This neglect of Adon Olam is exacerbated by some of the melodies that accompany it
The Shabbos morning davening seems to have come to an end: Adon Olam is being sung, the men are folding their tallisos and chatting, and most of the congregants are slowly filing out of the shul.
A handful, however, remain in their seats; for them, the davening is not really over. Adon Olam is being sung, and since they realize that this apparently simple song contains the basic teachings of Judaism, they join in.
Does this ditty really contain basic teachings? Is this pretty little song, usually relegated to be led by a cute little boy, truly fundamental?
Listen, however, to the words. The very first line contains a pillar of our beliefs about the nature of the Creator: “asher malach b’terem kol yetzir nivra [Who reigned before anything was created].” These familiar words, mumbled thousands of times by young and old over the decades, refer to the eternity of the Creator Who was always present and had no starting point.
Create a free account to keep reading.
