How many of you have a favorite Adon Olam melody? There are so many to choose from. Indeed, it is the type of song that can be sung to almost any melody from Yellow Submarine to Yankee Doodle and anything in between. When a congregant approaches Cantor Frank or I asking for a “traditional” melody, they will be met with a smile. There simply are no traditional melodies, because almost all melodies lead to Adon Olam. My favorite part of the prayer is its final line: “Adonai Li V’Lo Ira,” “God is with me, and I shall not fear.” Originally composed in the 13th and 14th century as a bedtime song, the last verse lets us know we will be ok.
This week’s Torah portion, Devarim, the first in the book of Deuteronomy, concludes with the verse that evokes the last line of Adon Olam, “Do not fear them (i.e., your enemies), for it is your God who will battle for you” (Deut. 3:22). It is a line Moses offers to Joshua to give him confidence before leads the people into the Promised Land. We all need that assurance that everything will be ok, but of course it often is not. This Shabbat is the 9th of Av, also known as Tisha B’Av, the day commemorating the destruction of the first and second Temples. The fast will be observed on Sunday. The day still retains the sadness of a day when most everything was not ok for the Jewish people.
Our antidote as Jews is to come together. When our world is in disarray, we mourn collectively, reminding ourselves, even when it does not feel true, that “Adonai Li V’Lo Ira,” “God is with [us] and [we] shall not fear.” The power of Adon Olam is not to make things better, but to pray for the day when they one day will be.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex