Beshalach. The Sound of Music

This Shabbat is known around the Jewish world as “Shabbat Shira – the Shabbat of Song”. It is given this name because our Torah Reading contains the “Song of the Sea – Shirat Hayam” sung by the Children of Israel after the waters of the Red Sea miraculously parted.
So, let’s take this opportunity to talk about music and song.
Why do we sing?
What does music do for us?
Why is music so emotive for most people? Music can sooth and relax, inspire and energize, give voice to our feelings, activate our emotions. How does music affect you?
Does music play a role in your religious life?
I. A Midrash:
From the day that God created the world up until Israel stood at the sea we do not find anyone who sang a song to God.
He created Adam, and he did not sing a song.
He saved Abraham from the furnace and from the kings, and he did not sing a song.
He saved Isaac from the knife [at the Akeida,] and he did not sing a song.
He saved Jacob from the angel [who struggled with him in the night], from Esau and from the people of Shechem, and he did not sing a song.