Moods and Jewish Music - Yearning

Yearning is the most important thing a person can do, because a person who does not yearn for anything will never achieve anything.

Yearning is not, however, simply hoping for something with an attitude of despair. It is a burning desire that motivates one to action. According to Jewish tradition, one of the first questions a person is asked when arriving in heaven after their worldly sojourn is through is, " Did you yearn for the redemption?" The word for " yearn" is " tsipita," which also could be translated as, " Did you attempt to see."

So yearning that is correct involves seeing the outcome in as real a way as you can. Thus, you will believe that it can become reality. From there, it must follow that you will strive to fulfill that yearning. Thus, when we are to be asked, " Did you yearn for the redemption," we are in effect being asked, " Did you strive to bring your corner of the world, however large or small that may be, closer to redemption by making it a better, more redeemed, place."

" Esa einai el heharim, me'ayin yavo ezri = I lift my eyes to the mountains, from whence comes my help."

Man has an insatiable thirst for spirituality. Sometimes he gets confused, and thinks he can quench that thirst with material things. This insatiable thirst shows us that man is capable of unlimited achievement in spiritual matters. Do we believe in ourselves enough to try?

Recommended listening: Israeli classics such as " Lo Yisa Goy," " Bashana Haba'ah," " Machar," Brahms Violin Concerto, " Climb Every Mountain," from The Sound Of Music.

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