BH 

Where's the Music??

Dear Friend,

One of the most dramatic moments in the Torah is when Moshe descends from Mount Sinai, sees the children of Israel dancing around the Golden Calf, and shatters the Tablets. Hashem had already informed Moshe about the sin while he was still on the mountain, yet Moshe did not react with such intensity until he saw it with his own eyes. The Torah emphasizes that what Moshe saw was "machol" —connotes music and dancing. This word is deeply significant because, as Rabeinu Bechaya points out, machol in Hebrew also means “forgiveness.” In other words, in their dance of defiance, all Moshe saw wasforgiveness .

Breaking the Luchos as an Act of Protection

Moshe’s decision to break the Luchos was not merely an expression of anger or disappointment. Rather, it was a profound act of defense for the Jewish people. Had he delivered the Luchos in that moment, the covenant would have been sealed while they were in a state of betrayal. By breaking them, he prevented the Torah from being used against them as evidence of their unworthiness. Instead of being a testament to their failure, the shattered Luchos became a symbol of Hashem’s willingness to forgive and renew His relationship with Bnei Yisrael.

The Power of Jewish Dance

In the early 1950s, on the night of Simchas Torah, as Jews gathered in shuls to dance with the Torah, there was a dance party for young Jews somewhere in Brooklyn. The Rebbe, hearing about this, commented that the inner reason these young Jews had gathered to dance was because it was Simchas Torah! Even if, on the surface, they were not aware of the connection, deep in their souls, something was pulling them to dance in sync with their people. Just as Moshe sawforgiveness in the dance of the Golden Calf, the Rebbe saw holiness in the dance of young Jews who might have seemed distant from their heritage.

Purim, Achashveirosh, and the Fear of Jewish Music

The entire episode of Moshe approaching the camp and witnessing the celebration begins with the word "Vayehi" (and it came to pass) . This same word opens Megillas Esther: "Vayehi bimei Achashveirosh..." (And it was in the days of Achashveirosh…). The Purim story begins with a grand party—a celebration of indulgence and excess. The Megillah describes the vast variety of foods, drinks, and luxurious decor, yet one thing is conspicuously absent: music.

Why was there no music? Some commentators suggest that Achashveirosh wanted his feast to appeal to everyone’s personal taste. Since no single type of music would please all guests, he omitted it entirely. But a deeper explanation reveals something even more telling: Achashveirosh understood the power of music, especially for the Jewish soul. He knew that music has a uniquely spiritual quality—it elevates, inspires, and stirs deep emotions. For Jews, music was central to the Temple service and to their connection with Hashem. Even in exile, when asked to sing about Zion, they wept, hung up their harps, and asked, "How can we sing the song of Hashem in a foreign land?" (Tehillim 137:4). Achashveirosh feared that if music were played at his feast, it might awaken something deep within the Jews—something that not even the finest foods and drinks could suppress. He sought to fully assimilate them into Persian culture, but he recognized that no Jew can ever truly assimilate.

The Unbreakable Jewish Soul

This idea—that the Jewish soul remains connected no matter the external circumstances—is precisely what Moshe saw when he beheld the machol at the Golden Calf. Beneath the sin, there was still an unbreakable core, a people destined to return. It is what the Rebbe recognized in the dancing of young Jews in Brooklyn, and it is the essence of Purim. The celebration of Ad d'lo Yada , the state of transcending logic, is a celebration of the unknowable and unbreakable Jewish soul.

So as we dance on Purim, let us remember: Whether we are in a shul, a wedding hall, or seemingly disconnected spaces, the Jewish dance is always one of connection, joy, and, ultimately, machol —forgiveness.

And for any Jew whose dance was cut short: we will dance again! 

Am Yisrael Chai!

L’chaim! Happy Purim and Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Ruvi New