The Zemirot and Dancing Elevate the Prayer

THE DAILY CHIZZUK WITH OUR REBBE RAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A – “STARTING THE PRAYER WITH THE MORNING ZEMIROT (LITURGICAL SONGS) AND CONCLUDED IT WITH DANCING.”

TUESDAY, 9 IYAR 5782 – TAKEN FROM THE SHIUR WHICH THE RAV GAVE TO KOLLEL STUDENTS OF “SHUVU BANIM – OLD CITY” ON 3 IYAR.

These are his holy words:

The Zohar says that we start the prayer with the morning Zemirot and [then] dancing after the prayer.

If not, the prayer doesn’t ascend on high – it doesn’t accomplish anything.

The prayer, Rabbeinu says (Likutey Moharan 42): “He saw their distress in hearing their Rinah (shout/song)” (Tehilin 106:44).

If not, there’s no Shechinah (Divine Presence).  The Shechinah is concealed from the prayer.

Rashi says, “in hearing their Rinah” – this is song and prayer in the synagogues.  Songs and praises – that only through songs and praises the prayer ascends on high.

We sing the prayer, sing it with melody.  The main thing is to sing the prayer with melody, to sing it, to sing every word, to sing every letter.

There was Rabbi Hirsch of Nemirov who would read the whole prayer in this way and wouldn’t stop for even a second.