15 Songs that Saved the World (and maybe will again?)

Once upon a time there was a king who wanted to build a temple on the tallest mountain of his land. He began to dig the foundation, and along with his workers they dug and dug deeper until they hit a rock. And they hit the rock it spoke to them, the rock, and said - stop digging. I am the rock that is rock bottom. And I’m the keeper of the chaos and the ancient waters that came before creation. If you move me there will be another flood. 

The king’s name was David. And this legend happens in Jerusalem, and he, of course, was a stubborn red-head and did not listen to the wisdom of the rock. He had it removed and right away the ancient murky waters of chaos rose to drown the world. While in water to his neck -as we have just seen so many tragic images from the most recent storms to hit the Southern-Eastern US -- the king panics and seeks advice - how to quiet the waters?? 

An advisory shows up and suggests a magic spell. It’s a longer backstory but the gist of it - write the secret ineffable name of the divine on a shard and throw it into the raging water - and the king does so and it works. Order defeats Chaos. The holy name conquers the forces of nature. But the waters recede with fear so deep into the earth that every green lead withers and an instant drought replaces the flood.  

David is not just a stubborn king he is also a musician and according to the legend he starts singing 15 songs of ascent and with each song the water rises one more step towards the earth surface and by the time he’s done singing 15 songs the equilibrium is back, the world is back in order, and all is well. Crisis averted. 

He’ll never get to build the temple. His son will do that. But in that temple there will be 15 steps made of marble, and on them, one night of the year, when the moon is full on the15th night of the month, they would sing and dance on those steps, each and every one of the 15 songs of ascent, as they would bring up water from the lowest spring to the highest mountain altar and then they will pray for rain - for life -- for order- and for peace. 

This myth is found in the Talmud. It is a rendition of a much older Semitic myth about the creation of the world. With just one word - language and the Alphabet are the building blocks of culture -- nature is controlled. This is the story of civilization - for better, or for worse. 

On our Below the Bible Belt journey we are about to complete reading the 15 songs of ascent, and it’s the new Jewish year, and the war is raging and there’s no order and no peace.  These psalms are powerful, and well loved. They contain so many kernels of the possible. Just the other night, on the first night of the new year, I quoted one of them in my Rosh Hashana Sermon - talking about the obligation to dream bigger, to imagine better, to be as dreamers and honor all our dreams.

But there is a reminder here of the power of words to bring about peace, in big ways and small. The power of our speech, the messages we send, the way we show up for each other that can help heal this flood of fear and fury that is threatening to drown our world. 

There’s so much more to say about this legend - David and the ID - the urges within, the power of music, the enduring legacy that is these psalms even when the temple steps are long gone. 

But on this day, new year, into Shabbat, a year into this terrible war and so much sorrow -- a blessing, that is meant from every fiber of my being - lets pass it on: 

Shana Shalom, A year of stubborn, hopeful peace. Shabat Tova - a sabbath of small acts of kindness, big and small. 

Every song, and every wish and every gesture matters. 

Thank you for joining me below the bible belt. 

Shabbat Tova. Shana Shalom.