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Shir Ha Ma’a lot
Pronunciation: Shir
– as in ‘shin’
‘a’s - as in
‘Mama’
Lot – ‘o’ as in
‘door’
Ma’a lot = ascent(s), from the same root as the word
‘ali’yah’ = emigration to Israel , lit. to ascend, to go
up to.
This Song from the Psalms and its application in
Jewish religious custom, provides wonderful confirmation
of the Return from Exile
Shir HaMa’alot is the
introductory song for Grace After Meals (Birkat
HaMazon) on Shabbat and Festivals and is from Tehillim
(Psalms) 126:1-6, 145:21, 115:18, 118:1, and 106:2.
These Meals are regarded as Festive Meals, commemorating
the Sabbath and Festivals with all that they
metaphorically imply and prefigure.
Shir HaMa'alot is also used for
the meals celebrating Marriages and circumcision
ceremonies. These celebrations, like the Shabbat
and Feasts, all foreshadow the Redemption from Exile and
the Covenantal relationship with HaShem in His Kingdom.
The Song carries a special Message of inspiration for
Returnees:
Psalm 126 – A Song of
Ascents
“When HaShem will return the Captivity of Zion, we will
be like dreamers. Then our mouth will be filled with
laughter and our tongue with glad song. Then they will
declare among the nations, ‘HaShem has done greatly
with these’. HaShem has done greatly with us; we were
gladdened, O HaShem – return our captivity like springs
in the desert. Those who tearfully sow, will reap in
glad song. He who bears the measure of seeds, walk
along weeping, but will return in exultation, a bearer
of his sheaves.”
* ‘Return the Captivity’ =
return from exile
On weekdays, Jewish Grace
after Meals starts with Ps 137 “By the Rivers of
Babylon”, bewailing the Exile, the destruction of the
Temple and the Longing for Return (Redemption).
For the 6 working days of
the week, we bewail the Exile and express our longing
for the Return to the Land and Jerusalem. On the
Sabbath, it is improper to intrude upon the Joy with
memories of tragedy. Through Shir HaMa’alot we
therefore rejoice in what is to come in the Times of
Return and the Restoration of Zion – when we will be
returning to Jerusalem as if in a dream, filled with
laughter and singing.
There are 15 Pilgrimage Psalms (120-134) named “Songs
of Ascents”
The song Shir HaMa’alot is
in fact one song in a series of fifteen Pilgrimage
Psalms, all written by King David, and beginning with
the words “Shir HaMa’alot”, or “song of ascents”. The
song is typically identified as a song the Levites sung
as they stood on the steps of the Temple. Some scholars
believe that the pilgrims chanted it as they made aliyah
to Jerusalem to celebrate the three pilgrimage festivals
– Pesach, Shavuot and Succot.
Shir HaMa’alot is undoubtedly a song of gratitude as
it begins with the Exiles of Israel
returning to Jerusalem as if in a dream, filled with
laughter and singing. The opening line allows
all guests at the Passover Seder to express our
appreciation for G-d delivering us back into the land
that he promised our forefathers so many years ago. The
first part speaks of the miracles and wonders G-d has
done for us, more specifically associating itself with
the restoration of Zion.
The national anthem of Israel is Ha’Tikvah – The
Hope. Shir HaMa’alot was one of the other
considerations for the Zionist National Anthem, as sung
by the famous chazzan Yossele Rosenblatt.
The Feasts of 7th
month depict the Restoration of future United Kingdom of
Israel, the Birth of the new
world,
The climax of the Sukkot ritual was the ceremony of
the Drawing of the Water. During this service the
Levites chanted the fifteen Pilgrimage Psalms
(120-134), each of
which begins with the superscription "A Song of Ascents"
(Shir HaMa’alot).
The "ascent" songs were also sung by the pilgrims when
they ascended to Yerushalayim for the festival
celebrations at the Temple.
Related information on this Web Site:
What does Kol HaTor mean?
A Nation born in A Day
Return of the Shechina
The Irony of Christian Replacement Theology
Bible confirmations of the Regathering
A demographical Solution
Project Prospectus
Factors that Unite Us
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