THE SONG OF THE GOOSE
The goose sings of how Hashem’s praise deserves to be made know to all.
[Song 46] Goose (Ch. 4)
אֲוַז שֶׁבַּבַּיִת אוֹמֶרֶת. הוֹדוּ לַיי קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ הוֹדִיעוּ בָעַמִּים עֲלִילוֹתָיו: שִׁירוּ לוֹ זַמְּרוּ לוֹ שִׂיחוּ בְּכָל נִפְלְאוֹתָיו: (תהילים קה א-ב)
אֲוַז הַבָּר הַמְּשׁוֹטֶטֶת בַּמִּדְבָּר. כְּשֶׁרוֹאֵה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה אוֹמֶרֶת. קוֹל קוֹרֵא בַּמִּדְבָּר, פָּנוּ דֶּרֶךְ יי, יַשְׁרוּ בַּעֲרָבָה מְסִלָּה לֶאֱלֹהֵינוּ, וְעַל מְצִיאוּת מְזוֹנוֹתֶיהָ בַּמִּדְבָּר אוֹמֶרֶת. אָרוּר הַגֶּבֶר אַשֵּׁר יִבְטַח בָּאָדָם, בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בְּיי וְהָיָה יי מִבְטָחוֹ:
The Domestic Goose is saying, “Give thanks to Hashem, call upon his Name, make his works known amongst the peoples, sing to Him, make music for Him, speak of all his wonders.”
The Wild Goose flying in the wilderness, when it sees Yisra'Hashem busy with Torah, is saying “A voice cries, Prepare in the wilderness the way of Hashem, make straight in the desert a path for our elo'ah. And upon finding its food in the wilderness, it says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings…” Blessed is the man who trusts in Hashem, and Hashem shall be his assurance.”
Commentary
The goose is the most vocal amongst kosher birds and it symbolizes Kosher and
pure vocalization: publicizing of Hashem’s praise
and His Torah. It honks raucously, even for no apparent reason, calling to its human neighbors that they too should not be silent.
The entire world sings about its Creator, yet so many do not know Him. We
should fill our mouths with Hashem’s praise and do our utmost to make Him
known, especially in public gatherings of Torah and prayer. Fittingly, the song
of the goose is the opening phrase of our morning praises.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
Man was created to sing to Hashem. When one stands to make a blessing and when he recites Pesukei D’zimra and Hallel,
he should realize the greatness of what he is saying, that he is now involved with one of the main reasons for the creation,
and he should put his mind and soul into it. Parts of the Tefilla that are recited aloud should be done so with resonance.
The song of the Torah should be song-like, vocalized with pleasantness. Vocalization of one’s learning is one the 48 tools
for acquisition of the Torah. Sharing it with others is a vital part of the learning process.
The mouth is the speaker of the soul and the communicator of the Hashem Himself. “May my mouth be filled with Your
praise.”
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.