Session 15: End of Pesach

Revisiting Beshallach and "America the Beautiful"

This year as Shabbat falls on the end of Pesach, we are revisiting our daf for Beshallach. As this is our season for liberation, we consider the meaning and impact of music on the American psyche, diving deep into Katharine Bates’ “America The Beautiful.”

Music activates a different, non-cognitive part of the brain, and Bates’ imagery stirrs patriotic instincts. Simultaneously, even as we feel the power of the music, the lyrics offer subtle critique about the meaning of our national endeavor. Just as the Song of the Sea illustrates both the liberation and problematics that come with power, so too does “America the Beautiful” bring us to the paradoxes of American identity.

As always, comments welcome below.