Singing Ourselves Back to Life: Lullabies for the Soul

I recently found myself with a group of rabbis for a memorial, and when I asked them, “When was the last time someone sang you a lullaby?” the room fell silent, and then, tears began to flow. It reminded me in an immediate and intense way how much we need music — not just to hear it, but to let it carry us, to allow it to cradle our hearts. In a world filled with pain and uncertainty, we may turn to prayer, but we don’t always take the time to sing ourselves into comfort. Music has the power to heal in ways words alone cannot. And, in this moment, words often fail.

Torah is not just about laws and stories; it’s also about melody. Rabbi Ellie Spitz once defined Torah as “the unfolding narrative of our People,” which means it includes the melodies that have shaped us. Music, as Professor Dov Zlotnik once taught, was at the core of how the Mishnah — the earliest code of rabbinic teaching — was transmitted from teacher to student (see his “The Iron Pillar”). The way we sing those ancient words matters. It’s how we remember and how we connect. Music, like Torah, is a bridge between history and heart.

There’s even scientific evidence that song can help those with memory loss recover forgotten parts of themselves. It’s as if music holds the key to places we thought were lost. Maybe it’s not an “as it” at all. And in a time like this, when the world feels fragmented — and the global Jewish family in particular feels so deeply broken — we need music to bring us back — to ourselves, to each other, and to our deepest truths.

Let this be an invitation to sing more, even if you already do. Sing to yourself, sing to others. Let music be a spiritual resurrection, bringing us back from the brink of despair. The second blessing of the Amidah speaks of bringing back the dead, a complex and emotional idea, especially these days. But perhaps it’s also about bringing ourselves back to life — metaphorically, emotionally, spiritually. In moments of great loss and pain, we can (and must) bless each other and ourselves with music, with song, and with love.

So let’s make space for music in our lives. Let’s choose light amidst the darkness and let melody be among our healing guides. We are not alone. You are not alone. Let’s open our hearts to harmony, knowing that each one of us truly needs this healing — now more than ever.