Bereishit Inspiration

This week we’re starting the cycle of reading the Torah again, beginning with Parshat Bereishit. Parshat Bereishit is one of my favorite parshiot because I’m also a big fan of science – and Parshat Bereishit covers many topics that relate to science. Seeing the harmony between science and Torah is astonishing and it’s something I’ve always loved reading about.

The parsha opens with the creation of the universe and how Hashem made the world in six days. Therefore, two of the songs we’re going to review today are about the six days of creation.

Before we get to the music, I just want to share something I heard from a senior physicist many years ago during a conversation about some of the principles of science as they relate to the Torah: Any overlap between science and Torah should only serve as a chizuk, strengthening, of our emunah. Because our emunah is not based on knowledge – it is our belief in Hashem.

As we know, Hashem created the levana (moon) on the fourth day, and it’s also the subject of one of Avraham Fried’s songs. His album Bracha Vehatzlacha was released in 1995 and is one of my favorites. For years, I had it on a cassette and I used to listen to it on my Aiwa Walkman that my father bought me on one of his visits to New York, and later on my brother’s Sony Walkman that my dad got him on another visit to America (back in the day, Sony and Aiwa Walkmans used to be very expensive in Israel). Today, I have the album on my hi-res music player and I like to listen to it often. It has nostalgic hits such as “Sisu,” “Don’t Hide From Me,” “Yisimcha,” “Yerushalayim” – and one of my favorite songs, “K’shem.”

“K’shem she’ani roked k’negdech…” These lyrics are from Birkat HaLevana (the blessing on the New Moon) that we say every month. One of the reasons I like this song so much is because I used to play it on my keyboard when I was a teenager, and was part of my repertoire when I performed at parties and events. The song is very upbeat and used to be a big hit. Today, I’m not sure how many weddings it’s played at (if any), but it’s a beautiful song, with its famous brass intro.

The next song for Bereishit is “Yerushalayim” by Mordechai Ben-David from his album Tamid B’simcha, which was released in 1994. For years, I used to listen to this album a lot, and I also have it now on my hi-res music player. It includes big nostalgic hits such as the title song, “Tomid B’simcha,” as well as “Mi K’amcha Yisrael,” “Timcheh,” and “Al Tisyaesh.”

“Yerushalayim” is the second song in the album, and after the familiar brass and saxophone intro, the lyrics begin with the six days of Creation: “Olam umlo’o b’shisha bara b’rov chochma.” The song is very upbeat and you might begin to dance when you listen to it. Bonus: I don’t need to translate it. Why? Because the last song in the album, song #10, is the English version of Yerushalayim.” It’s the same song as #2, sung in English.

The third song I want to recommend is from an album of Avraham Fried’s I purchased recently on one of my visits to Lakewood. The album is called Bring the House Down and was released in 2016. It opens with “Itcha Ani.” How does this beautiful and upbeat song relate to Parshat Bereishit, you ask?

The lyrics for the first verse of the song are taken from the haftarah of Parshat Bereshit: “Ki taavor ba’mayim itcha Ani, u’vaneharot lo yishtefucha” – When you pass through water, I am with you, and through rivers, they will not flood you.

The chorus of the song is powerful and has a message that is very relevant for these days: “Ba’esh u’ba’mayim Am Yisrael chai, mitachat la’Shamayim, Am Yisrael chai” – in fire and water, Am Yisrael chai; under the skies, Am Yisrael chai!

Am Yisrael Chai! Shabbat Shalom.