Ep. 52 – The Depth of Song

What happens when you feel something so deeply, you can’t even say it out loud? Can a niggun express what words cannot?

Some moments of connection to Hashem are so deep, so raw, they escape language. In this episode, Rabbi Klapper opens the gates to Zimra—the wordless tune—and Shira—the articulated song—and shows how both are essential for true avodas Hashem. We explore why Shabbos is the day of song more than any other: each tefillah, each seudah, each moment carries a unique melody, a unique way of expressing something that can’t be said directly. But music alone is not enough. Like a seed that never gets planted, pure emotion without translation into words or actions can fade quickly. It must be rooted in Shira—in words, in thought, in details—if we want it to become real.

Drawing from Tehillim, halacha, and a moving analogy from Rav Pinkus, we learn why Shabbos songs matter so much and why they must go beyond performance. They’re not background—they’re transformation. When we sing with kavana, both with and without words, we carry the depth of Shabbos into the rest of our lives.

Hosted by Rabbi Ari Klapper and produced by Eli Podcast Productions, this episode is part of the Real Judaism series, available on RealJudaism.org. Don't forget to subscribe and share to stay connected with our daily lessons and timeless Torah insights!