Holy Love Songs

In this week's Torah portion we read what is often considered the last formal commandment:

"Now write for yourself, this song."

What song?

Well, possibly next week's Torah portion, Haazinu, which is an actual song.

But also, possibly- the whole Torah itself.

Why is the Torah called a song, you might ask. (or you might not- that's how "might" works:)

There are different reasons offered. But one I've been thinking about is that the nature of song and lyrics is very different from prose or conversation.

Have you ever heard someone try to "speak" the lyrics of a song without the melody? It can sometimes sound comical or absurd.

Words that are sung, as opposed to spoken or written literarily, have a different cadence, a different set of rules, a different connotation, and evoke different feelings. Poetry and music are, as they say: "emotion in motion."

Many of the stories and instructions shared in the Torah leave us wondering: wait- what, how, why...?

They don't always readily appeal to the contemporary, rational mind and worldview. Those of us who want to subscribe fully to a relationship with G-d that they represent with intellectual honesty, often find ourselves grappling with these questions.

The fact that Torah is referred to as a song, possibly suggests that emotion is a significant factor in relating to these words and what they evoke in us. That a spiritual wavelength and existence can't fully work on an exclusively rationalistic, literal level. There needs to be some music, the feeling, the intuitive, super-rational, meta-physical element, in order for this to resonate wholly with our minds, hearts, bodies, and souls.

This is true of our relationships with other humans too. There's often something beyond the analyzable about how we connect with and enjoy other people- in friendship and romantically. It might make "sense" for certain people to be friends, yet they just don't hit it off, while it might not for others, and they somehow form an unexpected but deep, fulfilling connection. The music is the rhythm and the emotional energy, the subconscious current that flows through interaction beyond what's observable. 

Music, poetry, and song are creative ways to explore and express deep emotion and soul-speak. This  can also be true of the best relationships- with other people and with G-d.

This was originally part of the schmoozeletter email series. To get more content like it, join us here: elishevaliss.com/newsletter

For longer form writing, try this: Find Your Horizon