between a person and the Creator. Our soul comes from the upper worlds, where it was accustomed to hearing the song of the ministering angels. Therefore, even now, while it is within a body, it yearns so much for song and melody. A person must accustom themselves to walking with a melody because that is what will gladden them, because that is what will awaken their heart to Hashem. Melody is such a wonderful thing. If you see a person humming a tune to themselves, it is a sign and indication that joy dwells in their heart.

Rebbe Nachman tells us stories about a princess who was lost, and how they search for her. A wind came, and the wind carried the one who was searching for her and brought him to a mountain of gold and a fortress of pearls. The wind is the melody, which carries us to the highest, most wonderful places.

Song and melody are the most wonderful connection between a person and the Creator.

Man was created to recite songs and praises. Hashem wants our song specifically, even more than the song of the angels. The song of one who is below, who was born with difficult inclinations, and who fights all their life to overcome them. The prayer that is most accepted is a prayer with melodies and songs. If a person wants to draw down salvations, they should clothe their prayer in songs and melodies. "Give thanks to Hashem for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting." There is always kindness in the world; kindness is always being drawn down; there are always miracles, says King David, and one must constantly give thanks for them.

Since the creation of the world, Hashem has desired that songs be recited before Him. He split the sea because He knew that afterward, there would be the Song of the Sea. Of all things, what does Hashem choose? "He who chooses songs of praise."

On Shabbat Shirah, we sing faith. The sea is in front, the Egyptians are behind, wild beasts are on the sides—where does one flee? One flees to Hashem. Because only He can save. We cry out to Hashem from the deepest place, "From the depths I have called You, Hashem." And what does Hashem answer them? "Speak to the Children of Israel and let them travel." That they should strengthen themselves in faith with all their hearts, and enter the sea before it splits. And in the merit of this trust, I will perform a miracle for them (Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh). This is exactly what Nachshon ben Aminadav did, who became for us a concept of devotion to a goal despite all dangers; he stands before a stormy sea, enters into it, and continues walking even when the water reaches his nose. He continues walking, and then the sea splits and all of Israel enters after him. What faith! What trust! What devotion to a goal!

And us? What about us? We do not truly believe that Hashem can do anything for us. Our day is full of such examples. According to nature, there is no chance. We don't even begin to believe that it can happen. But we forget that Hashem is great and He is truly all-powerful.

"A person casts aside their intellect, and then there is no limit to the solutions and salvations, for they suddenly believe that Hashem can save them. Because faith is the highest intellect that exists. Intellect tells you to cast aside the intellect. Intellect tells you: 'You know what? Believe.' People returned in teshuvah (repentance) because they received intellect, a Divine attainment, that it is worth casting aside the intellect and following faith."

The essence of faith is that everything Hashem does, He does for the good, and this is the thing that most clashes with the intellect. Because we see difficult things in life, and we ourselves go through difficult things, and if we do not prioritize faith over intellect—the faith that everything is good and there is no evil—then, Heaven forbid, we will fall from faith.

Hashem wants us to make an effort. To make an effort to believe in Him. To make an effort to believe that He does not do anything bad to us in life. To make an effort that in every path we have reached in life—every path, the worst in the world, that we were thrown here and thrown there, such difficult paths that we reached in life, where we suddenly see that the ways are blocked for us, we have such difficulties, suddenly we arrive at a place where one does not see Hashem at all, one sees nothing, everything is dark, everything is blocked—but there is a melody there... such a tremendous melody...

A melody that one merits to hear when one does not pay attention to all the confusions, when one fights with the questions, when one says there is a Hashem in the world who does everything and everything is with mercy. Hashem created the world to reveal His tremendous compassion. He consulted with the angels whether to create man, and they told Him it was not worth it. That he would not be able to withstand the trials. And what did Hashem say to them? You do not know how much compassion I have. Such tremendous and hidden compassion I have. With this compassion, I create man. This compassion is within the judgment, within the troubles. Because if there were only kindness, then it would be as if it were taken for granted. There is nothing else. But when a person is under judgment, Heaven forbid, and within the judgment, within the troubles, they see how Hashem had mercy on them, how Hashem performed a miracle for them, then they begin to feel Hashem, to draw close to Hashem: 'Hashem, You are so great, what a miracle You did for me. Hashem, You are so merciful.'

Faith is the secret of joy. Faith that says there is no evil in the world; Hashem is good and does good and does the best for us. Every lack, every difficulty, every mishap, every delay, every trouble, every illness—it is all good because Hashem saw that only in this way would we merit to reach our purpose, which is to believe in Hashem, to draw close to Hashem, to know Hashem. Holy faith takes these gray lives, these difficult, confused lives, where a person cannot find themselves, and everything is blocked, and all the difficult things that happen to us—each one and their own matters, it seems to them that they have fallen into a trap, and they have such a problem in the family, and they have such a story, and they have such a child, and such a problem with shalom bayit (peace in the home), all types of problems that people have—holy faith comes and makes from all of this such a tremendous and wonderful melody, a melody that says that everything is planned in advance, that outside of Hashem there is nothing here in the world, that Hashem does everything and everything is for the good. Master of the Universe, help me to always remember that You do everything for me, that this is exactly how You love me, that what happened to me is from Your love for me.

When does a person know that they have merited complete faith? When they are constantly saying 'thank you' in all situations. They live with Hashem, they live with the faith that everything that happens to them is from Hashem and everything is for their benefit. Just to say thank you. For everything, say thank you. In this world, it is darkness; one does not see that it is good. We must believe that it is good. That everything that happens is good. When one begins to say thank you, it shows that we believe it is good. That everything Hashem does, He does for the good. And what salvations people see who walk in this path of gratitude—miracles above nature. Truly above nature.