Voices of WRJ: Va-et'chanan

by Julia Weinstein Have you ever heard of an “earworm”? What about the term “sticky music”? That song that stubbornly plays in your head and sticks in your brain is an earworm. Whatever you call it, that tune playing over and over again in your head is a universal and shared human experience. Researchers have studied and written about this phenomenon and Edgar Allen Poe and Mark Twain have mentioned it. There is even a TED-Ed on the topic. Sometimes earworms are so annoying that we need an antidote. Just check Google for a suggestion on a cure: how about chewing gum? Or humming “God Save the Queen”? But sometimes earworms can make it easier to memorize facts or learn new languages. They can be inspiring and comforting. They can be associated with feelings, times and places and with texts and teachings. WRJ has always had a special connection with the music and liturgy of Debbie Friedman. During her prolific career, Debbie generously shared her talent with us at our WRJ Assemblies where we sang and danced to her music. Her body of work has become a part of our worship and continues to inspire our programming. How many of our WRJ women have clapped, tapped their toes, sung and danced to her "Miriam’s Song"? Some sisterhoods even consider it their anthem. In 1970, Debbie wrote the Sh'ma/V'ahavta (And You Shall Love) and instantly we were given a new musical way to relate to an ancient text that is at the center of our faith. This text is found in this week’s Torah portion, Va-et'chanan, Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11. The words of the V’ahavta that we recite in our worship services and that Debbie put to music touch us, as women, particularly deeply:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and thou shalt speak of them when thou sittest in thy house when thou walkest by the way and when thou risest up, and when thou liest down.

As mothers we are the first teachers of our children and we are their earliest role models. What we say to our children and in the presence of our children and how we act within our families and toward others has a profound effect on shaping our children’s behaviors and values. As the human species’ primary nurturers, both because of our innate role as the child bearers and because we have been socialized to be homemakers and child rearers, the words of the V’ahavta have always had a special meaning to women. As more of us are now often the primary breadwinners within the family unit and are making careers outside the home and even as our partners are embracing and sharing more and more parental, nurturing and home front responsibilities, we crave guidance on how to teach our children and show them by example. This week’s Torah portion gives us that guidance and reminds us to teach our children by example, with Judaism in mind. Debbie’s music helps cement this reminder in our minds as well as our hearts. Who can read the words of the V’ahavta without the internal sonic analog of Debbie Friedman’s beautiful melody? Debbie’s music has informed and inspired modern Jewish worship. Her lyrics and melodies have become our earworms or sticky music and a way for us to keep Torah close—a way to carry it with us when we stay at home and when we are away, when we lie down and when we get up. Julia Weinstein is a WRJ Executive Committee member. She currently also serves as the WRJ Pacific District Vice President of Marketing & Communications. She is a member of University Synagogue in Los Angeles, CA.