The national anthem is either played or sung prior to any athletic event in the U.S. – ranging from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and more. I was blown away (yes pun intended) when I found out that the national anthem was whistled at a recent Baltimore Orioles (an MLB team) game. That is right, the coveted national anthem was not played or sung; it was whistled!
The whistler was none other than Chris Ullman, a four-time national and international whistling champion (apparently that’s a thing!). In 2012, Ullman was inducted into the International Whistling Hall of Fame. One of his greatest claims to fame is that he used his whistling prowess to serenade President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney in a private Oval Office concert.
If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “Wait a second. I am a really good whistler, I wish I knew how to take my whistling career to the next level,” then don’t fret! Enter the Masters of Musical Whistling, an annual event that brings dozens of musical whistlers from all over the world to compete for the title of “World Champion.” If this speaks to you, go for it. Use your talents and know that we are cheering for you.
But for those of us who will never become the “Chris Ullman’s” of the world, how can we connect to our inner whistleness? Whistleness, a term I actually made up, is the concept of living with joy and the art of being happy. Have you ever noticed someone who was unhappy while whistling? Probably not, right? You see, whistling and happiness go hand in hand.
From a scientific and physiological perspective, whistling is generated by the Helmholtz resonator, the oral cavity that acts as a resonant chamber bounded by two orifices, posteriorly by raising the tongue to the hard palate, and anteriorly by pursed lips. From a psychological perspective, whistling helps distract us from fears or worries and gives us increased confidence and security. Whistling pulls oxygen into our bodies, increases blood flow, improves mood, and releases stress. It tones the vagus nerve and puts the body into a relaxed parasympathetic state.
Incredibly, I would like to suggest that in Judaism, the idea of whistling is extremely spiritual and holy as well. Deep down – putting all the physiological and psychological reasons aside – we have a strong inner connection to the whistle. How so? Because the whistle represents the most positive sound possible; the whistle is the sound of the coming of Moshiach!
The passuk in Zecharia (10:8) states: אֶשְׁרְקָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם וַאֲקַבְּצֵ֖ם כִּ֣י פְדִיתִ֑ים – “I will whistle to them and gather them, for I will redeem them." Rashi explains that Hashem will whistle to gather us at the End of Days. The Gemarah in Chullin (63a) says that the Racham bird is the שרקרק (because it makes a sherakrak whistle sound). Tradition teaches that when this bird sits on the ground and whistles, it is a sign that the Moshiach is coming.
If someone is happy, they naturally whistle. And if someone us unhappy, whistling has the power to bring them out of their misery. Why? Because whistling is the sound of the coming of Moshiach. It is the sound of Oneness, purity, and holiness. It is the sound of deep connection and unity. Therefore, whistling is the sound of happiness.
Let us ensure that in our Divine Service, we are not working out of casualness (קרי); rather, let us ensure that we are whistling while we work. We must strive to live with joy and happiness, a lifestyle that will lead to blessings galore.
Have a holy Shabbos!
The national anthem is either played or sung prior to any athletic event in the U.S. – ranging from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and more. I was blown away (yes pun intended) when I found out that the national anthem was whistled at a recent Baltimore Orioles (an MLB team) game. That is right, the coveted national anthem was not played or sung; it was whistled!
The whistler was none other than Chris Ullman, a four-time national and international whistling champion (apparently that’s a thing!). In 2012, Ullman was inducted into the International Whistling Hall of Fame. One of his greatest claims to fame is that he used his whistling prowess to serenade President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney in a private Oval Office concert.
If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “Wait a second. I am a really good whistler, I wish I knew how to take my whistling career to the next level,” then don’t fret! Enter the Masters of Musical Whistling, an annual event that brings dozens of musical whistlers from all over the world to compete for the title of “World Champion.” If this speaks to you, go for it. Use your talents and know that we are cheering for you.
But for those of us who will never become the “Chris Ullman’s” of the world, how can we connect to our inner whistleness? Whistleness, a term I actually made up, is the concept of living with joy and the art of being happy. Have you ever noticed someone who was unhappy while whistling? Probably not, right? You see, whistling and happiness go hand in hand.
From a scientific and physiological perspective, whistling is generated by the Helmholtz resonator, the oral cavity that acts as a resonant chamber bounded by two orifices, posteriorly by raising the tongue to the hard palate, and anteriorly by pursed lips. From a psychological perspective, whistling helps distract us from fears or worries and gives us increased confidence and security. Whistling pulls oxygen into our bodies, increases blood flow, improves mood, and releases stress. It tones the vagus nerve and puts the body into a relaxed parasympathetic state.
Incredibly, I would like to suggest that in Judaism, the idea of whistling is extremely spiritual and holy as well. Deep down – putting all the physiological and psychological reasons aside – we have a strong inner connection to the whistle. How so? Because the whistle represents the most positive sound possible; the whistle is the sound of the coming of Moshiach!
The passuk in Zecharia (10:8) states: אֶשְׁרְקָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם וַאֲקַבְּצֵ֖ם כִּ֣י פְדִיתִ֑ים – “I will whistle to them and gather them, for I will redeem them." Rashi explains that Hashem will whistle to gather us at the End of Days. The Gemarah in Chullin (63a) says that the Racham bird is the שרקרק (because it makes a sherakrak whistle sound). Tradition teaches that when this bird sits on the ground and whistles, it is a sign that the Moshiach is coming.
If someone is happy, they naturally whistle. And if someone us unhappy, whistling has the power to bring them out of their misery. Why? Because whistling is the sound of the coming of Moshiach. It is the sound of Oneness, purity, and holiness. It is the sound of deep connection and unity. Therefore, whistling is the sound of happiness.
Let us ensure that in our Divine Service, we are not working out of casualness (קרי); rather, let us ensure that we are whistling while we work. We must strive to live with joy and happiness, a lifestyle that will lead to blessings galore.
Have a holy Shabbos!
