Rabbi Sam Trief
The first time I heard the musical group Nava Tehila, I was in a basement somewhere in Jerusalem about 15 years ago. The details are a little fuzzy now, but what I remember vividly is my initial skepticism, my decision to embrace the experience, and just how nourishing it turned out to be for my soul.
I was definitely outside my comfort zone. The atmosphere was a little more “hippie” than what I was used to, and the music was unlike anything I had experienced before. Familiar Hebrew words were set to unfamiliar melodies, and somehow, words I had sung countless times felt new again.
I also remember that no one was able to go with me. So I went by myself. I was surrounded by strangers. I wasn’t there because someone had invited me (which is usually how I find myself at events like these). I was there simply because something about a night of music spoke to my soul.
I think about that experience often, especially as I consider the many ways we try to access our spiritual selves.
So much of Jewish life is centered around community, and for good reason. But one of the beautiful things about Jewish community is that even when we experience something together, it can impact each of us in different ways. We can sing the same words, hear the same melodies, and still find something entirely our own within them. Sometimes, being part of something bigger than ourselves is exactly what helps us connect more deeply with ourselves.
This week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, begins with God’s call to Abraham: “Lech lecha”, go forth. But these words can also be understood as “go to yourself.” Abraham is asked to leave behind everything familiar and embark on a journey into the unknown. That journey is not only about discovering a new place, but also about discovering something within himself.
I love the idea that sometimes we have to venture beyond what is familiar to find something deeper within ourselves. Spiritual growth doesn’t always happen in the places we expect. Sometimes it requires us to try something different, step outside our comfort zones, or simply listen in a new way.
This Sunday, October 25, at 7:00 pm, we have an opportunity to experience Nava Tehila together at Temple Sinai. And what makes this experience especially exciting is that their music is probably more familiar to you than you realize! While these melodies were new to me when I first heard them in Jerusalem, they have since become a meaningful part of our worship at Sinai. Throughout the year, we sing their melodies for Lecha Dodi, Yedid Nefesh, Oseh Shalom, Pure Heart, and more.
These melodies have become part of the soundtrack of our spiritual lives at Sinai. Now, we have the special opportunity to hear the very musicians who created them bring them to life. My hope is that as we sing together, each of us will also discover something personal in the experience, something that speaks to our own spiritual needs.
As we welcome Shabbat, I invite you to take a few moments to listen to Nava Tehila’s Oseh Shalom. Perhaps close your eyes, set aside the distractions of the week, and simply allow yourself to listen.
You never know what might speak to your soul when you give yourself the chance to listen.
