Cantor’s note: This Friday, January 30th, is Shabbat Shira – The Shabbat of Song! Every year, we ask a member of our Shabbat band to tell the story of their musical journey at RSNS. Please enjoy Sam’s article, and come join us in person on Friday night!
Eric asked me to write about what playing music at RSNS means to me. There was a short deadline, but this was something I’ve literally thought about- dwelled upon, actually, for years now, and so I wasn’t worried about being able to write this- I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to- should I tell everyone just how selfish I am by playing?
Music for me at RSNS started as a Congregant blown away by Eric & Solomon’s “Shabbat Unplugged”. The melodies were beautiful, vibrant, different in many cases from the “classic” versions of prayers I had learned and had been singing for over half a century. From early in elementary school (I attended a Conservative Hebrew Day School in Brooklyn (Bialik School in the House!)), I sang in Choirs and always connected with God- felt that most spiritual connection to HaShem, while using my voice, singing along with others. I’m certainly not alone in experiencing this connection through singing; From our own great Choir, and our friends in it who enjoy singing in unison and harmony, to the Japanese Buddhist Monks chanting that I often shower to (TMI?), to the Gregorian Chants, the late great Sufi Qawali singer Nusrah Fateh Ali Khan, and the list goes on and on of people connecting spiritually- reaching a higher spiritual plane, through singing, and indeed, playing instruments with others.
Through all of history, in every corner of the world, in every culture, singing and music played and sung together are used to unify, strengthen, and harness power. Singing on a picket line with Mom as a kid. “We Shall Not Be Moved”. “We Shall Overcome”. Just watch the prelude to the final attack in the movie “Zulu”. The intercutting between the Zulu Warriors steeling themselves for their final rush, and the Welsh soldiers singing “Men of Harlech” as they prepare to meet the attack, still gives me chills every time I watch.
My friend Peter and our kids would sit in the Congregation and sing along. I’d be harmonizing with the Violins and Clarinets brought in to swirl around the melodies and rhythms that transfixed me, and transformed me; I was so set in my ways from my Conservadox upbring; the old school melodies for “Adon Olam”, “Shalom Aleichem”, “L’cha Dodi”… Now I heard Klezmer, blending with Mizrachi, Sephardic … I tried resisting these new melodies- tried resisting- change. Well, we know how fighting change goes, and so sure enough, with my foot tapping and my vocals joining Eric’s from the 18th Row, I was hooked.
Now I just had to find a way into the band! Lol. I couldn’t not join, and add more than just my voice. Same as when I heard the Grateful Dead: I just had to learn to play Guitar; so I could make “that sound”….. Now I needed to play these Niggunim. But there was already a guitarist! Rebecca had that gig nailed down!- No way I was going to displace her…. But I looked around the room, and nobody else brought a Mandolin with them, so….. !
I started playing Mandolin in 1967. It was my first instrument. My first Mandolin, a Russian Antique Flatback (with gorgeous inlaid wood) that my Dad just brought home one day, is still hanging in my classroom. I peaked musically on Trumpet after that, until I got braces after my Bar Mitzvah, and so on to Violin, but ah- then Guitar took over, until I needed to find a way into The Band!
At a get-together at Rabbi Lee’s house, I finally blurted out that I really needed to join, and Eric and Solomon let me join, and I mean JOIN (Four-letter word for CONNECT).
When we are playing, I am not conscious of what I am playing. I can’t read music anymore, and don’t really know how to play. My hands blend me in with what the real musicians are playing; my hands sort of take over- like the Red Ballet Shoes. I liken it to the “Creative, Divine Spark” that Michelangelo captured so well in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I don’t know what I’m doing- HaShem just makes it work (mostly- see- I can blame the mistakes on HaShem, too, this way!)
All I know is that by being PART of the music, I join the flow of the Universe, and on a more tangible level, nothing hurts. You know the joke: “doctor, doctor, it hurts when I do this”…. “Then don’t do that”….. Well….. My body hurts. My back. My front. My hands, my neck, my shoulders- well… you don’t want to talk shoulders- you get the point.
BUT
When I’m playing, nothing hurts.
Guess what the Doctor told me!
I hope that this is a win-win; that in spite of my selfish reasons for playing, I add as much…. Soul…. Ruach…. Nefesh…Pleasure…
A plaintiff cry, an innermost hope;
to those hearing, as my fingers allow me to hear and feel
I am so grateful for the opportunities!
Sam Yellis
