YomTov: Yom Kippur Melodies

[School Councils UK <Jess...>]

Dear all,

I get divrai torah (lectures, words of Torah) on my email.

I thought you might like to see it

Shanah Tova

Jess

>YomTov, vol. III # 19
>Week of Rosh HaShana
>Topic: Yom Kippur Melodies
>------------------------------------
>
>As mentioned, Yom Kippur, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Because
>we are asking G-d for atonement, we spend the entire day engaged in prayer.
>We do not eat or drink. We pray to G-d that He should forgive us for our sins
>and grant us a good year. Because our prayers are so important on Yom Kippur,
>the Rema (Shulchan Orech Orech Chayim 619:1) writes that "a person should not
>change from the custom of the city, even the tunes used or the additional
>prayers said there" lest one be distracted from his or her prayers.
>
>The significance of the tunes used for the prayers is discussed in Sefer
>Ma'avar Yabok. There, it says that the soul benefits greatly from tunes sung
>during prayer. G-d's ministerial angels sing praise of G-d constantly. When
>the soul hears such singing, it experiences great pleasure and satisfaction.
>It is reminded of the overwhelming closeness it has with G-d when it and the
>angels up high sing songs of praise. Because of the great sense of unity and
>closeness with G-d the soul feels when our bodies are engaged in song, G-d
>comes close to us here on earth, and a heavenly spirit rests upon us. When
>the cantor leads us in song, he is leading us in presenting the holiest
>melodies to G-d, which ascend before His throne. Song causes us to be
>uplifted and our prayers to rise to the highest levels, where G-d eagerly
>awaits them.
>
>Although singing clearly plays an important role during our prayers, the
>Chasam Sofer notes that there is one place where it appears inappropriate.
>When the entire congregation together says the Confessional, it is customary
>for the cantor to lead the recitation in song. The congregation sings the
>Confessional as well. One would think that a confession of a person's sins
>for an entire year should be said with bitter tears and crying, not with a
>sweet melody sung in unison. Yet, the Chasam Sofer writes, the Confessional
>should be sung. Why? When we perform the commandments of G-d, we are supposed
>to do them with happiness. We should be happy that we have the opportunity to
>fulfill the dictates of    G-d. The act of confession is one of G-d's
>commandments. Crying is definitely appropriate when we are asking for
>atonement. However, when we, together, do the Mitzvah of confessing, we
>should be doing so with a sense of happiness as well. We should feel
>fortunate to have been presented with this opportunity to do the will of G-d.
> This delight is expressed through our singing of the confessional. At this
>crucial moment, when the power of our combined prayers is mighty, we ask for
>forgiveness with joy.
>
>The Chasam Sofer continues to say that when we express this joy, we are
>illustrating our love for G-d and his commandments. Our Sages have taught
>that when repentance is done out of love, our sins are converted into merits.
>By singing the Confessional, we are bringing ourselves close to G-d. We are
>expressing our love for G-d. We vividly demonstrate how we happily perform
>the command of G-d. We are repenting out of our love for G-d. The act of an
>entire congregation singing tunes of love to G-d rises before Him, and He
>turns our sins into merits. The confessional has a great power, and this
>power is enhanced by song.
>
>When we pray on Yom Kippur, we should remember that our repentance is an act
>of love. While we beg for forgiveness, we should keep in focus that we regret
>our sins because they were acts of rebellion against the One who we love.
>Singing helps us express our true feelings on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur, we
>should all merit to have our prayer readily accepted and be sealed in the
>Book of Life for the coming year.
>
>(From Sefer Minhag Yisroel Torah)
>
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>
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>
>For questions, comments, or topic requests, please write to me at
>prero (at) torah(dot)org(dot)
>
>Together with my family, I would like to wish you and yours a k'sivah
>v'chasimah tovah. You should all be written and inscribed for a year full of
>health, happiness, success and nachas. I look forward to continuing my
>learning with you throughout the holidays in the year 5758.
>
>---R' Yehudah Prero
>
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