“Curing Maladies of the Neshamah” by Harav Moshe Wolfson Shlit”a

Sometimes, when suffering from a physical ailment, a person is presented with two options. He can purchase an expensive medication, or he can obtain an inexpensive or even free herb that will achieve the same results. This serves as a parable for curing the maladies of the neshamah. In discussing various paths of Teshuvah, Sefer Chareidim (ch 73) writes:

After we have written about spiritual cures that are quite “expensive” [i.e. difficult such as fasting and other physical afflictions), we should now investigate and seek cures that are inexpensive (i.e. relatively easy and are a sort of “segulah”] … One should say Shiras HaYam each day with proper kavanah, saying it in a rasised voice and with great joy … The Midrash states that the Jews achieved atonement for their sins when they recited the Song after crossing the Yam Suf.

According to Rabi Shimon bar Yochai, there is an allusion in the Torah that we should recite the Song every day with great joy … like the time when it was first recited. Surely then, its spiritual power for those who recite it properly is the same as when it was said that first time.

In Parshas Beshalach, the Shirah is preceded by the words Vayamru leimor – And they said, saying. According to Rabi Shimon bar Yochai, this double terminology teaches that future generations should recite the Shira (leimor) in the same way that the generation of Yetzias Mitzrayim recited in (Vayomru) – with joy.

Mishnah Berurah writes that when we say the Shirah, we should imagine ourselves as if we were actually leaving Mitzrayim. Each morning, when we say the Shirah joyously and with kavanah, we connect ourselves to that glorious moment in our nation’s history.

It is noteworthy that we begin Pesukei d’Zimra with Mizmor L’Sodah, which we are to recite joyously and even to sing (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 519). We conclude it with the Shirah, which we are to recite with joy. A Jew begins his day with tefillos that express his joy in being part of the Chosen Nation whose Creator listens to his tefillos whenever they are uttered.

Source: “Service of the Heart” by ArtScroll/Mesorah, by HaRav Moshe Wolfson, Shlita, adapted by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, in Hamodia Inyan 23 Tishrei 5782 (any misspellings are from “spellcheck” which is very difficult to shut off)