ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Don't Worry, Be Happy

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Everything weโ€™ve done recently seems to be overwhelmingly tragic for David, but we have this image of him as always optimistically trusting in ื”ืณ's providence, never despairing. I think thatโ€™s true, and I think that image of him comes from ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. As Henry Biberfeld says:

Hence we see David, as depicted in the Biblical narrative, walking through life in an attitude which, to his contemporaries, at first seemed unrealistic, contradictory, remote, fantastic. Seeing where others did not see, sensing what others did not sense, his actions often provoked perplexity and anger.

Henry Biberfeld,David, King of Israel, p. 8

Davidโ€™s real life is recorded in the psalms. This is the true mirror of his being, reflecting every phase of his life. If the historical books show the outward contours of image, the psalms probe the deepest secretsโ€ฆ[A]llusions to actual events occur only rarely in the psalms.

Henry Biberfeld,David, King of Israel, p. 132

[P]oetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity: the emotion is contemplated tillโ€ฆthe tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind.

William Wordsworth, Lyrical Ballads

In that spirit, Iโ€™d like to cheer us up in ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืžื—ืชื ื• and not focus on the tragic but in Davidโ€™s poetic and religious response.

We have a triptych of short poems:

ื ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ;
ื ืื ื”ืณ ืœืื“ื ื™ ืฉื‘ ืœื™ืžื™ื ื™; ืขื“ ืืฉื™ืช ืื™ื‘ื™ืš ื”ื“ื ืœืจื’ืœื™ืšืƒ
ื‘ ืžื˜ื” ืขื–ืš ื™ืฉืœื— ื”ืณ ืžืฆื™ื•ืŸ; ืจื“ื” ื‘ืงืจื‘ ืื™ื‘ื™ืšืƒ
ื’ ืขืžืš ื ื“ื‘ืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ื—ื™ืœืš;
ื‘ื”ื“ืจื™ ืงื“ืฉ ืžืจื—ื ืžืฉื—ืจ; ืœืš ื˜ืœ ื™ืœื“ืชื™ืšืƒ
ื“ ื ืฉื‘ืข ื”ืณ ื•ืœื ื™ื ื—ื ืืชื” ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืขื•ืœื;
ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™ ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืงืƒ
ื” ืึพื“ื ื™ ืขืœ ื™ืžื™ื ืš; ืžื—ืฅ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืืคื• ืžืœื›ื™ืืƒ
ื• ื™ื“ื™ืŸ ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ืžืœื ื’ื•ื™ื•ืช; ืžื—ืฅ ืจืืฉ ืขืœ ืืจืฅ ืจื‘ื”ืƒ
ื– ืžื ื—ืœ ื‘ื“ืจืš ื™ืฉืชื”; ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื™ืจื™ื ืจืืฉืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื™

As Hirsch points out, this is one of two psalms written in the second person addressed, not to ื”ืณ, but to David:

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื™ืขื ืš ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฆืจื”; ื™ืฉื’ื‘ืš ืฉื ืืœืงื™ ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
ื’ ื™ืฉืœื— ืขื–ืจืš ืžืงื“ืฉ; ื•ืžืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื™ืกืขื“ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›

Heโ€™s looking in the mirror, talking to himself (or to some abstract leader of Israel).

ืฉื‘ ืœื™ืžื™ื ื™

And he is reassuring that leader that ื”ืณ will fight for him:

ืืจื‘ืขื” ืžืœื›ื™ื ื”ื™ื• ืžื” ืฉืชื‘ืข ื–ื” ืœื ืชื‘ืข ื–ื”, ื•ืืœื• ื”ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืืกื ื•ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื•ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื•.

ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™ื—) ืืจื“ื•ืฃ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ื•ืืฉื™ื’ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื” ื›ืŸ ื”ื”ืดื“ (ืฉืดื ืœ) ื•ื™ื›ื ื“ื•ื“ ืžื”ื ืฉืฃ ื•ืขื“ ื”ืขืจื‘ ืœืžื—ืจืชื.

ืขืžื“ ืืกื ื•ืืžืจ ืื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ ื›ื— ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ืœื”ื ืืœื ืื ื™ ืจื•ื“ืฃ ืื•ืชื ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื”, ืืžืจ ืœื• ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื” ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื™ื“) ื•ื™ืจื“ืคื ืืกืโ€ฆื›ื™ ื ืฉื‘ืจื• ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืœืคื ื™ ืžื—ื ื”ื• ื•ื’ื•ืณ ืœืคื ื™ ืืกื ืื™ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื›ืืŸ ืืœื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืœืคื ื™ ืžื—ื ื”ื•.

ืขืžื“ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื•ืืžืจ ืื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ ื›ื— ืœื ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ื•ืœื ืœืจื“ื•ืฃ ืืœื ืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืจื” ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื” [(ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื› ื™ื‘) ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื”ืœื ืชืฉืคื˜ ื‘ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื• ื›ื— ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื”ืžื•ืŸ ื”ืจื‘ ื”ื–ื” ื”ื‘ื ืขืœื™ื ื•; ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืœื ื ื“ืข ืžื” ื ืขืฉื” ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ืš ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ืƒ], ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื” ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื›) ื•ื‘ืขืช ื”ื—ืœื• ื‘ืจื ื” ื•ืชื”ืœื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ.

ืขืžื“ ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื•ืืžืจ ืื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ ื›ื— ืœื ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ื•ืœื ืœืจื“ื•ืฃ ื•ืœื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืจื” ืืœื ืื ื™ ื™ืฉืŸ ืขืœ ืžื˜ืชื™ ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื”, ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื” ืฉื ืืณ (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื™ื˜) ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืœื™ืœื” ื”ื”ื•ื ื•ื™ืฆื ืžืœืืš ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืš ื‘ืžื—ื ื” ืืฉื•ืจ.

ืื™ื›ื” ืจื‘ื” (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืคืชื™ื—ืชื•ืช , ื“ืดื” ื–ื‘ื“ื™ ื‘ืŸ

ืขืžืš ื ื“ื‘ืช

The king is reassured that all his people will volunteer to serve. Hirsch explains that is applies to the adults in the army, but because of the kingโ€™s ื”ื“ืจื™ ืงื“ืฉ (โ€reflections of holinessโ€œ), even the youth are his (ื˜ืœ is a metaphor for Torah: (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื‘:ื‘)โ€Ž ืชื–ืœ ื›ื˜ืœ ืืžืจืชื™).

ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง

David compares the king of Israel to the original king of Jerusalem, ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง:

ื™ื— ื•ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง ืžืœืš ืฉืœื ื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืœื—ื ื•ื™ื™ืŸ; ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืึพืœ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ื‘ืจื›ื”ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ื‘ืจื•ืš ืื‘ืจื ืœืึพืœ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ืงื ื” ืฉืžื™ื ื•ืืจืฅืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื™ื“

But that is only true as long as the king is a ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืึพืœ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ.โ€Ž ื›ื”ืŸ doesnโ€™t necessarily mean a religious priest; Davidโ€™s sons are called ื›ื”ื ื™ื in the sense of leaders in the service of the king:

ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื”ืคืœืชื™; ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื”ื™ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื™ื—

ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ืขืœ ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื”ืคืœืชื™; ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืจืืฉื ื™ื ืœื™ื“ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื™ื—:ื™ื–

The king of Israel must still be second-in-command to G-d.

The other, more subtle thing that David is doing by calling the king ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง is establishing a history. David is really the first leader of Israel in Jerusalem but heโ€™s connecting himself to an 800-year history. The kings of Jerusalem were commonly named ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง or similar:

ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืื“ื ื™ ืฆื“ืง ืžืœืš ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืืœ ื”ื•ื”ื ืžืœืš ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ ื•ืืœ ืคืจืื ืžืœืš ื™ืจืžื•ืช ื•ืืœ ื™ืคื™ืข ืžืœืš ืœื›ื™ืฉ ื•ืืœ ื“ื‘ื™ืจ ืžืœืš ืขื’ืœื•ืŸ ืœืืžืจืƒ

ื™ื”ื•ืฉื•ืข ื™:ื’

Itโ€™s like NationsBank merging with the bankrupt Bank of America just for the name, or Southwest Bell buying AT&T.

ืึพื“ื ื™ ืขืœ ื™ืžื™ื ืš

The metaphor changes. Instead of the king being at ื”ืณ's right hand, now ื”ืณ is at his right hand. G-d will do the fighting but the king is still seen as being the leader.

G-d will destroy the blood-thirsty nations (ื’ื•ื™ื ืžืœื ื’ื•ื™ื•ืช) and their leaders (ืจืืฉ ืขืœ ืืจืฅ ืจื‘ื”).

ืžื ื—ืœ ื‘ื“ืจืš ื™ืฉืชื”

Hirsch interprets ืžื ื—ืœ ื‘ื“ืจืš ื™ืฉืชื” as referring to the enemy, โ€œthe one who proudly lifts his headโ€, but most commentators understand this as a metaphor for ื”ืณ. The ื ื—ืœ is a common symbol of the times of ืžืฉื™ื—, when the word of G-d will flow from the ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื— ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื™ืฆืื• ืžื™ื ื—ื™ื™ื ืžื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื—ืฆื™ื ืืœ ื”ื™ื ื”ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ ื•ื—ืฆื™ื ืืœ ื”ื™ื ื”ืื—ืจื•ืŸ; ื‘ืงื™ืฅ ื•ื‘ื—ืจืฃ ื™ื”ื™ื”ืƒ ื˜ ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืœืžืœืš ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืื—ื“ ื•ืฉืžื• ืื—ื“ืƒ

ื–ื›ืจื™ื” ืคืจืง ื™ื“

The next perek is a praise of ื”ืณ, arranged in ื-ื‘ order.

ื ื”ืœืœื•ื™ึพื”;
ืื•ื“ื” ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ืœ ืœื‘ื‘;
ื‘ืกื•ื“ ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื•ืขื“ื”ืƒ
ื‘ ื’ื“ืœื™ื ืžืขืฉื™ ื”ืณ;
ื“ืจื•ืฉื™ื ืœื›ืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ื”ืืƒ
ื’ ื”ื•ื“ ื•ื”ื“ืจ ืคืขืœื•;
ื•ืฆื“ืงืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“ืƒ
ื“ ื–ื›ืจ ืขืฉื” ืœื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื•;
ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื•ืจื—ื•ื ื”ืณืƒ
ื” ื˜ืจืฃ ื ืชืŸ ืœื™ืจืื™ื•;
ื™ื–ื›ืจ ืœืขื•ืœื ื‘ืจื™ืชื•ืƒ
ื• ื›ื— ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืขืžื•
ืœืชืช ืœื”ื ื ื—ืœืช ื’ื•ื™ืืƒ
ื– ืžืขืฉื™ ื™ื“ื™ื• ืืžืช ื•ืžืฉืคื˜;
ื ืืžื ื™ื ื›ืœ ืคืงื•ื“ื™ื•ืƒ
ื— ืกืžื•ื›ื™ื ืœืขื“ ืœืขื•ืœื;
ืขืฉื•ื™ื ื‘ืืžืช ื•ื™ืฉืจืƒ
ื˜ ืคื“ื•ืช ืฉืœื— ืœืขืžื•
ืฆื•ื” ืœืขื•ืœื ื‘ืจื™ืชื•;
ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื•ื ื•ืจื ืฉืžื•ืƒ
ื™ ืจืืฉื™ืช ื—ื›ืžื” ื™ืจืืช ื”ืณ
ืฉื›ืœ ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœื›ืœ ืขืฉื™ื”ื;
ืชื”ืœืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื™ื

ืกื•ื“ ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื•ืขื“ื”

David is promising to praise ื”ืณ in two arenas: ืกื•ื“ ื™ืฉืจื™ื and the ืขื“ื”.โ€Ž ืกื•ื“ doesnโ€™t necessarily mean โ€œsecretโ€ but more โ€œprivate meetingโ€:

ื” ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื•ืœื•ื™ ืื—ื™ื ื›ืœื™ ื—ืžืก ืžื›ืจืชื™ื”ืืƒ ื• ื‘ืกื“ื ืืœ ืชื‘ื ื ืคืฉื™ ื‘ืงื”ืœื ืืœ ืชื—ื“ ื›ื‘ื“ื™; ื›ื™ ื‘ืืคื ื”ืจื’ื• ืื™ืฉ ื•ื‘ืจืฆื ื ืขืงืจื• ืฉื•ืจืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ืžื˜

ื ึทืขึฒืจึดื™ืฆึฐืšึธ ื•ึฐื ึทืงึฐื“ึดึผื™ืฉึฐืืšึธ ื›ึฐึผืกื•ึนื“ ืฉึดื‚ื™ื—ึท ืฉึทื‚ืจึฐืคึตื™ ืงึนื“ึถืฉื

ืงื“ื•ืฉื”

I would read this as referring to two ways of understanding G-d: the exoteric and the esoteric, the hidden truth only known to the elite. David is arguing against the esoteric. The only thing human beings can understand is the greatness of ืžืขืฉื™ ื”ืณ, and they are ื“ืจื•ืฉื™ื ืœื›ืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ื”ื. A similar sentiment is expressed in ืืฉืจื™:

ื’ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื•ืžื”ืœืœ ืžืื“; ื•ืœื’ื“ืœืชื• ืื™ืŸ ื—ืงืจืƒ
ื“ ื“ื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ืจ ื™ืฉื‘ื— ืžืขืฉื™ืš; ื•ื’ื‘ื•ืจืชื™ืš ื™ื’ื™ื“ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื”

The psalmist praises ื”ืณ's actions in general, then specifies:

ื˜ืจืฃ ื ืชืŸ ืœื™ืจืื™ื•

ื˜ืจืฃ is an odd word. It means โ€œpreyโ€, โ€œsomething torn or snatchedโ€:

ื•ืื ืฉื™ ืงื“ืฉ ืชื”ื™ื•ืŸ ืœื™; ื•ื‘ืฉืจ ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื˜ืจืคื” ืœื ืชืื›ืœื• ืœื›ืœื‘ ืชืฉืœื›ื•ืŸ ืืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ื‘:ืœ

The pasuk is literally saying โ€œG-d will serve treif to those who fear Himโ€!

But the usage is intentional. The true ื™ืจื sees even his prey, that which he himself caught, as a gift from G-d.

ื™ ื•ื™ื—ืœ ืขื•ื“ ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืฉืœื— ืืช ื”ื™ื•ื ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืชื‘ื”ืƒ ื™ื ื•ืชื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ื”ื™ื•ื ื” ืœืขืช ืขืจื‘ ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืœื” ื–ื™ืช ื˜ืจืฃ ื‘ืคื™ื”; ื•ื™ื“ืข ื ื— ื›ื™ ืงืœื• ื”ืžื™ื ืžืขืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื—

ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืœื” ื–ื™ืช ื˜ืจืฃ ื‘ืคื™ื”, ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืืœืขื–ืจ: ืืžืจื” ื™ื•ื ื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื: ืจื‘ื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื! ื™ื”ื™ื• ืžื–ื•ื ื•ืชื™ ืžืจื•ืจื™ื ื›ื–ื™ืช ื•ืžืกื•ืจื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ืš, ื•ืืœ ื™ื”ื™ื• ืžืชื•ืงื™ื ื›ื“ื‘ืฉ ื•ืžืกื•ืจื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื‘ืฉืจ ื•ื“ื.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื—,ื‘

The ื™ืจื ื”ืณโ€ฆwill accept as his nourishment only that which G-dโ€™s law permits, or โ€œgivesโ€ him.

The Hirsch Psalms, CXI:5

ื›ื— ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืขืžื•

In addition to ื”ืณ's providence for the entire world, ื”ืณ has a special relationship with Israel (and that is also esoteric knowlege):

ื—ื‘ื™ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื ืงืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ื ืœืžืงื•ื. ื—ื‘ื” ื™ืชืจื” ื ื•ื“ืขืช ืœื”ื ืฉื ืงืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ื ืœืžืงื•ื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื“), ื‘ื ื™ื ืืชื ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื.

ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื’:ื™ื“

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ืฆื—ืง ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ืชื—ื™ืœ [ืืช] ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืืœื (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื‘:ื‘) ืžื”ื—ื•ื“ืฉ ื”ื–ื” ืœื›ื, ืฉื”ื™ื ืžืฆื•ื” ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืฉื ืฆื˜ื•ื• [ื‘ื”] ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ืžื” ื˜ืขื ืคืชื— ื‘ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช, ืžืฉื•ื (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื™ื:ื•) ื›ื— ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืขืžื• ืœืชืช ืœื”ื ื ื—ืœืช ื’ื•ื™ื, ืฉืื ื™ืืžืจื• ืื•ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืกื˜ื™ื ืืชื, ืฉื›ื‘ืฉืชื ืืจืฆื•ืช ืฉื‘ืขื” ื’ื•ื™ื, ื”ื ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื”ื ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ืฉืœ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื, ื”ื•ื ื‘ืจืื” ื•ื ืชื ื” ืœืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืจ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•, ื‘ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื ืชื ื” ืœื”ื ื•ื‘ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื ื˜ืœื” ืžื”ื ื•ื ืชื ื” ืœื ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื:ื

ืฆื•ื” ืœืขื•ืœื ื‘ืจื™ืชื•

The perek ends with our duty: now that it has been established that ื”ืณ's greatness is publicly known; what do we do with that?

Hirsch emphasizes the difference between ืฉืœื— ืœืขืžื• and ืฆื•ื”:

G-d has sent redemption to His people; we have no part in bringing it about. But we are told that the keeping, the fulfillment of His covenant, is commanded us for all time; this duty is to be discharged by us alone.

The Hirsch Psalms, CXI:9

ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื•ื ื•ืจื ืฉืžื•

The bottom line is that ื”ืณ's true essence (ืฉืžื•) is ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื•ื ื•ืจื; utterly unknowable. There is no esoteric truth to be discovered since we canโ€™t handle the truth. Our ื—ื›ืžื” has to start from ื™ืจืืช ื”ืณ and manifest in ืขืฉื™ื”ื, fulfilling G-dโ€™s commandments:

[T]he Torahโ€™s main objective is the translation of the numinous into the kerygmaticโ€ฆ

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Worship of the Heart, p. 85

ื ื”ืœืœื•ื™ึพื”;
ืืฉืจื™ ืื™ืฉ ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืณ;
ื‘ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื• ื—ืคืฅ ืžืื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื–ืจืขื•;
ื“ื•ืจ ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื™ื‘ืจืšืƒ
ื’ ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ืขืฉืจ ื‘ื‘ื™ืชื•;
ื•ืฆื“ืงืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“ืƒ
ื“ ื–ืจื— ื‘ื—ืฉืš ืื•ืจ ืœื™ืฉืจื™ื;
ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื•ืจื—ื•ื ื•ืฆื“ื™ืงืƒ
ื” ื˜ื•ื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื•ื ืŸ ื•ืžืœื•ื”;
ื™ื›ืœื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ืƒ
ื• ื›ื™ ืœืขื•ืœื ืœื ื™ืžื•ื˜;
ืœื–ื›ืจ ืขื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฆื“ื™ืงืƒ
ื– ืžืฉืžื•ืขื” ืจืขื” ืœื ื™ื™ืจื;
ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืœื‘ื• ื‘ื˜ื— ื‘ื”ืณืƒ
ื— ืกืžื•ืš ืœื‘ื• ืœื ื™ื™ืจื;
ืขื“ ืืฉืจ ื™ืจืื” ื‘ืฆืจื™ื•ืƒ
ื˜ ืคื–ืจ ื ืชืŸ ืœืื‘ื™ื•ื ื™ื
ืฆื“ืงืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“;
ืงืจื ื• ืชืจื•ื ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ืƒ
ื™ ืจืฉืข ื™ืจืื” ื•ื›ืขืก
ืฉื ื™ื• ื™ื—ืจืง ื•ื ืžืก;
ืชืื•ืช ืจืฉืขื™ื ืชืื‘ื“ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื™ื‘

ืืฉืจื™ ืื™ืฉ ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืณ

This perek continues the theme of the end of the previous one. We praise the ื™ืจื ื”ืณ: he will be happy! His children and descendants will be strong and blessed; he will be rich (ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ืขืฉืจ).

What is a ื™ืจื ื”ืณ? He is one who imitates G-d as described in the previous perek: a ื‘ืขืœ ืฆื“ืงื”:โ€Ž ืฆื“ืงืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“ (in context, referring to the ื™ืจื). The next pasuk goes back to ื”ืงื‘ืดื”.โ€Ž ื”ืณ (who is called ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื•ืจื—ื•ื ื•ืฆื“ื™ืง) brings light to the righteous, but the pasuk is ambiguous. ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื•ืจื—ื•ื ื•ืฆื“ื™ืง may also refer to the ื™ืจื.

Our purpose is imitatio dei:

ื”ื“ืจื›ื™ื ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื•ื”ื™ืฉืจื™ื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื—:ื˜) โ€ื•ื”ืœื›ืช ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื•โ€œ. ื›ืš ืœื™ืžื“ื• ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืžืฆื•ื” ื–ื•: ืžื” ื”ื•ื ื ืงืจื ื—ื ื•ืŸ, ืืฃ ืืชื” ื”ื™ื” ื—ื ื•ืŸ; ืžื” ื”ื•ื ื ืงืจื ืจื—ื•ื, ืืฃ ืืชื” ื”ื™ื” ืจื—ื•ื; ืžื” ื”ื•ื ื ืงืจื ืงื“ื•ืฉ, ืืฃ ืืชื” ื”ื™ื” ืงื“ื•ืฉ. ื•ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื• ืงืจืื• ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืœืืœ ื‘ื›ืœ ืื•ืชืŸ ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ื™ื™ืŸ, ืืจืš ืืคื™ื™ื ื•ืจื‘ ื—ืกื“ ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ื™ืฉืจ ืชืžื™ื ื’ื™ื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื—ื–ืง ื•ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ื”ืŸโ€”ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืฉืืœื• ื“ืจื›ื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื”ื, ื•ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืื“ื ืœื”ื ื”ื™ื’ ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ื”ืŸ ื•ืœื”ื™ื“ืžื•ืช ื›ืคื™ ื›ื•ื—ื•.

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื“ืขื•ืช ื:ื™ื

ื˜ื•ื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื•ื ืŸ ื•ืžืœื•ื”

The perek the goes into detail about what it takes to be a ื™ืจื ื”ืณ. The ื‘ืขืœ ืฆื“ืงื” doesnโ€™t only give; he also lends:

ื– ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืš ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸ ืžืื—ื“ ืื—ื™ืš ื‘ืื—ื“ ืฉืขืจื™ืš ื‘ืืจืฆืš ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื ืชืŸ ืœืš ืœื ืชืืžืฅ ืืช ืœื‘ื‘ืš ื•ืœื ืชืงืคืฅ ืืช ื™ื“ืš ืžืื—ื™ืš ื”ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸืƒ ื— ื›ื™ ืคืชื— ืชืคืชื— ืืช ื™ื“ืš ืœื•; ื•ื”ืขื‘ื˜ ืชืขื‘ื™ื˜ื ื• ื“ื™ ืžื—ืกืจื• ืืฉืจ ื™ื—ืกืจ ืœื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ื”ืขื‘ื˜ ืชืขื‘ื™ื˜ื ื• ืื™ืŸ ืœื™ ืืœื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื•ืื™ื ื• ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื”ืชืคืจื ืก ืืžืจ ืจื—ืžื ื ืชืŸ ืœื• ื“ืจืš ื”ืœื•ืื” ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื•ืื™ื ื• ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื”ืชืคืจื ืก ืžื ื™ืŸ ืชืดืœ ืชืขื‘ื™ื˜ื ื• ืžืดืž ื•ืœืจืดืฉ ื“ืืžืจ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื•ืื™ื ื• ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื”ืชืคืจื ืก ืื™ืŸ ื ื–ืงืงื™ืŸ ืœื• ืชืขื‘ื™ื˜ื ื• ืœืžื” ืœื™ ื“ื‘ืจื” ืชื•ืจื” ื›ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื.

ื‘ื‘ื ืžืฆื™ืขื ืœื,ื‘

ืฉืžื•ื ื” ืžืขืœื•ืช ื™ืฉ ื‘ืฆื“ืงื”, ื–ื• ืœืžืขืœื” ืžื–ื•: ืžืขืœื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœืžืขืœื” ืžืžื ื”โ€”ื–ื” ื”ืžื—ื–ื™ืง ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืžืš, ื•ื ื•ืชืŸ ืœื• ืžืชื ื” ืื• ื”ืœื•ื•ืื”, ืื• ืขื•ืฉื” ืขื™ืžื• ืฉื•ืชืคื•ืช, ืื• ืžืžืฆื™ื ืœื• ืžืœืื›ื”, ื›ื“ื™ ืœื—ื–ืง ืืช ื™ื“ื• ืขื“ ืฉืœื ื™ืฆื˜ืจืš ืœื‘ืจื™ื™ื•ืช ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืืœ

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืžืชื ื•ืช ืขื ื™ื™ื ืคืจืง ื™:ื™

The ื™ืจื is also described as ืคื–ืจ ื ืชืŸ ืœืื‘ื™ื•ื ื™ื;โ€Ž ืคื–ืจ means โ€œspread out, scatteredโ€. This teaches us how to give ืฆื“ืงื”:

The significant element in the practice of philanthropy is not the amount of the gift but the frequency of giving. Thus, rather than giving away large sums to a few charities, the philanthropist should scrupulously respond to every request made of him.

Artscroll Tehillim, 112:9

And ืฆื“ืงืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“, just like G-d: (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื™ื:ื’)โ€Ž ื•ืฆื“ืงืชื• ืขืžื“ืช ืœืขื“.

ืจืฉืข ื™ืจืื” ื•ื›ืขืก

Davidโ€™s approach to theodicy was ื’ื ื–ื• ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื”: everything is really for the best. The apparent success of the wicked will โ€œmelt away and be lostโ€. Itโ€™s the righteous who will ืขืžื“ ืœืขื“.

David would read all the tragedy in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ as only temporary. ื”ืณ has a plan; it will work out in the end.