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, 30 Nissan, First 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 the souls of Israel.
The Danger of Sadness and the Power of Joy
A story is told about the son of a certain chassid, whose name was Shaulke. He arrived in Haifa by ship while suffering from a very dangerous illness. The situation was so severe that they feared the ship's 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 bound to Rabbi Baruch of Medzhybizh (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: "Shaulke? What Shaulke? This is nothing but sadness!"
The chassid was startled by the shout, but when they checked the exact time those words were spoken, they saw that at that very hour, the child was completely healed. From this, we see that sadness is the root of illness, and when one removes the sadness, they merit complete healing.
Shabbos Kodesh – A Wedding with No Time for Sadness
Shabbos is a time of tremendous joy, an aspect of a wedding with the Holy One, Blessed be He. On Shabbos, everyone must be joyous, dancing, and singing. When the Melaveh Malkah seudah (festive meal escorting the Shabbos queen) arrives, it is already the climax of song, the climax of gladness, and the climax of joy.
However, one must be careful: there are those who dance on Shabbos, but when they go home, they become irritated and angry because the dancing caused them to be late. This is a mistake. One must dance the entire Shabbos without interruption, and come home with the dancing, to bring joy to the children, to speak words of Torah to them, and to hear Torah from them. The entire Shabbos must be nothing but joy, gladness, rejoicing, and delight.
Rebbe Nachman says that it is a very great privilege to see, even through a crack or a narrow crevice, the immense joy of Shabbos in all the worlds, and to truly participate in it. There are those for whom the joy is a torment; they only stay for the sake of basic courtesy. 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 Red Sea on the Seventh Day of Pesach, the gateway to joy for the entire year was opened. The Seventh Day of Pesach is an aspect of Shabbos Kodesh; it is the climax 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 an "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 a song of praise. How is it possible for a person not to feel the joy on the Seventh Day of Pesach? If the fetuses felt it and sang, how much more so must we feel it.
The Sfas Emes reveals a tremendous foundation: "Through song and melody, a person becomes one complete unity with Hashem." When a person is immersed in constricted consciousness (mochin d'katnus), thinking about money, stocks, and the vanities of this world—he is far from unity. But when he sings and plays melodies to Hashem, he unites with the Holy One, Blessed be He. Song and melody have no measure and no limit, for they originate from a supernal place beyond all comprehension.
"For I am a Chassid" – Connecting to Every Jew
Through song, one reaches the love of Israel and unity with all the tzaddikim and chassidim. King David says:
"Guard my soul, for I am a pious one (chassid)" (Psalms 86:2)
Would King David really testify about himself that he is a chassid? After all, he was lowlier in his own eyes than anyone else, and he said, "I am poor and needy." The holy Zohar explains: "For I am a chassid" means—that I bind myself to every single chassid. I love every Jew, connecting to every Admor (Chassidic master) and to every tzaddik.
A person does not know who is truly brokenhearted, who is truly a tzaddik. There might be a person who appears wealthy and great, yet his heart is shattered into pieces more than anyone else's. Therefore, we must bind ourselves to all the chassidim and to all the tzaddikim, to live in complete unity with the entire nation of Israel. This is the spiritual level to which song leads—the nullification of arrogance and the integration with all the souls of Israel.
Part 1 of 3 — Lesson No. 3