The Secret of Melody and Unity: The Path to Healing and Cleaving to Hashem

Lesson No. 3 | Lesson 1 - (Continuation from Tape No. 2) Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Kedoshim, 30th of Nissan, 1st Day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar, 5755

Sadness is the root of all illnesses, and joy is the key to healing and life. Based on the teachings of the Sfas Emes, The Rav explains the power of song on Shabbos and on the Seventh Day of Pesach, and how melody brings about true unity among all Jewish souls.

The Danger of Sadness and the Power of Joy

A story is told regarding the son of a certain Chassid, whose name was Shaulka. He arrived in Haifa by ship while suffering from a very dangerous illness. His condition was so severe that there was fear the captain would throw him into the sea, as was the custom with patients suffering from contagious diseases. Through open miracles, they managed to bring him to shore and placed him in an isolated hut.

They immediately sent a rider to Tiberias to notify his father, Tzvi, who was a Chassid connected to Rebbe Baruch of Medzhibozh (who testified about him that he was "unique in his generation"). The messenger arrived before sunset but could not speak with the Rebbe until the Tish (Chassidic gathering). When the father mentioned his sick son, the Rebbe suddenly shouted a great shout at him: "Shaulka? What Shaulka? This is just one [state of] sadness!"

The Chassid was startled by the shout, but when they checked the exact time these words were spoken, they saw that at that very hour, the boy was completely healed. From this, we see that sadness is the root of illness, and when one removes the sadness—one merits healing.

Shabbos Kodesh – A Wedding with No Time for Sadness

Shabbos is a time of tremendous joy, an aspect of a wedding with Hashem. On Shabbos, everyone must be happy, dancing, and singing. When the Melaveh Malkah (post-Shabbos meal) arrives, this is already the peak of song, the peak of delight, and the peak of joy.

However, one must be careful: there are those who dance on Shabbos, but when they go home, they get annoyed and angry because the dancing caused them to be late. This is a mistake. One needs to dance the entire Shabbos without ceasing, and come home with the dancing, to bring joy to the children, to speak words of Torah to them, and to hear from them. The entire Shabbos must be only joy, delight, gladness, and exultation.

Rebbe Nachman says that it is a very great merit to see, even through a crack or a narrow crevice, the intensity of the joy of Shabbos in all the worlds, and to truly participate in it. There are those for whom the joy is a torture; they stay only for the sake of derech eretz (manners), but one who merits it feels the delight of the souls.

The Secret of Song and Melody According to the 'Sfas Emes'

The Sfas Emes teaches that through the Splitting of the Sea on the Seventh of Pesach, the gate to the joy of the entire year is opened. The Seventh of Pesach is an aspect of Shabbos Kodesh; it is the peak of Pesach and the opening for the entire new year. The verse states:

"Six days you shall eat matzos, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly (atzeres) to Hashem your God" (Deuteronomy 16:8).

What is "atzeres"? The Sfas Emes says: This is a day of song. The seventh day is the ultimate purpose of the Exodus from Egypt, a day when even fetuses in their mothers' wombs sang song. How is it possible for a person not to feel the joy on the Seventh of Pesach? If the fetuses felt it and sang, how much more so should we feel it.

The Sfas Emes reveals a tremendous foundation: "Through song and melody, a person becomes a single unity with Hashem, may He be blessed." When a person is immersed in mochin d'katnut (constricted consciousness), thinking about money, stocks, and the vanities of this world—he is far from unity. But when he sings and plays melody to Hashem, he unites with the Holy One, Blessed is He. Song and melody have no measure and no limit, because they come from a supernal place that is beyond comprehension.

"For I am a Chassid" – Connecting to Every Jew

From within the song, one arrives at Ahavas Yisrael (Love of Israel) and unity with all the Tzaddikim and Chassidim. King David says:

"Guard my soul, for I am a chassid (pious one)" (Psalms 86:2).

Does King David attest about himself that he is a chassid? After all, he was lowly in his own eyes more than anyone, and said, "I am poor and destitute." The holy Zohar explains: "For I am a chassid" means—that I connect myself to every single chassid. I love every Jew, I connect to every Rebbe and every Tzaddik.

A person does not know who is truly brokenhearted, who is truly a Tzaddik. It is possible for a person to appear wealthy and great, yet his heart is shattered into fragments more than anyone else. Therefore, we must bind ourselves to all the Chassidim and all the Tzaddikim, to live in absolute unity with the entire Nation of Israel. This is the level to which song leads—the nullification of pride and the inclusion within all the souls of Israel.

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