Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam), author
of the Sulam commentary of The Zohar, expressed his spiritual
feelings through the words of his numerous published writings.
Among them he wrote songs and composed melodies based
on these spiritual feelings.
The music itself is based on the way
a person feels in the spiritual world. What is so special
about the music is that everyone can understand it, even
if he has not reached the composer’s spiritual level.
Listening to the Baal HaSulam’s music, as conveyed by
his son Rabbi Baruch Ashlag, we have the opportunity to
experience the spiritual sentiments of these prominent
Kabbalists.
The Kabbalist achieves two polarized
stages in spiritualism: agony, as a result of drifting
away from the Creator, and delight, as a result of getting
closer to Him. The feeling of drifting away from the Creator
produces sad music, expressed by a prayer appealing for
closeness. The feeling of closeness to the Creator produces
joyous music, expressed by a thanksgiving prayer.
Therefore, we hear and feel two distinct
moods in the music: longing and desire for unification
when drifting away, and love and happiness when discovering
unification. The two moods together express the Kabbalist’s
unification with the Creator.
The music bathes the listener in a wondrous
light. We do not need to know anything about it before
listening to it, since it is wordless. Yet its effect
on our hearts is direct and swift. Hearing it over and
over again is a special experience.
The notes are composed in adherence to
Kabbalistic rules. The notes are chosen according to the
way man’s soul is built. The listener feels them penetrating
deep within his soul, unobstructed. This happens because
of the direct connection between our souls and the roots
of the notes.
In 1996, 1998, and 2000, three CDs of
the Baal HaSulam’s and Rabash’s music were recorded and
published. The melodies are presented as Rav Michael Laitman, PhD heard them from his rabbi, Rabbi Baruch Ashlag,
eldest son and follower of the ways of Baal HaSulam.
