Bringing Hope to our World: A Reason to Believe for the Sabbath of Song

 


Dear Friends,

As we celebrate Tu B'shevat on Sunday night and Monday I thought you would like to watch this video.


What makes this year different is that we also read from the Song of the Sea in the Torah reading on this Shabbat.  Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath of Song, gives us the opportunity to remember the crossing of the Sea of Reeds or Red Sea.  We commemorate the miracle of the sea parting and our ancestors crossing through safely.

As I reflect upon this portion in today's world, I think about how we need to sing a new song of hope.  So many of us get entangled in the "weeds" of our lives and at times,  almost drown in despair. Miriam reminds us to sing of hope and to seek ways to  journey forward.

One of my favorite songs is "Reason to Believe" by Rod Stewart.  Please note the lyrics below.  The song reminds us that if we can only leave the past behind (note the lyrics in red and bold), we can find a reason to believe.

I hope that as Miriam sings for joy, that we keep our minds and hearts open to new insights and ways of looking at things.  Perhaps that is what Honi means when he says our ancestors planted for us and so we need to plant for our children (see video).  May this Shabbat Shira and Tu B'shevat inspire us to sing a new song and find ways to bring hope to our world.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Bruce Aft 

If I listened long enough to youI'd find a way to believe that it's all trueKnowing that you liedStraight-faced while I criedStill I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like youMakes it hard to live withoutSomebody elseSomeone like youMakes it easy to giveNever think about myself
If I gave you time to change my mindI'd find the way just to leave all the past behindKnowing that you liedStraight-faced while I criedStill I look to find a reason to believe
If I listened long enough to youI'd find a way to believe that it's all trueKnowing that you liedStraight-faced while I criedStill I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like youMakes it hard to live withoutSomebody elseSomeone like youMakes it easy to giveNever think about myself
Someone like youMakes it hard to live withoutSomebody elseSomeone like youMakes it easy to giveNever think about myself
Someone like youMakes it hard to live withoutSomebody elseSomeone like youMakes it easy to giveNever think about myself
Someone like youMakes it hard to live withoutSomebody else
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Tim Hardin
Reason To Believe lyrics © Trio Music Company, Allen Stanton Productions, Alley Music Corp

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