“Rabbi Akiva says sing every day; sing every day” (Sanhedrin 99a-99b).
The sages of our tradition rarely repeated words unless there was something particularly significant to be emphasized. My wonderful Hebrew Bible teacher in Israel, Dr. Yossi Leshem, also taught me that, in fact, no detail in the Tanakh is written in the scroll without serving a meaningful narrative or didactic purpose. The great Rabbi Akiva, too, understood when things needed attention, insistence, priority; and Rabbi Akiva absolutely stressed that each of us should sing: “Sing every day, sing every day!”
Whether in the shower, on the 405, in the classroom, in the sanctuary, at your desk, or on a hike, music is the heartbeat of our daily lives. The physical benefits of singing are enormous. When you sing, you increase your oxygen intake and lung capacity, release endorphins, reduce stress, improve posture, boost immunity, and even relieve pain; our bodies can literally feel the sweet impact of song. We know, too, that the emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of singing are unparalleled. My own Grandma Jeanne, at 96, could not remember the names of her children and grandchildren, but she sure knew every single lyric to Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! She held my hands, looked into my eyes, and sang to me just like she did when I was a little girl. Music unlocked her memory and offered her a tool to cope with the emotional stress and social isolation of dementia. Singing every day was a workout for her body, mind, and soul.
In this time of darkness, pain, stress, and overwhelm, we must make time and space for singing. When you join for a Thursday morning service, for Friday evening prayer, for any communal davening, I invite you not just to listen, but to sing with me. Singing has the power to transform our weaknesses into strength and turn our fears into hope.
Sing every day, sing every day!
-Cantor Emma Lutz