About the weekly songs of Shabbos, in honor of Shabbos
Shirah.
Permission to Sing
David was a simple Jew, neither learned in Torah, nor
particularly meticulous in mitzvos. In fact, he really had
only one major merit: he was the chazon on Shabbos.
Every week, he would lead the Shabbos prayers, bringing the
members of the community to tears with his beautiful
voice.
Rav Shmaya, one of the great talmidei chachomim of his
city, was not so happy about David's singing. Every Shabbos,
he would recite Shacharis and Musaf at
daybreak, eat a quick seudah, and then return to the
synagogue to learn for the entire afternoon. David's singing
lengthened the prayers and disturbed Rav Shmaya's
learning.
One day, David was in a particularly elevated mood, and his
prayers were even longer than usual. David was singing an
exquisite tune for Kedushoh and had the entire
congregation captivated with his voice. Each word ascended
from his mouth with a beautiful melody; his listeners were
convinced that an angel must have been singing with him.
David went on and on and on, until Rav Shmaya just couldn't
take it anymore. He banged on the table where he was sitting
and cried out, "How long will my Torah learning be
interrupted!" A hush fell over the congregation, and David
finished quickly.
That Shabbos afternoon, Rav Shmaya started to feel ill. After
Shabbos, he became so sick that the doctors of the town
diagnosed his condition as critical. Rav Shmaya sent word to
the rov of the town asking him to visit so that he could try
to understand why this was taking place.
The rov told Rav Shmaya that he thought the illness was
connected to stopping David's prayers. As proof, the Rov
pointed to the Rema who writes that one is not allowed to
protest singing in the Shabbos prayers, even if it disturbs
Torah learning (281, 1). Rav Shmaya called David in and
apologized profusely for what he had done. David accepted
and, within a few hours, Rav Shmaya recovered completely from
his sickness.
When David passed away, he was granted permission to visit
the shamash in a dream. The shamash saw that
David was being honored and in a state of tremendous joy.
David said that despite the fact that he had no other merit,
he had been granted reward in Gan Eden for his singing
of the Shabbos prayers (see Machzik Brochoh [Chida]
281:4-5).
Pleasant Songs
Every morning during Shacharis, we recite Pesukei
Dezimroh. The word zimroh has a double
connotation; it means song and it means pruning (as of a
plant). The Zohar explains that through these songs of
praise we prune away negative forces that prevent our prayers
from being accepted.
On Shabbos, the halacha directs us to sing Pesukei
Dezimroh, as well as the other prayers. In the words of
the Rema, "One should lengthen their recitation with a
pleasant melody" (281:1). Singing these verses adds praise to
Hashem, for it shows that we enjoy the words we are
saying.
Although there is a mitzvah to sing sections of the prayer,
nothing is good in excess. Chazanim who cause their
congregation to miss the time for saying Shema and
Shemoneh Esrei, are doing a severe disservice to them.
They should pay special attention not to divide prayers or
words in the wrong place, and to finish the Brochos in
a manner that everyone will respond Amen properly
(Mishna Berurah 281:4).
A Song of Thanks
"After the final redemption all songs of praise to Hashem
will cease, except for Mizmor Lesodoh. Therefore it
should be said with a tune" (Shulchan Oruch 51:9).
During the week, we lack the peace of mind to be able to sing
our prayers. Our Sages found an exception in Mizmor
Lesodoh (Tehillim 100), and ruled that it should be
sung.
Many early commentators explain that Mizmor Lesodoh
was added to our tefillos in place of the korbon
Todoh. Since a korbon Todoh cannot be brought on
Shabbos, the halacha is that on Shabbos this chapter is left
out of Pesukei Dezimroh (Mishna Berurah 51:21).
Similarly, on Yom Tov and Erev Pesach, Mizmor Lesodoh
is omitted.
"Mizmor Lesodoh was established to thank Hashem for
all the hidden miracles He performs each day" (Siddur Beis
Yaakov). Since Mizmor Lesodoh also comes to thank
Hashem for hidden miracles, some poskim say that it is
appropriate to recite it on Shabbos (Beis Yosef 281).
Therefore, even though our custom is to omit it on Shabbos,
if we accidentally start to say it, we should continue and
recite it in its entirety (Leket Hakemach Hachadash
51:39).
Although Mizmor Lesodoh is left out on Shabbos, a
number of other chapters of Tehillim are sung. These
Tehillim are grouped together in two categories: the
first group deals primarily with Creation which concluded on
Shabbos, and the second section focuses on the giving of the
Torah, which took place on Shabbos (Levush 281:1).
Although these Tehillim are obligatory and
significantly enhance tefillas Shabbos, if a person
comes late to Shacharis, he is permitted to omit these
additions in order to start Shemoneh Esrei together
with the minyan.
Mouths Filled with Song
"If our mouths were filled with song like the sea, and our
tongues with exultation like the roaring of the waves . . .we
could never sufficiently thank You . . ." The Arizal writes
that Nishmas is the climax of Pesukei Dezimroh,
and the time when we are given the complete share of our
neshomoh yeseiroh of Shabbos (Sha'ar Hakavonos
73a, Levush 281:1). Therefore, if a person comes late
to Shacharis, while he may skip other parts of
Pesukei Dezimroh, Nishmas should not be left out.
Tefillin play an integral role in a man's prayers, for
they are testimony that our hearts and minds are dedicated to
Hashem. On Shabbos, it is forbidden to don Tefillin,
and the Zohar warns of severe punishment for
wearing them. Without Tefillin, how can we achieve the
same level of prayer?
The recitation of the Nishmas brings us up to the same
level as if we were wearing Tefillin. So much so, that
saying Shema without Nishmas is compared to
reciting Shema without Tefillin, an act
compared to false testimony (Michtam LeDovid 13 as
cited in Kaf HaChaim 281).
A Special Song
"In the morning of prayer (Shabbos day), the Creator desires
that every Jew mention the praise of Shabbos when he says
LeKeil asher shovas . . . Therefore if a person forgot
to recite this prayer he should go back and say it" (Zohar
as cited in Or Zorua 42:4). The Zohar
implies that if a person leaves out LeKeil asher
shovas, he must say it afterwards.
"A person does not have to go back if he omitted any of the
additions, with the exception of LeKeil" (Rema 281:1).
The Rema also implies that if LeKeil is omitted, one
should say the first brochoh of Shema again in order
to include LeKeil. Since he already said this
brochoh, isn't this a blessing in vain?
The poskim explain that as long as a person has not
completed LeKeil, he should go back and say it.
However if one already finished this brochoh, he
should not repeat it. Rather he should say LeKeil by
himself after concluding his prayers (Mishna Berurah
281:3).
The Song of Shabbos
" . . . This is the praise of the Seventh Day, that on it G-
d rested from all His work. And the Seventh Day [itself]
offers praise and says, `A song for the Day of Shabbos'"
(from LeKeil asher shovas). How can we understand that
the day of Shabbos sings praise to Hashem?
The Baal Shem Tov describes three types of songs: Some have
words — these are the lowest level, for their meaning
is constricted to their lyrics. Higher than these are songs
without words — for these are not confined to words.
The highest level of song is not constricted to either words
or a tune — it is a song without a song.
Through carrying out their specific functions, every aspect
of creation sings a silent song to the Creator. On Shabbos,
the cessation from all creative activity testifies that
Hashem created the world in six days and stopped on the
seventh. In this light, Shabbos itself is the ultimate song
without a song.
Anyone who has truly experienced Shabbos recognizes that the
day of Shabbos sings a special song of its own. Guarding and
honoring Shabbos, together with prayer, rest, Torah and
zemiros allow us to connect to Shabbos and to
appreciate the beautiful melody of the day. Hearing the music
of Shabbos fills us with inspiration and longing for the
world to come — a time when it will constantly be
Shabbos.
In the merit of singing to Hashem on Shabbos — on
Shabbos Shiroh and every Shabbos of the year — may we
be given the opportunity to hear the beautiful music of "The
Song of Shabbos."
