By Rabbi M Liebenberg – Claremont Wynberg Shul and Cape Town Beth Din
Someone once commented that the songs at the end of the Haggadah are perfect examples of ‘drinking music’ – simple lyrics and oft-repeated choruses. What better to sing after four glasses of wine? Can this be true?
Each of the pilgrimage festivals is associated with a book of the Holy Writings: Pesach – The Song of Songs); Shavuot – Ruth; and Sukkoth – Ecclesiastes. Two of these were composed by King Solomon, who also penned Mishlei, Proverbs. The Midrash suggests that they were written by Solomon at different stages of his life: “Solomon wrote the Song of Songs first, then Proverbs and finally Ecclesiastes.” The Midrash explains that such is the way of the world, for “when one is young, he composes words of song, when he matures he composes parables and, when he grows old, he composes words of philosophy.”
This Midrash is describing the stages of life: youth, adulthood, and old age. Youth is full of unbridled energy, optimism and a feeling of invincibility. This is symbolised by ‘words of song’ and, in Solomon’s case, a love song. Adulthood is a far more realistic period. It is a time of consolidation, where one settles into a particular mode of living. There still exists a residue of youthful thinking, but in far lesser quantity. It is during this stage that one seeks order, commitment and stability. This is symbolised by ‘words of parables’: Proverbs contains excellent advice for all aspects of life, including raising children, maintaining relationships, and leading a moral existence.
Old age is often associated with cynicism, realism, even pessimism. The mature person has seen it all, done it all and is very difficult to impress. He views the exuberance of youth as folly and the stability of adulthood as meaningless because, ultimately, we all end up in the same place, whether we are poor or wealthy, weak or powerful. Thus, old age is associated with Ecclesiastes, in which Solomon declares everything to be futile and in which he states, “All the rivers flow into the sea” – we cannot escape the inevitable.
Pesach is a time of new birth and youth; in Israel it must take place in Spring. The Nation of Israel left Egypt full of promise and potential. Nothing could stop them – they were invincible. Even the natural order of the world, as represented by the Red Sea, parted before them. There is no more appropriate book to read on Pesach than the Song of Songs. Its style and content is in sync with the atmosphere of the festival.
On Pesach we must focus on the endless possibilities that life presents. We must nurture an almost naïve view of the world and what can be achieved. It is not a time for cold realism or cynicism; it is a time of youthful energy and dreams. Of course, there will be times for creating boundaries and for reflecting on the past – but Pesach is not that time.
Pesach is a time for music and tactile experience (the Seder) – not a time for the intellect or philosophy. We chant Hallel every day and, at the sedorim, we recite the Song at the Sea on the seventh day and we sing songs of praise at the sedorim with simple, child-like lyrics: chad gadya (‘the one kid’) and ‘who knows one’. We do this because we are children, full of vibrancy and ready to conquer the world, not because we are in a drunken stupor. Pesach is our annual opportunity to experience a second childhood – don’t waste the opportunity!
• Published in the April 2024 issue – Click here to start reading.
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