.
During this time of year, just before Chanukah, we often think of the
miracles that occurred that enabled the Temple and its practices to be dedicated
and restored. Children even play a Chanukah game, dreidle, which commemorates
that “a great miracle happened there.” Likewise we should now think
about modern day miracles that again will enable the Temple to be built and
dedicated to the service of G-d. In the last few years, such a miracle has
occurred, the return of the Biblical harps.
This amazing story began in California about eighteen years ago among a
young Jewish couple, Shoshanna and Micah Harrari. Shoshanna had a desire for a
small lap harp, very different from the classical harp that most people are
familiar with. In the past she had tried other instruments but nothing had
seemed right for her. Four years later, the Harraris made aliyah to Israel. They
discovered a drawing of a small harp from a cave located at Megiddo. The drawing
dated back 3,500 years. From this drawing Micah, who was a guitar maker, began
to fashion Shoshannas lap harp. At the time the Harraris were living at
Tiberias. Their yard had a lemon tree and one hot day a neighbor came to pick
the lemons. Invited in for a drink of water, she noticed Micahs harp, then under
construction. This lady happened to be a journalist for the Jerusalem Post and
began a story on the Harrari harp. Her research revealed that the harp was the
Biblical harp known as the Nevel and had not been made for almost two thousand
years.
The article on the Harrari harp catapulted them into international
prominence. To musicologists, historians, Bible scholars and teachers the return
of the harp was interpreted as an astounding event. At this time Shoshanna and
Micah knew very little about the history or Biblical significance of the harps.
According to Shoshanna, people came to their home to ask questions on the harps.
They responded that they were very busy at the time and asked everyone to write
their questions down and come back in a few days. In the meantime Shoshanna and
Micah delved into books in order to find the answers so as not to be
embarrassed.
This first harp, known as the Nevel dates from the earliest Biblical period.
Numerous sources reveal the Nevel as having three to twenty-two strings. Because
Shoshanna desired to have a very practical lap harp that musically would have
great range, they decided to make theirs with twenty-two strings. It was only
later that they realized the spiritual significance of this choice. According to
the rabbis, G-d created the world by pronouncing the Hebrew alphabet, one letter
at a time, from the alef to the tav. This alphabet contains exactly twenty-two
letters. The rabbis teach that G-d sang the creation accompanied by a heavenly
harp, a Nevel. Besides creation, the twenty-two letters of the alphabet, as well
as the twenty-two strings of the Nevel, speak of the Torah and the Messiah. The
rabbis also claim that the Nevel makes the most perfect music in the world.
The Harrari Nevel has a half-tone lever system which research has revealed
was in use at least during the Second Temple era. These levers provide the
player with the ability to alter each string exactly one half-tone. They can
also be repositioned very quickly, even in the middle of a song. This device
allows the musician to change into different scales while playing, without
stopping to retune the harp each time. It is now known that the Levitical choir
performed these changes frequently in the awesome music of the Temple.
A second style of harp made by the Harraris is known as the Kinnor and along
with the Nevel represents the major harps of the scriptures. The Kinnor is the
Lyre of David and anciently had three to twelve strings. Shoshanna and Micah had
chosen ten strings for the their harp as they wanted a full rich scale that
would be interesting to the musician. Early one morning an elderly rabbi
appeared at the Harrari home and requested to see the Kinnor. Very carefully he
counted the strings, then counted again and again. He was obviously moved and
Shoshanna and Micah asked him why. The rabbi then told them of an ancient
portion of the Talmud that states: “The harp of the ten strings is reserved
for the day when the world that is to come (the Olam Haba) is united in one
harmonious whole.” Its reappearance signifies the soon coming of the
Messiah and the redemption. The most impressive point is that the Harraris were
unaware of any of this until that moment.
Today, our music is set up on an eight-note scale called an octave. This
dates back to ancient times. Scripturally, there are several references to a
song known as the New Song. This song is understood to be the song that is sung
when Messiah comes. The commentaries of the rabbis abound with tremendous
revelations of that time whenever this phrase is commented on. The New Song is
understood to be on a new ten-note scale rather than the eight-note octave.
These two additional notes, even though now present, cannot be heard at this
time.
In the days of David and King Saul, the harp was used when the evil spirit
came upon Saul. According to 1 Samuel 16.23, David played the harp and sang for
Saul, who was restored with peace. Once again the harp is being used to combat
spiritual forces against G-d’s Kingdom and restore individuals in physical and
spiritual health.
The harp, whether the Nevel or the Kinnor, is played three different ways.
The first is to play a pre-known tune such as Hatikvah or Yerushalyim Shel
Zahav. Also, the harps may be played as accompaniment to cantoricals. The second
method is where the musician begins to play on the harp as G-d directs him. This
was most common in ancient times. In fact, the way that the ancient prophecies
are said to have come forth is that the prophet began to play his harp freely
and then would feel a hand on his shoulder. At this time the music was coming
from G-d and the song was the prophecy.
The third method of playing of the harp is the most awesome and interesting.
The harp is the only known instrument that can be played by the wind. A famous
midrash tells of David hanging his Kinnor in a tree at night as he lay down. At
midnight, the north wind would blow and the harp would begin to play, awakening
David to study Torah. In Hebrew the word for wind is ruach, the same word that
is used for spirit: the Ruach haKodesh is the Holy Spirit. Simulated wind, such
as a fan, cannot induce the harp to play. Only the ruach, the spirit, can
inspire the harp to beautifully resound without human hands. Truly, this is most
phenomenal: to hear the Kinnor or the Nevel playing by the ruach, the Hand of
G-d.
It is very easy during these days to listen to prophecy teaching that dwells
on the horrific signs of the age in which we live. However, isnt it nice to see
such a beautiful sign that will ultimately play a great role in the rebirth of
the world, the birth of the Messianic era?
Hatikva Ministries has produced a 90 minute video of a program aired on
television that shows a Nevel and discusses with the owners of this harp many
wonders they have discovered. In addition, with these same guests two Promise of
the Father programs covering the harps are now available on a 60 minute video
tape. These programs are also available on audio cassette. An additional 6 hour
(four 90 minute cassette) seminar covering a multitude of information on the
harps has also just been produced. The videos and the audio cassette seminar
have a recording of the Nevel being played by the hand of G-d at midnight in
Jerusalem before the Kotel, the Western Wall. The length of this recording is 49
seconds. We feel that these tapes and videos are the most exciting of any the
ministry has ever produced.
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Purim 1997
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