אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָא: לְדִידִי
Music from a Pure Source
Music from a wicked musician makes it hard to serve Hashem; music from an upright one helps. A melody is drawn from 'birds': the two pure birds close to the source of prophecy (hence 'chazzan', from chazon), or the birds of the husk. The remedy is learning Gemara at night, which repairs the voice and draws a thread of kindness that shields even learning not for its own sake. Rebbe Nachman reads Rabbah bar bar Chanah's tale of the frog, serpent, raven and tree this way, and teaches that King David could lift even unholy music into holiness.
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הַמָּקוֹר · Original text
אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָא: לְדִידִי חָזִי לִי הַהִיא אַקְרוּקְתָא דְּהֲוָה כִּי אַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא, וְאַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא כַּמָּה הֲוֵי, שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי, אָתָא תַּנִּינָא בָּלְעָהּ, אָתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא וּבָלְעָה לְתַנִּינָא, וּסְלִיק יָתִיב בְּאִילָנָא. תָּא חֲזִי כַּמָּה נָפִישׁ חֵילֵיהּ דְּאִילָנָא:
הִנֵּה מִי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ נְגִינָה מִמְּנַגֵּן רָשָׁע, קָשֶׁה לוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא, וּכְשֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ מִמְּנַגֵּן כָּשֵׁר וְהָגוּן, אֲזַי טוֹב לוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר.
כִּי הִנֵּה קוֹל הַנְּגִינָה נִמְשֶכֶת מִן הַצִּפֳּרִים, כִּדְאִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (ויקרא פ' טז): מִפְּנֵי מָה מְצֹרָע טָהֳרָתוֹ תְּלוּיָה בִּשְׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת, יָבוֹא קַלַּנְיָא וִיכַפֵּר עַל קַלַּנְיָא. כִּי נִלְקָה מֵחֲמַת קוֹלוֹ, שֶׁדִּבֵּר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע.
נִמְצָא, מִי שֶׁהוּא כָּשֵׁר, נִמְשֶׁכֶת הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁלּוֹ מִן הַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת. וְכָתוּב בַּזֹּהַר (ויקרא נג:), שֶׁהַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים הַנַּ"ל יוֹנְקִים מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים יָנְקִין. לְכָךְ נִקְרָא הַמְּנַגֵּן חַזָּן, מִלְּשׁוֹן חָזוֹן, הַיְנוּ לְשׁוֹן נְבוּאָה, כִּי לוֹקֵחַ הַנְּגִינָה מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים יָנְקִין.
וּכְשֶׁהַמְּנַגֵּן הוּא רָשָׁע, אֲזַי הוּא לוֹקֵחַ הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁלּוֹ מִצִּפֳּרִים אֲחֵרוֹת שֶׁבַּקְּלִפָּה. וְכָתוּב בַּזֹּהַר, כִּי הַצִּפֳּרִים שֶׁבַּקְּלִפָּה יוֹנְקִין מִדַּדֵּי הַמַּלְכוּת, וְכַד אִתְפְּלֵג לֵילְיָא כְּדֵין כְּרוֹזָא כָּרֵז: כַּצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחוּזוֹת בַּפָּח, כָּהֶם יוּקָשִׁים בְּנֵי־ אָדָם.
וְהַתִּקּוּן הוּא שֶׁיּוּכַל לִשְׁמֹעַ נְגִינָה מִכָּל אָדָם, הוּא עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה, הַיְנוּ גְּמָרָא שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת לַיְלָה, כִּדְאִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ: כְּשֶׁהָיָה מֹשֶׁה בָּהָר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה, לֹא הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מָתַי יוֹם ומָתַי לַיְלָה, רַק עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה כְּשֶׁהָיָה לוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא יוֹם, וּכְשֶׁלָּמַד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא לַיְלָה.
נִמְצָא, שֶׁתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה הִיא בְּחִינַת לַיְלָה, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין כד.): בְּמַּחְשַׁכִּים הוֹשִׁיבַנִי – זֶה תַּלְמוּד בַּבְלִי, וּכְתִיב (בראשית א): וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לַיְלָה.
הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד שַׁ"ס, יְתַקֵּן הַשִּׁית עִזְקָאִין שֶׁבַּקָּנֶה, שֶׁמֵּהֶם יוֹצֵא הַקּוֹל. וְזֶהוּ (איכה ב): קוּמִי רֹנִי בַלַּיְלָה, הַיְנוּ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה תְּקוּמָה לְהָרִנָּה, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי הַלַּיְלָה, שֶׁהִיא גְּמָרָא שַׁ"ס.
אַךְ כְּשֶׁלּוֹמֵד שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ, הַיְנוּ בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיִּתְקָרֵא רַבִּי, הַלִּמּוּד אֵינוֹ בַּחֲשִׁיבוּת כָּל כָּךְ, וּכְשֶׁלּוֹמֵד בַּלַּיְלָה חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד נִמְשָׁךְ עָלָיו וּמֵגֵן עָלָיו, שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיק לוֹ הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה הַנַּ"ל:
וְאִיתָא בְּכִתְבֵי הָאֲרִ"י, כִּי צִפֳּרִים שֶׁבִּקְלִפָּה הֵם מֹחִין שֶׁבְּמַלְכוּת דִּקְלִפָּה, וְהַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת הֵם בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה.
לְפִיכָךְ נִשְׁתַּבַּח דָּוִד לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל (שמואל־א טז): וְיוֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן; כִּי הַנְּגִינָה הִיא בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת, לְכָךְ רָאוּי הוּא לְמַלְכוּת. וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב אֶצְלוֹ (תהילים ע״ח:ע״א): מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ, הַיְנוּ מֵאַחַר הַמֵּינִיקוֹת, הַיְנוּ נֶצַח וָהוֹד, כִּי הֵם מֵינִיקִין לַנְּבִיאִים, וְהֵם בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת:
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה:
לְדִידִי חָזִי לִי הַהִיא אַקְרוּקְתָא, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: צְפַרְדֵּעַ, הַיְנוּ צִפּוֹר דֵּעָה.
דַּהֲוֵי כִּי אַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא – מִלְּשׁוֹן קְרָא בְגָרוֹן (ישעיהו נח), הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַנְּגִינָה נִמְשָׁךְ מִמֶּנּוּ.
וְאַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא כַּמָּה הֲוֵי שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי – הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי מָה תְּתַקֵּן בְּחִינַת קְרָא בְגָרוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שִׁתִּין מַסֶכְתּוֹת, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: תַּלְמוּדָא קָאֲמַר לָהּ, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיִּלְמַד תַּלְמוּד.
אָתָא תַּנִּינָא בַּלְעָהּ, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: רַבָּה קָאָמַר לָהּ, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ, יִבְלַע אוֹתָהּ הַנָּחָשׁ. וְזֶה שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: רַבָּה קָאֲמַר לָהּ, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמוֹד בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיִּתְקָרֵא רַבִּי.
אָתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: עוֹרֵב, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה, מִלְּשׁוֹן עַרְבִית,
וּבַלְעָהּ – הַיְנוּ וּמֵגֵן עָלָיו מִן הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל.
וּסְלִיק יְתִיב בְּאִילָנָא – פֵּרֵשׁ הַמַּהַרְשָׁ"א, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁכָּתוּב אֶצְלוֹ (בראשית כ״א:ל״ג): וַיִּטַּע אֵשֶׁל, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַחוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד שֶׁנִּמְשָׁךְ עָלָיו, מֵגֵן עָלָיו מִן הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל.
תָּא חֲזִי כַּמָּה נָפִישׁ חֵילֵה דְּאִילָנָא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁרַבָּה מַתְמִיהַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ, שֶׁכָּל כָּךְ גָּבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ עַל זֶה יָכוֹל לְהָגֵן:
וּבָזֶה יִתְיַשֵּׁב הַסְּמִיכוּת שֶׁל הַמִּשְׁנָה (אבות פ"א): עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר, וֶהֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת –
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ הַנְּגִינָה כַּנַּ"ל, הוּא מְתַקֵּן בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלּוֹ,
וְזֶה: עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיְּתַקֵּן בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, וְזֶה עַל־יְדֵי קְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי קָנֶה, שֶׁהַקּוֹל יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ,
שֶׁמְּחַבֵּר הַשְּׁנֵי כְּרוּבִים לִהְיוֹת פָּנִים בְּפָנִים כְּמַעַר אִישׁ וְלֹיוֹת, בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם.
וַאֲזַי, כְּשֶׁיְּתַקֵּן בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת שֶׁלּוֹ וְיוּכַל לִמְשֹׁל בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצֶה וְיוּכַל לְהָמִית לָזֶה וּלְהַחֲיוֹת לָזֶה, וְנִמְצָא עוֹלָם חָרֵב, לָזֶה אָמַר: וֶהֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל־הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת – שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לָדוּן אֶת כָּל אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת, כִּי אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא חָפֵץ בְּחֻרְבַּן־הָעוֹלָם, כִּי לֹא לְתֹהוּ בְּרָאָהּ, לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ:
וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה מַרְגְּלָא בְּפוּמָא דְּאִנְשֵׁי עַכְשָׁו לוֹמַר, שֶׁהַחַזָּנִים הֵם שׁוֹטִים וְאֵינָם בְּנֵי דֵּעָה, כִּי עַכְשָׁו מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה בַּגָּלוּת, וְעַל כֵּן הַנְּגִינָה, שֶׁהִיא נִמְשֶׁכֶת מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים, מִבְּחִינַת מֹחִין וְדַעַת דְּמַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְעַכְשָׁו שֶׁהַמַּלְכוּת בְּגָּלוּת, וְעַל כֵּן הַנְּגִינָה נִפְגֶּמֶת, וְעַל כֵּן הַחַזָּנִים הֵם בְּלֹא דַּעַת, כִּי אֵין לָהֶם כֹּחַ עַכְשָׁו לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הַנְּגִינָה מִשָּׁרְשָׁהּ שֶׁבַּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מֹחִין וְדַעַת שֶׁל מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל:
אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד, שֶׁיִּתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְיִהְיֶה ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, אֲזַי תִּתְעַלֶּה וְתֻשְׁלַם הַנְּגִינָה בִּבְחִינַת דַּעַת דְּמַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם נִמְשֶׁכֶת הַנְּגִינָה כַּנַּ"ל.
וְזֶהוּ (תהילים מ״ז:ח׳): כִּי מֶלֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֱלֹקִים זַמְּרוּ מַשְׂכִּיל; כִּי אֲזַי, כְּשֶׁיִּהְיֶה ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ וְיִתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, אֲזַי זַמְּרוּ מַשְׂכִּיל, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַחַזָּנִים הַמְזַמְּרִים יִהְיוּ בְּדַעַת וּבְשֵׂכֶל עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וִיקַבְּלוּ הַנְּגִינָה מִשָּׁרְשָׁהּ שֶׁבַּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת דַּעַת וּמֹחִין שֶׁל מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל:
שַׁיָּךְ לְעֵיל
וְזֶהוּ: כִּי גָּדוֹל מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ (תהילים ק״ח:ה׳). שָׁמַיִם הוּא בְּחִינַת קוֹל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: מִשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמַעְתָּ קוֹלֶךָ; כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַחֶסֶד, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד, הַנִּמְשָׁךְ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה בַּלַּיְלָה, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְתַּקֵּן הַקּוֹל כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶהוּ כִּי גָּדוֹל מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ כַּנַּ"ל:
הַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם הַנְּבוּאָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת, הֵם בִּנְיַן מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְעַל כֵּן הַעֲמָדַת מֶלֶךְ הָיָה עַל־פִּי נְבוּאָה, כְּכָל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד שֶׁהָיָה עַל־פִּי נְבוּאָה. וְהַנְּבוּאָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת מִן הַכְּרוּבִים, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת שְׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים הַנַּ"ל, שֶׁהֵם בִּנְיַן מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל:
מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ, הַיְנוּ מֵאַחַר הַמֵּינִיקוֹת, כִּי הֵם יָנְקִין לַנְּבִיאִים וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת, הַיְנוּ שֶׁדָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם הָיָה יָכוֹל לְתַקֵּן וּלְהַעֲלוֹת גַּם הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵאָדָם כָּשֵׁר, לְהַעֲלוֹתָהּ אֶל הַקְּדֻשָּׁה.
וְזֶהוּ מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ, הַיְנוּ גַּם הַנְּגִינָה, שֶׁהִיא מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, בִּבְחִינַת מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת, מֵאַחַר הַמֵּינִיקוֹת, כִּי הַנְּגִינָה דִּקְדֻשָּׁה הוּא מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים יַנְקִין, וְהַנְּגִינָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הִיא בְּחִינַת מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת, מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, וְדָוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם הָיָה יָכוֹל לְתַקֵּן נְגִינָה זוֹ גַּם כֵּן, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְעַלָּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֵבִיאוֹ לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב וְכוּ'; כִּי עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זָכָה לְמַלְכוּת כַּנַּ"ל:
Hebrew text: Likutei Moharan - rabenubook.com via Sefaria (Public Domain) · Sefaria. Names of Hashem are written in the customary form.
Transcripts
1-minute recap
Likutey Moharan, Torah three: Akrukta.
Music from a wicked musician makes it hard to serve Hashem; music from an upright one is good for the soul.
Pure music is drawn from the two pure birds, the place the prophets draw from. That's why the singer is called a chazzan.
The remedy: learn Gemara at night. It repairs the voice, and a thread of kindness shields you.
King David knew how to play, and so he was fit to be king; he could lift even an unholy melody into holiness.
And when your voice gains power, judge every person favourably.
Our own reflection: guard what you listen to, and learn a little at night.
Explainer
Likutey Moharan, Torah three: Akrukta, the frog that Rabbah bar bar Chanah saw. A Torah about music: where a melody comes from, what it does to the one who hears it, and how to be protected.
Rebbe Nachman begins with something we feel. Hearing music from a wicked musician makes it hard to serve Hashem, and hearing it from an upright musician does good.
Why? Music is drawn from the birds. The Midrash says the metzora, struck for his chatter, his lashon hara, is purified with two pure, living birds.
An upright singer draws his melody from those pure birds, which draw from the place of the prophets. That is why he is called a chazzan, from chazon, vision.
But a wicked singer draws from the birds of the husk, and their song is a snare: like birds caught in a trap, so are people caught.
The remedy, so that one can hear music from anyone, is to learn the Oral Torah, Gemara, at night. Moshe on the mountain knew it was night when he learned the Oral Torah.
Learning Shas repairs the six rings of the windpipe, where the voice comes from: arise, sing out in the night. And even if one learns for honour, learning at night draws a thread of kindness that shields him.
Holy music builds holy Malchus. That is why David, who knew how to play, was fit to be king.
Now the tale. The akrukta, a frog, tzefardea, is a tzipor de'ah, a bird of knowledge: the voice. As big as the fort of Hagronia, calling in the throat. Sixty houses: the sixty tractates of the Talmud that repair it.
A serpent swallowed it: learning only to be called Rabbi. A raven, orev, swallowed the serpent: learning at night, arvis. And the raven sat in a tree: Avraham's tree of kindness, that shields from the serpent.
Then a Mishnah: make yourself a rav, acquire a friend, and judge every person favourably. Repair your Malchus through the kaneh, the voice. But once your words have power, judge everyone favourably, for Hashem made the world to be lived in.
In exile, Rebbe Nachman says, holy Malchus is in exile too, and the chazzanim cannot draw music from its root. But in the future, when Hashem is King over all the earth: zamru maskil, they will sing with understanding.
And King David could lift even a melody that came from behind holiness, from someone unfit, and raise it up. That is how he merited kingship.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. Choose carefully whose music you listen to. Learn a little Gemara at night. And judge people favourably, so that your song builds and never destroys.
Full shiur
— Part 1: The Birds, the Prophets, and the Remedy at Night —
Likutey Moharan, Torah three: Akrukta, the frog that Rabbah bar bar Chanah saw. A Torah about music: where a melody comes from, and how to hear it safely. A shiur in three parts. Part one: the birds, the prophets, and learning at night.
Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan, Torah three. Grey is a verse or teaching he quotes. Green is our own explanation. The Hebrew is the public-domain text from Sefaria; the English is our own paraphrase.
The Torah opens with one of Rabbah bar bar Chanah's wondrous tales from the Gemara. Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: I myself saw a frog as big as the fort of Hagronia. And how big is the fort of Hagronia? Sixty houses. A serpent came and swallowed the frog. A raven came and swallowed the serpent, and it went up and sat in a tree. Come and see how great is the strength of that tree.
Rebbe Nachman begins: Now, one who hears music from a wicked musician finds it hard to serve the Creator; and when he hears it from a fitting, upright musician, it is good for him, as will be explained.
For the sound of music is drawn from the birds, as the Midrash says: why does the purification of a metzora depend on two living, pure birds? Let the one who chattered come and atone for chatter. For he was struck because of his voice, because he spoke lashon hara.
So the music of a fitting person is drawn from the two living, pure birds. And the Zohar writes that these two birds draw from the place from which the prophets draw. That is why the singer is called a chazzan, from chazon, a vision, a word for prophecy: he takes his music from the place the prophets draw from.
And when the musician is wicked, he takes his music from other birds, those of the kelipah, the husk. The Zohar writes that the birds of the kelipah draw their nourishment from Malchus; and at midnight a herald proclaims: 'Like birds caught in a snare, so are people trapped.'
Our explanation. Rebbe Nachman teaches that a melody carries its source with it. The music of an upright person comes from the two pure birds, close to the place of prophecy, and lifts the listener. The music of a wicked person comes from the birds of the husk, and it can trap the one who hears it, making it hard to serve Hashem. So what is the remedy?
Here it is. The remedy, so that one can hear music from anyone, is to learn the Oral Torah at night, meaning Gemara, which is the aspect of night. As the Midrash says: when Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights, he did not know when it was day and when night, except that when he learned the Written Torah he knew it was day, and when he learned the Oral Torah he knew it was night.
So the Oral Torah is the aspect of night. As our Sages said: 'He has set me in dark places' – this is the Babylonian Talmud. And it is written: 'And the darkness He called night.'
That is, by learning Shas, he repairs the six rings of the windpipe from which the voice comes out. And this is: 'Arise, sing out in the night': there will be a rising for the song through the night, which is Gemara, Shas.
— Part 2: A Thread of Kindness, King David, and Rabbah's Frog —
Part two: the thread of kindness, King David's music, and the frog, the serpent and the raven.
He adds one more thing. But when he learns not for its own sake, in order to be called Rabbi, the learning is not so precious. Yet when he learns at night, a thread of kindness is drawn over him and shields him, so that this motive will not harm him.
Our summary of section one. A melody carries its source: the pure birds of prophecy, or the birds of the husk. The remedy is to learn Gemara, the Oral Torah, at night. That repairs the voice, and a thread of kindness shields the learner, even if his motives are not yet pure. Next, Rebbe Nachman will find all of this inside Rabbah bar bar Chanah's frog.
Section two. And the writings of the Arizal say that the birds of the kelipah are the mind of the Malchus of the kelipah, while the two living, pure birds are the building of the holy Malchus.
That is why David was praised before Shaul: 'and he knows how to play.' For music is the building of Malchus, so he was fit for kingship. And this is what is written of him: 'From following the nursing ewes He brought him': the nursing ones are Netzach and Hod, which nourish the prophets, and they are the building of Malchus.
Our explanation, kept simple. Malchus, kingship, is built from the same place that music and prophecy come from. That is why the young shepherd who knew how to play was fit to be king. Now Rebbe Nachman returns to the Gemara's tale.
Section three. Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: I myself saw that akrukta, which Rabbeinu Shmuel explains as a frog, tzefardea: that is, tzipor de'ah, a bird of knowledge.
'As big as the fort of Hagronia', akra d'hagronia, from 'kera b'garon', calling out in the throat: the music is drawn from it.
'And how big is the fort of Hagronia? Sixty houses': how is the calling in the throat repaired? Through sixty houses, the sixty tractates. And Rabbeinu Shmuel explains: he is speaking of the Talmud. That is, he should learn Talmud.
'A serpent came and swallowed it.' Rabbeinu Shmuel explains: he is speaking of a 'rabbah', a great one. That is, through learning not for its own sake, the serpent swallows it. This is what Rabbeinu Shmuel meant: learning in order to be called Rabbi.
'A raven came', pushkantza, which Rabbeinu Shmuel explains as a raven, orev: that is, by learning at night, from the word arvis, evening. 'And swallowed it': that is, it shields him from that serpent.
'And it went up and sat in a tree.' The Maharsha explains that this is the aspect of Avraham, of whom it is written: 'And he planted an eshel', the aspect of kindness. That is, the thread of kindness drawn over him shields him from the serpent.
'Come and see how great is the strength of the tree': Rabbah marvels at himself, that His kindness has so prevailed over us that it can shield even from this.
Our explanation, putting the tale together. The frog is the voice and its music. Sixty houses: the sixty tractates of the Talmud repair it. The serpent that swallows it is learning for honour. The raven is learning at night, which swallows the serpent. And the tree is Avraham's kindness, a thread of kindness strong enough to protect even that.
— Part 3: Judging Favourably, and Lifting Every Melody —
Part three: judging everyone favourably, the chazzanim of exile, and King David who lifted every melody.
Section four. With this the order of the Mishnah is understood: 'Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend, and judge every person favourably.'
For by hearing music, as above, he repairs the building of his Malchus.
And this is 'make for yourself a rav': that he repair the aspect of Malchus. And this is through 'acquire for yourself a friend', kneh, the windpipe, kaneh, from which the voice comes, which joins the two keruvim to be face to face, at a time when Israel do the will of Hashem.
And then, when he repairs his Malchus and can rule over whatever he wishes, able to bring death to one and life to another, the world could be laid waste. For this it says: 'and judge every person favourably.' One must judge every person favourably, for the Holy One, blessed be He, does not want the world destroyed: 'He did not create it for emptiness; He formed it to be settled.'
Our explanation. When a person's Malchus is built up, his words carry real power. Power like that could destroy. So the Mishnah adds right away: judge every person favourably. Hashem made the world to be lived in, not laid waste.
Section five. That is why people say nowadays that chazzanim are foolish and lack understanding. For now the holy Malchus is in exile. Music is drawn from the place the prophets draw from, from the mind and knowledge of the holy Malchus; and now that Malchus is in exile, the music is damaged, and so the chazzanim are without understanding, for they do not now have the strength to draw the music from its holy root.
But in the future, when the holy Malchus is raised up and Hashem will be King over all the earth, the music will be lifted and completed with the knowledge of the holy Malchus, from where music is drawn.
And this is: 'For Elokim is King of all the earth; sing with understanding, zamru maskil.' When Hashem is King over all the earth and the holy Malchus is raised, then 'sing with understanding': the chazzanim who sing will have knowledge and understanding, because they will receive the music from its holy root.
The rest are short notes that belong with the teaching above. Belonging to the above. And this is: 'For Your kindness is great above the heavens.' The heavens are the aspect of the voice, as it is written: 'From the heavens He let you hear His voice.' For through kindness, the thread of kindness drawn by learning Torah at night, the voice is repaired. And this is: 'For Your kindness is great above the heavens.'
Another note. The two holy birds, from which prophecy is drawn, are the building of the holy Malchus. That is why a king was appointed through prophecy, like all the kingship of the house of David. And prophecy is drawn from the keruvim, which are the two birds, the building of the holy Malchus.
And a last note, on King David. 'From following the nursing ewes He brought him': the nursing ones nourish the prophets, as above. And 'me'achar alos', from behind, means that King David, peace be upon him, could repair and raise even the music that does not come from a fitting person, lifting it to holiness.
That is, even music that comes from behind holiness: holy music comes from the place the prophets draw from, and music that is not holy is 'from behind'. And King David could repair this music too, and through it the holy Malchus was raised. That is why 'from following the nursing ewes He brought him to shepherd Yaakov': through this he merited kingship.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. Choose carefully whose music you listen to. Learn a little Gemara at night, even a few lines, and let it guard your voice. And judge people favourably, so that your song builds and never destroys.
This has been Likutey Moharan, Torah three. Akrukta.
Sources for this Torah
Texts used
Hebrew: Likutei Moharan (Part I), Torah 3, edition 'Likutei Moharan – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan.3
English: our own paraphrase of the Hebrew, written for these videos. It is not copied from any published translation.
Verses and teachings of the Sages appear only as Rebbe Nachman quotes them inside this Torah.
How the text is shown
The Divine Name is shown as ה' and voiced as Hashem. Other Names are written in the customary form (אֱלֹקִים, קֵ-ל, קָהּ, שַׁ-דַּ-י, אֲדֹ-נָ-י, אֶקְיֶ-ה, צְבָקוֹת). No full Name is written or voiced.
Parenthetical source references inside the printed Hebrew are left off the screen to save space; the citation line names the source instead.
Long paragraphs are shown in consecutive pieces. Every Hebrew word on screen is from the edition above; nothing is reworded.
Cards labelled EXPLANATION (green), and every line marked 'our own reflection — not a quote', are our own words, not quotations.
Notes
Part 1, scene 7: The Zohar's image of how the birds of the kelipah draw from Malchus is summarised briefly and modestly.
Part 3, scene 4: The Gemara's image of the keruvim is given briefly: 'face to face'.
Every on-screen quotation in the full shiur, by part
Part 1 — The Birds, the Prophets, and the Remedy at Night
Scene 3 · Bava Basra 73b, as quoted in LM I:3 · paragraph §1.1
אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָא: לְדִידִי חָזִי לִי הַהִיא אַקְרוּקְתָא דְּהֲוָה כִּי אַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא, וְאַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא כַּמָּה הֲוֵי, שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי, אָתָא תַּנִּינָא בָּלְעָהּ, אָתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא וּבָלְעָה לְתַנִּינָא, וּסְלִיק יָתִיב בְּאִילָנָא. תָּא חֲזִי כַּמָּה נָפִישׁ חֵילֵיהּ דְּאִילָנָא:
EN (our paraphrase): Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: I myself saw a frog as big as the fort of Hagronia. And how big is the fort of Hagronia? Sixty houses. A serpent came and swallowed the frog. A raven came and swallowed the serpent, and it went up and sat in a tree. Come and see how great is the strength of that tree.
Scene 4 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.2
הִנֵּה מִי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ נְגִינָה מִמְּנַגֵּן רָשָׁע, קָשֶׁה לוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא, וּכְשֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ מִמְּנַגֵּן כָּשֵׁר וְהָגוּן, אֲזַי טוֹב לוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר.
EN (our paraphrase): Now, one who hears music from a wicked musician finds it hard to serve the Creator; and when he hears it from a fitting, upright musician, it is good for him, as will be explained.
Scene 5 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.3
כִּי הִנֵּה קוֹל הַנְּגִינָה נִמְשֶכֶת מִן הַצִּפֳּרִים, כִּדְאִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ: מִפְּנֵי מָה מְצֹרָע טָהֳרָתוֹ תְּלוּיָה בִּשְׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת, יָבוֹא קַלַּנְיָא וִיכַפֵּר עַל קַלַּנְיָא. כִּי נִלְקָה מֵחֲמַת קוֹלוֹ, שֶׁדִּבֵּר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע.
EN (our paraphrase): For the sound of music is drawn from the birds, as the Midrash says: why does the purification of a metzora depend on two living, pure birds? Let the one who chattered come and atone for chatter. For he was struck because of his voice, because he spoke lashon hara.
Scene 6 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.4
נִמְצָא, מִי שֶׁהוּא כָּשֵׁר, נִמְשֶׁכֶת הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁלּוֹ מִן הַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת. וְכָתוּב בַּזֹּהַר, שֶׁהַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים הַנַּ"ל יוֹנְקִים מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים יָנְקִין. לְכָךְ נִקְרָא הַמְּנַגֵּן חַזָּן, מִלְּשׁוֹן חָזוֹן, הַיְנוּ לְשׁוֹן נְבוּאָה, כִּי לוֹקֵחַ הַנְּגִינָה מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים יָנְקִין.
EN (our paraphrase): So the music of a fitting person is drawn from the two living, pure birds. And the Zohar writes that these two birds draw from the place from which the prophets draw. That is why the singer is called a chazzan, from chazon, a vision, a word for prophecy: he takes his music from the place the prophets draw from.
Scene 7 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.5
וּכְשֶׁהַמְּנַגֵּן הוּא רָשָׁע, אֲזַי הוּא לוֹקֵחַ הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁלּוֹ מִצִּפֳּרִים אֲחֵרוֹת שֶׁבַּקְּלִפָּה. וְכָתוּב בַּזֹּהַר, כִּי הַצִּפֳּרִים שֶׁבַּקְּלִפָּה יוֹנְקִין מִדַּדֵּי הַמַּלְכוּת, וְכַד אִתְפְּלֵג לֵילְיָא כְּדֵין כְּרוֹזָא כָּרֵז: כַּצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחוּזוֹת בַּפָּח, כָּהֶם יוּקָשִׁים בְּנֵי־ אָדָם.
EN (our paraphrase): And when the musician is wicked, he takes his music from other birds, those of the kelipah, the husk. The Zohar writes that the birds of the kelipah draw their nourishment from Malchus; and at midnight a herald proclaims: 'Like birds caught in a snare, so are people trapped.'
Scene 9 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.6
וְהַתִּקּוּן הוּא שֶׁיּוּכַל לִשְׁמֹעַ נְגִינָה מִכָּל אָדָם, הוּא עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה, הַיְנוּ גְּמָרָא שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת לַיְלָה, כִּדְאִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ: כְּשֶׁהָיָה מֹשֶׁה בָּהָר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה, לֹא הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מָתַי יוֹם ומָתַי לַיְלָה, רַק עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה כְּשֶׁהָיָה לוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא יוֹם, וּכְשֶׁלָּמַד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא לַיְלָה.
EN (our paraphrase): The remedy, so that one can hear music from anyone, is to learn the Oral Torah at night, meaning Gemara, which is the aspect of night. As the Midrash says: when Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights, he did not know when it was day and when night, except that when he learned the Written Torah he knew it was day, and when he learned the Oral Torah he knew it was night.
Scene 10 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.7
נִמְצָא, שֶׁתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה הִיא בְּחִינַת לַיְלָה, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: בְּמַּחְשַׁכִּים הוֹשִׁיבַנִי – זֶה תַּלְמוּד בַּבְלִי, וּכְתִיב: וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לַיְלָה.
EN (our paraphrase): So the Oral Torah is the aspect of night. As our Sages said: 'He has set me in dark places' – this is the Babylonian Talmud. And it is written: 'And the darkness He called night.'
Scene 11 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.8
הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד שַׁ"ס, יְתַקֵּן הַשִּׁית עִזְקָאִין שֶׁבַּקָּנֶה, שֶׁמֵּהֶם יוֹצֵא הַקּוֹל. וְזֶהוּ: קוּמִי רֹנִי בַלַּיְלָה, הַיְנוּ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה תְּקוּמָה לְהָרִנָּה, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי הַלַּיְלָה, שֶׁהִיא גְּמָרָא שַׁ"ס.
EN (our paraphrase): That is, by learning Shas, he repairs the six rings of the windpipe from which the voice comes out. And this is: 'Arise, sing out in the night': there will be a rising for the song through the night, which is Gemara, Shas.
Part 2 — A Thread of Kindness, King David, and Rabbah's Frog
Scene 2 · LM I:3 §1 · paragraph §1.9
אַךְ כְּשֶׁלּוֹמֵד שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ, הַיְנוּ בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיִּתְקָרֵא רַבִּי, הַלִּמּוּד אֵינוֹ בַּחֲשִׁיבוּת כָּל כָּךְ, וּכְשֶׁלּוֹמֵד בַּלַּיְלָה חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד נִמְשָׁךְ עָלָיו וּמֵגֵן עָלָיו, שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיק לוֹ הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה הַנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): But when he learns not for its own sake, in order to be called Rabbi, the learning is not so precious. Yet when he learns at night, a thread of kindness is drawn over him and shields him, so that this motive will not harm him.
Scene 4 · LM I:3 §2 · paragraph §2.1
וְאִיתָא בְּכִתְבֵי הָאֲרִ"י, כִּי צִפֳּרִים שֶׁבִּקְלִפָּה הֵם מֹחִין שֶׁבְּמַלְכוּת דִּקְלִפָּה, וְהַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת הֵם בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה.
EN (our paraphrase): And the writings of the Arizal say that the birds of the kelipah are the mind of the Malchus of the kelipah, while the two living, pure birds are the building of the holy Malchus.
Scene 5 · LM I:3 §2 · paragraph §2.2
לְפִיכָךְ נִשְׁתַּבַּח דָּוִד לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל: וְיוֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן; כִּי הַנְּגִינָה הִיא בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת, לְכָךְ רָאוּי הוּא לְמַלְכוּת. וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב אֶצְלוֹ: מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ, הַיְנוּ מֵאַחַר הַמֵּינִיקוֹת, הַיְנוּ נֶצַח וָהוֹד, כִּי הֵם מֵינִיקִין לַנְּבִיאִים, וְהֵם בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת:
EN (our paraphrase): That is why David was praised before Shaul: 'and he knows how to play.' For music is the building of Malchus, so he was fit for kingship. And this is what is written of him: 'From following the nursing ewes He brought him': the nursing ones are Netzach and Hod, which nourish the prophets, and they are the building of Malchus.
Scene 7 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.1, §3.2
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה: לְדִידִי חָזִי לִי הַהִיא אַקְרוּקְתָא, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: צְפַרְדֵּעַ, הַיְנוּ צִפּוֹר דֵּעָה.
EN (our paraphrase): Rabbah bar bar Chanah said: I myself saw that akrukta, which Rabbeinu Shmuel explains as a frog, tzefardea: that is, tzipor de'ah, a bird of knowledge.
Scene 8 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.3
דַּהֲוֵי כִּי אַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא – מִלְּשׁוֹן קְרָא בְגָרוֹן, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַנְּגִינָה נִמְשָׁךְ מִמֶּנּוּ.
EN (our paraphrase): 'As big as the fort of Hagronia', akra d'hagronia, from 'kera b'garon', calling out in the throat: the music is drawn from it.
Scene 9 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.4
וְאַקְרָא דְּהַגְרוֹנְיָא כַּמָּה הֲוֵי שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי – הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי מָה תְּתַקֵּן בְּחִינַת קְרָא בְגָרוֹן, עַל־יְדֵי שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שִׁתִּין מַסֶכְתּוֹת, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: תַּלְמוּדָא קָאֲמַר לָהּ, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיִּלְמַד תַּלְמוּד.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And how big is the fort of Hagronia? Sixty houses': how is the calling in the throat repaired? Through sixty houses, the sixty tractates. And Rabbeinu Shmuel explains: he is speaking of the Talmud. That is, he should learn Talmud.
Scene 10 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.5
אָתָא תַּנִּינָא בַּלְעָהּ, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: רַבָּה קָאָמַר לָהּ, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ, יִבְלַע אוֹתָהּ הַנָּחָשׁ. וְזֶה שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: רַבָּה קָאֲמַר לָהּ, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמוֹד בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיִּתְקָרֵא רַבִּי.
EN (our paraphrase): 'A serpent came and swallowed it.' Rabbeinu Shmuel explains: he is speaking of a 'rabbah', a great one. That is, through learning not for its own sake, the serpent swallows it. This is what Rabbeinu Shmuel meant: learning in order to be called Rabbi.
Scene 11 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.6, §3.7
אָתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַבֵּנוּ שְׁמוּאֵל: עוֹרֵב, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה, מִלְּשׁוֹן עַרְבִית, וּבַלְעָהּ – הַיְנוּ וּמֵגֵן עָלָיו מִן הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'A raven came', pushkantza, which Rabbeinu Shmuel explains as a raven, orev: that is, by learning at night, from the word arvis, evening. 'And swallowed it': that is, it shields him from that serpent.
Scene 12 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.8
וּסְלִיק יְתִיב בְּאִילָנָא – פֵּרֵשׁ הַמַּהַרְשָׁ"א, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁכָּתוּב אֶצְלוֹ: וַיִּטַּע אֵשֶׁל, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת חֶסֶד, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַחוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד שֶׁנִּמְשָׁךְ עָלָיו, מֵגֵן עָלָיו מִן הַנָּחָשׁ הַנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): 'And it went up and sat in a tree.' The Maharsha explains that this is the aspect of Avraham, of whom it is written: 'And he planted an eshel', the aspect of kindness. That is, the thread of kindness drawn over him shields him from the serpent.
Scene 13 · LM I:3 §3 · paragraph §3.9
תָּא חֲזִי כַּמָּה נָפִישׁ חֵילֵה דְּאִילָנָא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁרַבָּה מַתְמִיהַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ, שֶׁכָּל כָּךְ גָּבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ עַל זֶה יָכוֹל לְהָגֵן:
EN (our paraphrase): 'Come and see how great is the strength of the tree': Rabbah marvels at himself, that His kindness has so prevailed over us that it can shield even from this.
Part 3 — Judging Favourably, and Lifting Every Melody
Scene 2 · LM I:3 §4 · paragraph §4.1
וּבָזֶה יִתְיַשֵּׁב הַסְּמִיכוּת שֶׁל הַמִּשְׁנָה: עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר, וֶהֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת –
EN (our paraphrase): With this the order of the Mishnah is understood: 'Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend, and judge every person favourably.'
Scene 3 · LM I:3 §4 · paragraph §4.2
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ הַנְּגִינָה כַּנַּ"ל, הוּא מְתַקֵּן בִּנְיַן הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלּוֹ,
EN (our paraphrase): For by hearing music, as above, he repairs the building of his Malchus.
Scene 4 · LM I:3 §4 · paragraph §4.3, §4.4
וְזֶה: עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, הַיְנוּ שֶׁיְּתַקֵּן בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, וְזֶה עַל־יְדֵי קְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי קָנֶה, שֶׁהַקּוֹל יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁמְּחַבֵּר הַשְּׁנֵי כְּרוּבִים לִהְיוֹת פָּנִים בְּפָנִים כְּמַעַר אִישׁ וְלֹיוֹת, בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם.
EN (our paraphrase): And this is 'make for yourself a rav': that he repair the aspect of Malchus. And this is through 'acquire for yourself a friend', kneh, the windpipe, kaneh, from which the voice comes, which joins the two keruvim to be face to face, at a time when Israel do the will of Hashem.
Scene 5 · LM I:3 §4 · paragraph §4.5
וַאֲזַי, כְּשֶׁיְּתַקֵּן בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת שֶׁלּוֹ וְיוּכַל לִמְשֹׁל בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצֶה וְיוּכַל לְהָמִית לָזֶה וּלְהַחֲיוֹת לָזֶה, וְנִמְצָא עוֹלָם חָרֵב, לָזֶה אָמַר: וֶהֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל־הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת – שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לָדוּן אֶת כָּל אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת, כִּי אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא חָפֵץ בְּחֻרְבַּן־הָעוֹלָם, כִּי לֹא לְתֹהוּ בְּרָאָהּ, לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ:
EN (our paraphrase): And then, when he repairs his Malchus and can rule over whatever he wishes, able to bring death to one and life to another, the world could be laid waste. For this it says: 'and judge every person favourably.' One must judge every person favourably, for the Holy One, blessed be He, does not want the world destroyed: 'He did not create it for emptiness; He formed it to be settled.'
Scene 7 · LM I:3 §5 · paragraph §5.1
וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה מַרְגְּלָא בְּפוּמָא דְּאִנְשֵׁי עַכְשָׁו לוֹמַר, שֶׁהַחַזָּנִים הֵם שׁוֹטִים וְאֵינָם בְּנֵי דֵּעָה, כִּי עַכְשָׁו מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה בַּגָּלוּת, וְעַל כֵּן הַנְּגִינָה, שֶׁהִיא נִמְשֶׁכֶת מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים, מִבְּחִינַת מֹחִין וְדַעַת דְּמַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְעַכְשָׁו שֶׁהַמַּלְכוּת בְּגָּלוּת, וְעַל כֵּן הַנְּגִינָה נִפְגֶּמֶת, וְעַל כֵּן הַחַזָּנִים הֵם בְּלֹא דַּעַת, כִּי אֵין לָהֶם כֹּחַ עַכְשָׁו לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הַנְּגִינָה מִשָּׁרְשָׁהּ שֶׁבַּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מֹחִין וְדַעַת שֶׁל מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): That is why people say nowadays that chazzanim are foolish and lack understanding. For now the holy Malchus is in exile. Music is drawn from the place the prophets draw from, from the mind and knowledge of the holy Malchus; and now that Malchus is in exile, the music is damaged, and so the chazzanim are without understanding, for they do not now have the strength to draw the music from its holy root.
Scene 8 · LM I:3 §5 · paragraph §5.2
אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד, שֶׁיִּתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְיִהְיֶה ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, אֲזַי תִּתְעַלֶּה וְתֻשְׁלַם הַנְּגִינָה בִּבְחִינַת דַּעַת דְּמַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם נִמְשֶׁכֶת הַנְּגִינָה כַּנַּ"ל.
EN (our paraphrase): But in the future, when the holy Malchus is raised up and Hashem will be King over all the earth, the music will be lifted and completed with the knowledge of the holy Malchus, from where music is drawn.
Scene 9 · LM I:3 §5 · paragraph §5.3
וְזֶהוּ: כִּי מֶלֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֱלֹקִים זַמְּרוּ מַשְׂכִּיל; כִּי אֲזַי, כְּשֶׁיִּהְיֶה ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ וְיִתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, אֲזַי זַמְּרוּ מַשְׂכִּיל, הַיְנוּ שֶׁהַחַזָּנִים הַמְזַמְּרִים יִהְיוּ בְּדַעַת וּבְשֵׂכֶל עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וִיקַבְּלוּ הַנְּגִינָה מִשָּׁרְשָׁהּ שֶׁבַּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת דַּעַת וּמֹחִין שֶׁל מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): And this is: 'For Elokim is King of all the earth; sing with understanding, zamru maskil.' When Hashem is King over all the earth and the holy Malchus is raised, then 'sing with understanding': the chazzanim who sing will have knowledge and understanding, because they will receive the music from its holy root.
Scene 10 · LM I:3 §6 · paragraph §5.4, §6.1
שַׁיָּךְ לְעֵיל וְזֶהוּ: כִּי גָּדוֹל מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ. שָׁמַיִם הוּא בְּחִינַת קוֹל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: מִשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמַעְתָּ קוֹלֶךָ; כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַחֶסֶד, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד, הַנִּמְשָׁךְ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה בַּלַּיְלָה, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְתַּקֵּן הַקּוֹל כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶהוּ כִּי גָּדוֹל מֵעַל שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): Belonging to the above. And this is: 'For Your kindness is great above the heavens.' The heavens are the aspect of the voice, as it is written: 'From the heavens He let you hear His voice.' For through kindness, the thread of kindness drawn by learning Torah at night, the voice is repaired. And this is: 'For Your kindness is great above the heavens.'
Scene 11 · LM I:3 §7 · paragraph §7.1
הַשְּׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם הַנְּבוּאָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת, הֵם בִּנְיַן מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, וְעַל כֵּן הַעֲמָדַת מֶלֶךְ הָיָה עַל־פִּי נְבוּאָה, כְּכָל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד שֶׁהָיָה עַל־פִּי נְבוּאָה. וְהַנְּבוּאָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת מִן הַכְּרוּבִים, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת שְׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים הַנַּ"ל, שֶׁהֵם בִּנְיַן מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): The two holy birds, from which prophecy is drawn, are the building of the holy Malchus. That is why a king was appointed through prophecy, like all the kingship of the house of David. And prophecy is drawn from the keruvim, which are the two birds, the building of the holy Malchus.
Scene 12 · LM I:3 §8 · paragraph §8.1
מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ, הַיְנוּ מֵאַחַר הַמֵּינִיקוֹת, כִּי הֵם יָנְקִין לַנְּבִיאִים וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת, הַיְנוּ שֶׁדָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם הָיָה יָכוֹל לְתַקֵּן וּלְהַעֲלוֹת גַּם הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵאָדָם כָּשֵׁר, לְהַעֲלוֹתָהּ אֶל הַקְּדֻשָּׁה.
EN (our paraphrase): 'From following the nursing ewes He brought him': the nursing ones nourish the prophets, as above. And 'me'achar alos', from behind, means that King David, peace be upon him, could repair and raise even the music that does not come from a fitting person, lifting it to holiness.
Scene 13 · LM I:3 §8 · paragraph §8.2
וְזֶהוּ מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ, הַיְנוּ גַּם הַנְּגִינָה, שֶׁהִיא מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, בִּבְחִינַת מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת, מֵאַחַר הַמֵּינִיקוֹת, כִּי הַנְּגִינָה דִּקְדֻשָּׁה הוּא מֵאֲתַר דִּנְבִיאִים יַנְקִין, וְהַנְּגִינָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הִיא בְּחִינַת מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת, מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, וְדָוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם הָיָה יָכוֹל לְתַקֵּן נְגִינָה זוֹ גַּם כֵּן, וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה נִתְעַלָּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה כַּנַּ"ל. וְזֶהוּ מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֵבִיאוֹ לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב וְכוּ'; כִּי עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה זָכָה לְמַלְכוּת כַּנַּ"ל:
EN (our paraphrase): That is, even music that comes from behind holiness: holy music comes from the place the prophets draw from, and music that is not holy is 'from behind'. And King David could repair this music too, and through it the holy Malchus was raised. That is why 'from following the nursing ewes He brought him to shepherd Yaakov': through this he merited kingship.
Hebrew phrases in the Explainer
Scene 2 · §1.2: הִנֵּה מִי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ נְגִינָה מִמְּנַגֵּן רָשָׁע, קָשֶׁה לוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא,
Scene 3 · §1.3: כִּי הִנֵּה קוֹל הַנְּגִינָה נִמְשֶכֶת מִן הַצִּפֳּרִים,
Scene 4 · §1.4: לְכָךְ נִקְרָא הַמְּנַגֵּן חַזָּן, מִלְּשׁוֹן חָזוֹן,
Scene 5 · §1.5: כַּצִּפֳּרִים הָאֲחוּזוֹת בַּפָּח, כָּהֶם יוּקָשִׁים בְּנֵי־ אָדָם.
Scene 6 · §1.6: וְהַתִּקּוּן הוּא שֶׁיּוּכַל לִשְׁמֹעַ נְגִינָה מִכָּל אָדָם, הוּא עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה,
Scene 7 · §1.9: חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד נִמְשָׁךְ עָלָיו
Scene 8 · §2.2: לְפִיכָךְ נִשְׁתַּבַּח דָּוִד לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל: וְיוֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן;
Scene 9 · §3.4: עַל־יְדֵי שִׁתִּין מַסֶכְתּוֹת,
Scene 10 · §3.6: הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה, מִלְּשׁוֹן עַרְבִית,
Scene 11 · §4.5: לֹא לְתֹהוּ בְּרָאָהּ, לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ:
Scene 12 · §5.3: זַמְּרוּ מַשְׂכִּיל;
Scene 13 · §8.1: שֶׁדָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם הָיָה יָכוֹל לְתַקֵּן וּלְהַעֲלוֹת גַּם הַנְּגִינָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵאָדָם כָּשֵׁר, לְהַעֲלוֹתָהּ אֶל הַקְּדֻשָּׁה.
Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap
Scene 2 · §1.2: הִנֵּה מִי שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵעַ נְגִינָה מִמְּנַגֵּן רָשָׁע, קָשֶׁה לוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא,
Scene 3 · §1.4: לְכָךְ נִקְרָא הַמְּנַגֵּן חַזָּן, מִלְּשׁוֹן חָזוֹן,
Scene 4 · §1.6: וְהַתִּקּוּן הוּא שֶׁיּוּכַל לִשְׁמֹעַ נְגִינָה מִכָּל אָדָם, הוּא עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד בַּלַּיְלָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה,
Scene 5 · §2.2: לְפִיכָךְ נִשְׁתַּבַּח דָּוִד לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל: וְיוֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן;
Scene 6 · §4.1: וֶהֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת