The Secret of Song and Melody: The Path to the Upper Unification and Subduing Enemies

Lesson No. 18 | Lesson 1: Tuesday, Parashas Chukas, 29 Sivan 5755

According to the teachings of the holy Arizal, the Upper Unification of 'Abba and Imma' (the supernal spiritual configurations of Father and Mother) — through which all enemies and foes can be obliterated — is achieved exclusively through song and melody. This article explains how singing elevates the Jewish people to the highest spiritual levels and builds the holy Shechinah (Divine Presence).

The holy Arizal reveals to us a tremendous secret regarding the verse:

"Then Israel sang this song: 'Spring up, O well—sing to it!'"

The upper part of the partzuf (spiritual configuration) of Zeir Anpin (representing the lower emotional attributes) is called 'Israel,' while its lower part is called 'Yaakov.' When the Jewish people reached this upper level, they understood that they now had to continue ascending from the upper part of Zeir Anpin toward the higher Sefiros (Divine emanations) — to the partzuf of Abba and Imma.

The Exclusive Power of Song

The question arises: How does one perform the Upper Unification of Abba and Imma? The holy Arizal teaches a great foundational principle: The unification of Abba and Imma is accomplished solely through song and melody.

A person can perform many yichudim (spiritual unifications) — a unification in Malchus (Kingship), a unification with the letters, crowns, and vowels of the Torah — yet still fail to complete their spiritual task. A person might learn Torah all day and fulfill mitzvos, yet still see that their enemies and foes remain healthy, grow fat, multiply, and gain strength day by day. Why does this happen? Because the Upper Unification of Abba and Imma has not yet been achieved.

We may have performed a unification in Malchus and a unification in Zeir Anpin, but reaching the unification of Abba and Imma requires tremendous preparation. First and foremost, one must learn Torah with immense diligence, for twelve consecutive hours. Without this, it is impossible to approach this unification.

Obliterating the Enemies Above the Laws of Nature

When the Jewish people realized that they had to press onward and obliterate all their foes and enemies, they understood that this had to be done in a way that transcends the laws of nature. The moment they saw that they had lost the unification of Abba and Imma, they immediately began to sing. To create the unification in Abba and Imma and wipe out all the enemies, the only way is through song and melody.

This is why the verse says, "Then Israel sang," and does not say, "Moshe and Israel." Through their singing, the Jewish people had already reached the Keser (Crown) of Zeir Anpin, which is called 'Israel,' embodying the mystical secret of the verse:

"For you have striven with the Divine and with men, and you have prevailed."

From this level of the Keser of Zeir Anpin, they wanted to ascend further to Abba and Imma — the level that creates and unifies Zeir Anpin.

To achieve this anew, and to crush all their enemies, they burst into song. Through this singing, the Sefirah of Malchus (represented by the matriarch Rachel) ascended and became a complete partzuf. This is the secret behind the words, "Spring up, O well—sing to it!" — to elevate Rachel to Abba and Imma, for she grows and is built exclusively through song and melodies.

Part 2 of 4 — Lesson No. 18

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