תּוֹרָה ג - אַקְרוּקְתָּא

Akrukta — "The Frog" · Opening: The Talmudic tale of Rabbah bar bar Chanah and the giant frog [ · akrukta · ] [Bava Basra 73b] · Corresponding to Likutay Moharan Part I, Toirah 3

Through holy melody [ neginah d'kedushah ] one raises and elevates the holy Kingship of Holiness [ malchus d'kedushah ] and merits exaltation [ hispnas'us ]. And the converse is equally true: cantors and musicians of the Other Side [ sitra achra ] blemish the holy malchus d'kedushah and prolong the exile [ galus ]. Through them, people stumble and are ensnared like birds caught in a trap. Therefore one must be very careful not to hear the melody of a musician of the sitra achra — one whose intention in his music is not at all for the sake of Heaven, but only for money, honour, and self-glorification — for hearing the voice of his melody harms one's service of the Creator, may He be blessed. And conversely: hearing the voice of a melody from a kosher and fitting musician is good for the service of the Creator, may He be blessed.

[And this is what our Sages of blessed memory said [Bava Basra 12b]: "From the day the Temple was destroyed" — in which the Cherubs [ kruvim ] were present — "prophecy was given to fools." And they said regarding the verse "she raised her voice against me" [Lamentations 1:2]: this refers to an unworthy prayer-leader [ shliach tzibbur ] — in the aspect of: "those that are upon me" [Genesis 33:13]; in the aspect of: "from behind the suckling ones" [Psalms 78:71] — from behind Netzach and Hod , as explained within.]

The remedy so that the voice of a melody of the sitra achra should not harm him is through studying Gemara at night [ limmud Gemara ba-laylah ].

Through holy melody one can merit the aspect of prophecy [ nevuah ] — for the primary clinging [ dveykus ] to Hashem Yisborach is through melody. As will be further elucidated below.

Through studying Gemara at night, a thread of lovingkindness [ chut shel chesed ] is drawn down upon him, and he is saved from thoughts that are not for their own sake [ shelo lishmah ]. Through this he rectifies the voice of melody — so that hearing the voice of a melody of the sitra achra , which greatly harms one's service of the Creator, may He be blessed, will not harm him. And he merits to raise up the holy melody so that he can cling to Hashem Yisborach through songs and melodies [ zemiros v'nigunim ]. Through this the holy malchus d'kedushah is raised and elevated — and one merits exaltation and can rule over all that he wishes; and one can also merit the aspect of prophecy.

When one rectifies the voice of melody and merits the aspect of Kingship [ malchus ] and dominion — then one can rule over all that he wishes, and can bring death to this one and life to that one. However, one must be very careful to judge every person favourably [ l'chaf z'chus ] — so as not to destroy the world — for Hashem Yisborach is One Who desires lovingkindness and wishes for the world's continued existence.

When a person hears the voice of a joyful melody and connects himself through it to Hashem Yisborach in joy — through this, the voice of the melody has an elevation [ aliyah ] even if the musician is an unworthy person. And through this the holy malchus d'kedushah is elevated. And to merit this in complete rectification, the remedy is to study the Oral Torah at night — which is Gemara. (See also section 226 in the Kitzur.) 📜 Translator's Summary — Toirah 3 [from the Translator] Central theme: The immense power of melody — for good and for ill. Music is not neutral: it either elevates the holy malchus and hastens redemption, or damages it and prolongs exile, entirely depending on the character and intention of the musician. The remedy — Gemara at night (§2, §4): Studying Talmud at night draws a "thread of lovingkindness," purifies the power of hearing, and rectifies one's capacity to receive holy melody while protecting against harmful melody. The listening rectifies the music (§6): A striking teaching — even if the musician is unworthy, the listener who actively connects the music to G-d in joy can independently effect an elevation of that melody. The spiritual responsibility and power rests with the one who hears. Dominion and its responsibilities (§5): Holiness brings real power — including the power of life and death. This power must be governed by constant judging of others favourably, since G-d desires the world's continuity.