"He causes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters..."
Melodious praise to Hashem is very, very powerful.
It provides spiritual soothing to your own heart and sweetens dinim Above.
Remember, David Hamelech's Tehillim of praise & longing for Hashem were originally accompanied by the music of his harp.
We have a variety of melodious praises to sing to Hashem:
You might know popular tunes for these...or even better, melodies composed by holy Rebbes or Rabbanim.
You might also have your own that you sing to Hashem.
So if you can, it's helpful to take some time to sit alone (like in your bedroom or something) and sing these words to Hashem.
Even if you can only manage one stanza of it, it definitely counts. (I know interruptions are more likely if you have dependent family around you.)
Sing from your heart as best you can, and try to visualize what you're singing, even imagining yourself in the words.
Many piyutim & Tehillim contain compelling imagery, which lend themselves to easier visualization.
For example, as you sing Psalm 23 ("Mizmor l'David, Hashem is my Shepherd; I shall not lack..."), you can visualize Hashem (without actually visualizing Hashem Himself) settling you in a pleasant green meadow (bin'ot desheh yarbitzeni) and leading you beside lovely still waters (al mei menuchot yinahaleni).
It provides spiritual soothing to your own heart and sweetens dinim Above.
Remember, David Hamelech's Tehillim of praise & longing for Hashem were originally accompanied by the music of his harp.
We have a variety of melodious praises to sing to Hashem:
- Piyutim
- Zemirot
- Tehillim
- Verses from Tanach
- Verses from tefillah
You might know popular tunes for these...or even better, melodies composed by holy Rebbes or Rabbanim.
You might also have your own that you sing to Hashem.
So if you can, it's helpful to take some time to sit alone (like in your bedroom or something) and sing these words to Hashem.
Even if you can only manage one stanza of it, it definitely counts. (I know interruptions are more likely if you have dependent family around you.)
Sing from your heart as best you can, and try to visualize what you're singing, even imagining yourself in the words.
Many piyutim & Tehillim contain compelling imagery, which lend themselves to easier visualization.
For example, as you sing Psalm 23 ("Mizmor l'David, Hashem is my Shepherd; I shall not lack..."), you can visualize Hashem (without actually visualizing Hashem Himself) settling you in a pleasant green meadow (bin'ot desheh yarbitzeni) and leading you beside lovely still waters (al mei menuchot yinahaleni).
Really immersing yourself as much as you can in the imagery (including the emotional environment) of the holy words can give you a break from anything negative you may (but hopefully aren't) experiencing.
It gives Hashem a lot of nachat when you do things like this, and it also gets you in touch with your own neshamah and with Hashem.
It gives Hashem a lot of nachat when you do things like this, and it also gets you in touch with your own neshamah and with Hashem.
Note: I found Shiffy Friedman's Corona Chizuk newsletter particularly helpful for what's going on right now. Just reading it was soothing (and gently humorous).
(You can get the newsletter by emailing here: emotionalwellnessthroughTorah@gmail.com)
Also, Rav Shimon Gruen's special Corona Virus supplement contained really helpful down-to-earth material to mull over, in addition to some practical steps to take spiritually to sweeten this decree.
(You subscribe by emailing here: parshalessons@lehair.org)
Also, there is a Faith & Action event hosted by Torahanytime.com today, featuring speakers like Rebbetzin Heller & Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson (plus several more).
It's scheduled for 12-3PM EST New York, Los Angeles 9AM-12PM, Chicago 11AM-2PM, and Eretz Yisrael 6-9PM.
Please go here: https://www.torahanytime.com/
(You can get the newsletter by emailing here: emotionalwellnessthroughTorah@gmail.com)
Also, Rav Shimon Gruen's special Corona Virus supplement contained really helpful down-to-earth material to mull over, in addition to some practical steps to take spiritually to sweeten this decree.
(You subscribe by emailing here: parshalessons@lehair.org)
Also, there is a Faith & Action event hosted by Torahanytime.com today, featuring speakers like Rebbetzin Heller & Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson (plus several more).
It's scheduled for 12-3PM EST New York, Los Angeles 9AM-12PM, Chicago 11AM-2PM, and Eretz Yisrael 6-9PM.
Please go here: https://www.torahanytime.com/
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