ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Eschatology

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

The perakim I want to look at now are also attributed to ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—, but they are much happier. They are about the ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื, the โ€œend of daysโ€ but not the violence that we call ืžืœื—ืžืช ื’ื•ื’ ื•ืžื’ื•ื’, but to the time after. It is a common theme in ืชื ืดืš:

ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืœืžืœืš ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืื—ื“ ื•ืฉืžื• ืื—ื“ืƒ

ื–ื›ืจื™ื” ื™ื“:ื˜

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื• starts with a ื›ื•ืชืจืช:

ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืขืœ ืขึฒืœึธืžื•ึนืช ืฉื™ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื•:ื

ืขึฒืœึธืžื•ึนืช is the name of a musical instrument:

ืขืœ ืขืœืžื•ืช: ืฉื ืฉืœ ื›ืœื™ ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื•:ื

ื™ื˜ ื•ื”ืžืฉืจืจื™ื ื”ื™ืžืŸ ืืกืฃ ื•ืื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืžืฆืœืชื™ื ื ื—ืฉืช ืœื”ืฉืžื™ืขืƒ ื› ื•ื–ื›ืจื™ื” ื•ืขื–ื™ืืœ ื•ืฉืžื™ืจืžื•ืช ื•ื™ื—ื™ืืœ ื•ืขื ื™ ื•ืืœื™ืื‘ ื•ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื• ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ื ื‘ืœื™ื ืขืœ ืขืœืžื•ืชืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

But we have seen the term used to describe how ื”ืณ runs the world:

ื›ื™ ื–ื” ืืœืงื™ื ืืœืงื™ื ื• ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“; ื”ื•ื ื™ื ื”ื’ื ื• ืขืœึพืžื•ืชืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื—:ื˜ื•

ืขืœืžื•ืช: ื›ืžื• ืขื•ืœืžื™ืช, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืขื•ืžื“ ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“, ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžื ื”ื’ ืœืขื•ืœืโ€ฆ

ื•ืจื‘ื™ ืžืฉื” ืืžืจ: ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื’ื–ืจืช ืขึถืœึถื ื™ื ื”ื’ื ื• ืชืžื™ื“, ื›ืžื ื”ื’ ื”ื ืขืจื•ืช ื•ื”ื˜ืขื ื›ืืฉืจ ื ื”ื’ื ื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื ืขื•ืจื™ื ื•.

ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื: ืžื’ื–ืจืช ื•ื ืขืœื ื“ื‘ืจ, ื‘ืžื ื”ื’ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื ืขืœื ืžื”ื ื‘ืจืื™ื.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื—:ื˜ื•

And that is implied here as well: ื”ืณ is running things, behind the scenes.

ื‘ ืืœืงื™ื ืœื ื• ืžื—ืกื” ื•ืขื–; ืขื–ืจื” ื‘ืฆืจื•ืช ื ืžืฆื ืžืื“ืƒ
ื’ ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืœื ื ื™ืจื ื‘ื”ืžื™ืจ ืืจืฅ; ื•ื‘ืžื•ื˜ ื”ืจื™ื ื‘ืœื‘ ื™ืžื™ืืƒ
ื“ ื™ื”ืžื• ื™ื—ืžืจื• ืžื™ืžื™ื•; ื™ืจืขืฉื• ื”ืจื™ื ื‘ื’ืื•ืชื• ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื•

This is the opposite of the perek we looked at [last time](/Propaganda Piece), where the psalmist lamented the fact that ื”ืณ was not present, and all he could hear was โ€œdeep calling to deepโ€:

ื— ืชื”ื•ื ืืœ ืชื”ื•ื ืงื•ืจื ืœืงื•ืœ ืฆื ื•ืจื™ืš; ื›ืœ ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ืš ื•ื’ืœื™ืš ืขืœื™ ืขื‘ืจื•ืƒโ€ฆ ื™ ืื•ืžืจื” ืœืึพืœ ืกืœืขื™ ืœืžื” ืฉื›ื—ืชื ื™; ืœืžื” ืงื“ืจ ืืœืš ื‘ืœื—ืฅ ืื•ื™ื‘ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื‘

But here, even as the deeps and the mountains roar, he knows that ื”ืณ is present. And more than present: ื ืžืฆื ืžืื“.

And the rushing water, instead of being a symbol of chaos, becomes a symbol of ื”ืณ's providence over the world.

ื” ื ื”ืจ ืคืœื’ื™ื• ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ืขื™ืจ ืืœืงื™ื; ืงื“ืฉ ืžืฉื›ื ื™ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸืƒ
ื• ืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืงืจื‘ื” ื‘ืœ ืชืžื•ื˜; ื™ืขื–ืจื” ืืœืงื™ื ืœืคื ื•ืช ื‘ืงืจืƒ
ื– ื”ืžื• ื’ื•ื™ื ืžื˜ื• ืžืžืœื›ื•ืช; ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืงื•ืœื• ืชืžื•ื’ ืืจืฅืƒ
ื— ื”ืณ ืฆื‘ืื•ึพืช ืขืžื ื•; ืžืฉื’ื‘ ืœื ื• ืืœื”ื™ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื•

The river coming from ืขื™ืจ ืืœืงื™ื brings us back to ื’ืŸ ืขื“ืŸ:

ื ื”ืจ: ื’ืŸ ืขื“ืŸ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื•:ื”

ื•ื ื”ืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืขื“ืŸ ืœื”ืฉืงื•ืช ืืช ื”ื’ืŸ; ื•ืžืฉื ื™ืคืจื“ ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœืืจื‘ืขื” ืจืืฉื™ืืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื‘:ื™

And in the ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื, Jerusalem will be that ื’ืŸ ืขื“ืŸ, with a ื ื”ืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืขื“ืŸ to support the rest of the world:

ื— ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื™ื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 ื™ื“

ื ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื ื™ ืืœ ืคืชื— ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื•ื”ื ื” ืžื™ื ื™ืฆืื™ื ืžืชื—ืช ืžืคืชืŸ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืงื“ื™ืžื” ื›ื™ ืคื ื™ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืงื“ื™ื; ื•ื”ืžื™ื ื™ืจื“ื™ื ืžืชื—ืช ืžื›ืชืฃ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื ื™ืช ืžื ื’ื‘ ืœืžื–ื‘ื—ืƒโ€ฆื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ ื”ืžื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื™ื•ืฆืื™ื ืืœ ื”ื’ืœื™ืœื” ื”ืงื“ืžื•ื ื” ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืขืœ ื”ืขืจื‘ื”; ื•ื‘ืื• ื”ื™ืžื” ืืœ ื”ื™ืžื” ื”ืžื•ืฆืื™ื ื•ื ืจืคืื• ื”ืžื™ืืƒ ื˜ ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœ ื ืคืฉ ื—ื™ื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืจืฅ ืืœ ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื•ื ืฉื ื ื—ืœื™ื ื™ื—ื™ื” ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ื“ื’ื” ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“; ื›ื™ ื‘ืื• ืฉืžื” ื”ืžื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื•ื™ืจืคืื• ื•ื—ื™ ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื•ื ืฉืžื” ื”ื ื—ืœืƒ ื™ ื•ื”ื™ื” ืขืžื“ื• ืขืœื™ื• ื“ื•ื’ื™ื ืžืขื™ืŸ ื’ื“ื™ ื•ืขื“ ืขื™ืŸ ืขื’ืœื™ื ืžืฉื˜ื•ื— ืœื—ืจืžื™ื ื™ื”ื™ื•; ืœืžื™ื ื” ืชื”ื™ื” ื“ื’ืชื ื›ื“ื’ืช ื”ื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“ืƒ

ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ืคืจืง ืžื–

And this vision is not of a final war, but a final peace: ืžึทืฉืึฐื‘ึผึดื™ืช ืžึดืœึฐื—ึธืžื•ึนืช ืขึทื“ ืงึฐืฆึตื” ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ.

ื˜ ืœื›ื• ื—ื–ื• ืžืคืขืœื•ืช ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ืฉื‚ึธื ืฉืึทืžึผื•ึนืช ื‘ืืจืฅืƒ
ื™ ืžืฉื‘ื™ืช ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืขื“ ืงืฆื” ื”ืืจืฅ;
ืงืฉืช ื™ืฉื‘ืจ ื•ืงืฆืฅ ื—ื ื™ืช; ืขื’ืœื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืฃ ื‘ืืฉืƒ
ื™ื ื”ืจืคื• ื•ื“ืขื• ื›ื™ ืื ื›ื™ ืืœืงื™ื; ืืจื•ื ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ืืจื•ื ื‘ืืจืฅืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื”ืณ ืฆื‘ืื•ึพืช ืขืžื ื•; ืžืฉื’ื‘ ืœื ื• ืืœืงื™ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื•

The next perek is familiar, since we say it on Rosh Hashanah (in fact we repeat it seven time right before shofar blowing).

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจืƒ
ื‘ ื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ื ืชืงืขื• ื›ืฃ; ื”ืจื™ืขื• ืœืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืจื ื”ืƒ
ื’ ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื ื•ืจื; ืžืœืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื–

This is also a theme that recurs in ืชื ืดืš, the โ€œgreat shofarโ€ that marks the final reign of ื”ืงื‘ืดื”:

ื•ื”ื™ื”โ€‰ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื™ืชืงืข ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื‘ืื• ื”ืื‘ื“ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืืฉื•ืจ ื•ื”ื ื“ื—ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื; ื•ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื”ืจ ื”ืงื“ืฉ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœอืืƒ

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื›ื–:ื™ื’

The shofar marks the crowning of the king:

ืœื˜ ื•ื™ืงื— ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืืช ืงืจืŸ ื”ืฉืžืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ืื”ืœ ื•ื™ืžืฉื— ืืช ืฉืœืžื”; ื•ื™ืชืงืขื• ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ ืž ื•ื™ืขืœื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื”ืขื ืžื—ืœืœื™ื ื‘ื—ืœืœื™ื ื•ืฉืžื—ื™ื ืฉืžื—ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”; ื•ืชื‘ืงืข ื”ืืจืฅ ื‘ืงื•ืœืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

And then all the nations will acknowledge ื”ืณ's rule:

ื“ ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืžื™ื ืชื—ืชื™ื ื•; ื•ืœืืžื™ื ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ื ื•ืƒ
ื” ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื ื• ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื ื•; ืืช ื’ืื•ืŸ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืืฉืจ ืื”ื‘ ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื–

But ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืžื™ื ืชื—ืชื™ื ื• doesnโ€™t mean that the Jews will rule the world; it means that we will be an example. ื™ึทื“ึฐื‘ึผึตืจ means โ€œto leadโ€:

ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืžื™ื: ื•ืขื ื–ื” ื™ื ื”ื™ื’ ื’ื ืืช ืื•ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื–:ื“

ื•ื™ืงื—ื• ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ืืช ื”ืžื ื—ื” ื”ื–ืืช ื•ืžืฉื ื” ื›ืกืฃ ืœืงื—ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื ื•ืืช ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ; ื•ื™ืงืžื• ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ืœืคื ื™ ื™ื•ืกืฃืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื’:ื˜ื•

ื•ึผื ึฐืกึดื™ื‘ื•ึผ ื’ึปื‘ึฐืจึทื™ึผึธื ื™ึธืช ืชึผึดืงึฐืจึปื‘ึฐืชึผึธื ื”ึธื“ึธื ื•ึฐืขึทืœ ื—ึทื“ ืชึผึฐืจึตื™ืŸ ื›ึผึทืกึฐืคึผึธื ื ึฐืกึดื™ื‘ื•ึผ ื‘ึดื™ื“ึตื™ื”ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึผื“ึฐื‘ึธืจื•ึผ ื™ึธืช ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™ึธืžึดืŸ ื•ึฐืงึธืžื•ึผ ื•ึผื ึฐื—ึธืชื•ึผ ืœึฐืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื•ึฐืงึธืžื•ึผ ืงึณื“ึธื ื™ื•ึนืกึตืฃืƒ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืื•ื ืงืœื•ืก, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื’:ื˜ื•

ื•ืืช ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ: ืžืชืจื’ืžื™ื ืŸ โ€ื•ื“ื‘ืจื• ื™ืช ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸโ€œ, ืœืคื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœืงื™ื—ืช ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ืœืงื™ื—ืช ื”ืื“ื ืฉื•ื” ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืืจืžื™; ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื ืงื— ื‘ื™ื“ ืžืชืจื’ืžื™ื ืŸ โ€ื•ื ืกื™ื‘โ€œ, ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื ืงื— ื‘ื”ื ื”ื’ืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ื, ืžืชืจื’ืžื™ื ืŸ โ€ื•ื“ื‘ืจโ€œ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื’:ื˜ื•

So ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ื ื• doesnโ€™t mean โ€œunder our feetโ€ but โ€œvia our path, our exampleโ€.

ืชื—ืชื™ื ื•: ื‘ืืžืฆืขื•ืช ืžืžืฉืœืชื ื•, ื›ื™ ื ื•ื“ืขื™ื ื•ื ื•ื“ื” ืื•ืชื ื“ืจืš ื”ืืžืช, ื›ืืžืจื• (ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืกื:ื•) ื•ึฐืึทืชึถึผื ื›ึนึผื”ึฒื ึตื™ ื”ืณ ืชึดึผืงึธึผืจึตืื•ึผ.

ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ื ื•: ืฉื ืฉืคื•ื˜ ืื•ืชื ื‘ืžื™ืฉื•ืจ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื”ื ืฉื•ื ื”ื–ืง ื‘ื–ื”.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื–:ื“

And ื”ืณ will allow us to live in our land, ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื ื• ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื ื•, with the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, called ื’ืื•ืŸ ื™ืขืงื‘.

ืืฉืจ ืื”ื‘: ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืื”ื‘ื• ื”ืึพืœ, ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื–:ื”

The second half of the perek could be read as a continuation of the first; ืขืœื” ืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืชืจื•ืขื” about the ืฉื•ืคืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœ.

ื• ืขืœื” ืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืชืจื•ืขื”; ื”ืณ ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืฉื•ืคืจืƒ
ื– ื–ืžืจื• ืืœืงื™ื ื–ืžืจื•; ื–ืžืจื• ืœืžืœื›ื ื• ื–ืžืจื•ืƒ
ื— ื›ื™ ืžืœืš ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ืืœืงื™ื ื–ืžืจื• ืžืฉื›ื™ืœืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื–

But the midrash notes that there is a change in ื”ืณโ€˜s name; ืฉื ื”ื•ื™ื” is the name of ืžื“ืช ื”ืจื—ืžื™ื. This half of the perek describes our annual โ€œpre-enactmentโ€ of ื”ืณโ€™s ืžืœื›ื•ืช every year:

ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื‘ืจื‘ื™ ื ื—ืžืŸ ืคืชื—: ืขึธืœึธื” ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื‘ึผึดืชึฐืจื•ึผืขึธื” ื”ืณ ื‘ึผึฐืงื•ึนืœ ืฉืื•ึนืคึธืจ. ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื•ืขื•ืœื” ืขืœ ื›ืกื ื“ื™ืŸ, ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืขื•ืœื”, ืžืื™ ื˜ืขื, ืขึธืœึธื” ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื‘ึผึดืชึฐืจื•ึผืขึธื”. ื•ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ื•ื˜ืœื™ืŸ ืืช ืฉื•ืคืจื™ื”ืŸ ื•ืชื•ืงืขื™ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, ืขื•ืžื“ ืžื›ืกื ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ื•ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื›ืกื ืจื—ืžื™ื, ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘: ื”ืณ ื‘ึผึฐืงื•ึนืœ ืฉืื•ึนืคึธืจ, ื•ืžืชืžืœื ืขืœื™ื”ื ืจื—ืžื™ื ื•ืžืจื—ื ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ื”ื•ืคืš ืขืœื™ื”ื ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ืœืจื—ืžื™ื, ืื™ืžืชื™ ื‘ื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™.

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืจื‘ื” ื›ื˜:ื’

ื˜ ืžืœืš ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœ ื’ื•ื™ื; ืืœืงื™ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกื ืงื“ืฉื•ืƒ
ื™ ื ื“ื™ื‘ื™ ืขืžื™ื ื ืืกืคื• ืขื ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื;
ื›ื™ ืœืืœืงื™ื ืžื’ื ื™ ืืจืฅ ืžืื“ ื ืขืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื–

We say about Rosh Hashana, ื•ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ื•ืชืคื™ืœื” ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืžืขื‘ื™ืจื™ืŸ ืืช ืจื•ืข ื”ื’ื–ืจื”. In this perek, ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— emphasize that it is ืฆื“ืงื” that moves ื”ืณ from ื›ืกื ื”ื“ื™ืŸ to ื›ืกื ืจื—ืžื™ื. It is ื ื“ื™ื‘ื™ ืขืžื™ื who are the ืžื’ื ื™ ืืจืฅ, who truly elevate ื”ืณ.

ื›ื™ ืœืืœืงื™ื ืžื’ื ื™ ืืจืฅ: ื•ื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ืืœื” ื”ื ื“ื™ื‘ื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ื ืžื’ื™ื ื™ ืืจืฅ ืœื”ื’ื™ืŸ ืขืœ ื–ื•ืœืชื ื‘ื’ืžื™ืœื•ืช ื—ืกื“ื™ื ื•ื‘ืœื›ืชื ื‘ื“ื“ื›ื™ ืืœืงื™ื”ื. ื•ื‘ื–ื” โ€ืžืื“ ื ืขืœื”โ€œ, ืฉื”ืžืฆื™ื ืขื ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœื• ื‘ืขื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืžืขืฉื ืžืฉืืจ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื–:ื™

The next perek can also be read as a description of future redemption, or the annual forgiveness of the ื™ื•ืžื™ื ื ื•ืจืื™ื.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจืƒ
ื‘ ืจืฆื™ืช ื”ืณ ืืจืฆืš; ืฉื‘ืช ืฉึฐืื‘ึดื™ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
ื’ ื ืฉืืช ืขื•ืŸ ืขืžืš; ื›ืกื™ืช ื›ืœ ื—ื˜ืืชื ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื”

The proof of ื”ืณโ€˜s forgiveness, ื ืฉืืช ืขื•ืŸ ืขืžืš, is ืจืฆื™ืช ื”ืณ ืืจืฆืš: when we do ื”ืณโ€™s will, the land is productive. That is why ื™ื•ื ื”ื“ื™ืŸ is at the start of the rainy season. It is the only time that the Torah mentions ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉื ื”:

ื™ื ื•ื”ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืชื ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืฉืžื” ืœืจืฉืชื” ืืจืฅ ื”ืจื™ื ื•ื‘ืงืขืช; ืœืžื˜ืจ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืชืฉืชื” ืžื™ืืƒ ื™ื‘ ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื“ืจืฉ ืืชื”; ืชืžื™ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื‘ื” ืžืจืฉื™ืช ื”ืฉื ื” ื•ืขื“ ืื—ืจื™ืช ืฉื ื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื

So the psalmist prays that this will happen every year:

ื“ ืืกืคืช ื›ืœ ืขื‘ืจืชืš; ื”ืฉื™ื‘ื•ืช ืžื—ืจื•ืŸ ืืคืšืƒ
ื” ืฉื•ื‘ื ื• ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืขื ื•; ื•ื”ืคืจ ื›ืขืกืš ืขืžื ื•ืƒ
ื• ื”ืœืขื•ืœื ืชืื ืฃ ื‘ื ื•; ืชืžืฉืš ืืคืš ืœื“ืจ ื•ื“ืจืƒ
ื– ื”ืœื ืืชื” ืชืฉื•ื‘ ืชื—ื™ื ื•; ื•ืขืžืš ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ื‘ืšืƒ
ื— ื”ืจืื ื• ื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ืš; ื•ื™ืฉืขืš ืชืชืŸ ืœื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื”

And then the volta: what can we do make this happen? ื”ืณ has already told us:

ื˜ ืืฉืžืขื” ืžื” ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืึพืœ ื”ืณ;
ื›ื™ ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืœื•ื ืืœ ืขืžื• ื•ืืœ ื—ืกื™ื“ื™ื•; ื•ืืœ ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ืœื›ืกืœื”ืƒ
ื™ ืืš ืงืจื•ื‘ ืœื™ืจืื™ื• ื™ืฉืขื•; ืœืฉื›ืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื‘ืืจืฆื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื”

This leads into one of my favorite aggadot:

ื™ื ื—ืกื“ ื•ืืžืช ื ืคื’ืฉื•; ืฆื“ืง ื•ืฉืœื•ื ื ืฉืงื•ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ืืžืช ืžืืจืฅ ืชืฆืžื—; ื•ืฆื“ืง ืžืฉืžื™ื ื ืฉืงืฃืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื”

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืกื™ืžื•ืŸ: ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื‘ื ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ืจืืช ืืช ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ื ืขืฉื• ืžืœืื›ื™ ื”ืฉืจืช ื›ืชื™ื ื›ืชื™ื, ื•ื—ื‘ื•ืจื•ืช ื—ื‘ื•ืจื•ืช. ืžื”ื ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืืœ ื™ื‘ืจื, ื•ืžื”ื ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื™ื‘ืจื. ื”ื“ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘: ื—ึถืกึถื“ ื•ึถืึฑืžึถืช ื ึดืคึฐื’ึผึธืฉืื•ึผ ืฆึถื“ึถืง ื•ึฐืฉืึธืœื•ึนื ื ึธืฉืึธืงื•ึผ. ื—ืกื“ ืื•ืžืจ ื™ื‘ืจื, ืฉื”ื•ื ื’ื•ืžืœ ื—ืกื“ื™ื. ื•ืืžืช ืื•ืžืจ ืืœ ื™ื‘ืจื, ืฉื›ืœื• ืฉืงืจื™ื. ืฆื“ืง ืื•ืžืจ ื™ื‘ืจื, ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื•ืฉื” ืฆื“ืงื•ืช. ืฉืœื•ื ืื•ืžืจ ืืœ ื™ื‘ืจื, ื“ื›ื•ืœื™ื” ืงื˜ื˜ื”. ืžื” ืขืฉื” ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื? ื ื˜ืœ ืืžืช ื•ื”ืฉืœื™ื›ื• ืœืืจืฅ, ื”ื“ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื ื™ืืœ ื—:ื™ื‘): ื•ึฐืชึทืฉืึฐืœึตืšึฐ ืึฑืžึถืช ืึทืจึฐืฆึธื”. ืืžืจื• ืžืœืื›ื™ ื”ืฉืจืช ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื: ืจื‘ื•ืŸ ื”ืขื•ืœืžื™ื ืžื” ืืชื” ืžื‘ื–ื” ืชึผึทื›ึฐืกึดื™ืก ืึทืœึฐื˜ึดื™ื›ึฐืกึฐื™ึธื” ืฉืœืš? [ืืžืจ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื:] ืชืขืœื” ืืžืช ืžืŸ ื”ืืจืฅ! ื”ื“ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘: ืึฑืžึถืช ืžึตืึถืจึถืฅ ืชึผึดืฆึฐืžึธื—.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ื—:ื”

ื•ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื›ืš ื”ื•ื, ื“ืืžืช ืืžืจ ืืœ ื™ื‘ืจื ืžืคื ื™ ื”ืฉืงืจื™ื, ืจืดืœ ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ืืžืช ืฆื•ืœืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืืœืคื™ื ืžื‘ื•ื›ื•ืช ื•ืกืคืงื•ืช ื•ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืœืงืœื•ืข ื‘ืฉื›ืœื ืืœ ื ืงื•ื“ืช ื”ืืžืช. ืžื” ืขืฉื” ื”ืงื‘ืดื”? ื”ืฉืœื™ืš ืืžืช ืืจืฆื”, ืจืดืœ ืฉืžืกืจ ื”ืืžืช ืœืฉืจื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ื—ื›ืžื” ืœืžื˜ื” ื‘ืืจืฅ; ื›ืคื™ ืฉื™ืกื›ื™ืžื• ื”ื ื›ืŸ ื™ืงื•ื. ืฉื ืืžืจ ืืžืช ืžืืจืฅ ืชืฆืžื—, ื•ืžืฉื ืชืŸ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฆื•ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ืฉืื ื™ื•ืœื“ ืื™ื–ื” ืกืคืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื™ืงื•ื ืคืกืง ื”ืœื›ื” ืฉื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื”ื—ื•ืœืงื™ื ื“ื•ืงื ื›ืคื™ ืฉื™ื‘ื™ื ื• ืฉืจื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืœื ื–ื•ืœืชืโ€ฆืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื›ืฉื™ืฆื ื”ื‘ืช ืงื•ืœ ื•ืืžืจ ื”ืœื›ื” ื›ืจืดื, ืขืžื“ ืจืณ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ืขืœ ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื•ืืžืจ โ€ืœื ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ื”ื™ืโ€œ! ืจืดืœ ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื™ืฆื ื”ืคืกืง ื“ื™ืŸ ืžื™ื“ ื”ื“ื™ื™ืŸ. ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืื™ืŸ ืื ื• ืžืฉื’ื™ื—ื™ืŸ ื‘ื‘ืดืง ื•ืœื ื‘ืฉื•ื ื ื‘ืจื ื‘ืขื•ืœื ื‘ืžื” ืฉื ื•ื’ืข ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ ื”ื“ืช ืจืง ื›ืคื™ ื”ืกื›ืžืช ื—ื›ืžื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ืœืžื˜ื” ื‘ืืจืฅ.

ื”ื’ืจืดื, ืงื•ืœ ืืœื™ื”ื• ืจื›ื•

If we, on earth, can act in a way that is ืืžืช, that will result in ืฆื“ืง and ื”ืณ will reward us with prosperity:

ื™ื’ ื’ื ื”ืณ ื™ืชืŸ ื”ื˜ื•ื‘; ื•ืืจืฆื ื• ืชืชืŸ ื™ื‘ื•ืœื”ืƒ
ื™ื“ ืฆื“ืง ืœืคื ื™ื• ื™ื”ืœืš; ื•ื™ืฉื ืœื“ืจืš ืคืขืžื™ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื”

The next perek is similar to ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื—, a paean to Jerusalem. This one is shorter, and doesnโ€™t have the aspect of rebuke that ืคืจืง ืžื— does.

ื ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉื™ืจ; ื™ืกื•ื“ืชื• ื‘ื”ืจืจื™ ืงื“ืฉืƒ
ื‘ ืื”ื‘ ื”ืณ ืฉืขืจื™ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ืžื›ืœ ืžืฉื›ื ื•ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
ื’ ื ื›ื‘ื“ื•ืช ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืš ืขื™ืจ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื–

ื™ืกื•ื“ืชื• ื‘ื”ืจืจื™ ืงื“ืฉ. ื™ืกื•ื“ืช ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื–ื” ืขืœ ื”ืจ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ื™ืกื“ื• ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคื–:ื

ืืžืจ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืื ื™ ืžื—ื‘ื‘ ืฉืขืจื™ ื›ื ืกื™ื•ืช ื•ื‘ืชื™ ืžื“ืจืฉื•ืช ื•ืœืžื™ ืื ื™ ืžื—ื‘ื‘ ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืœ ืœืฆื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื ืคืœื˜ื™ืŸ ืฉืœื™.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคื–:ื‘

ืจื‘ื™ ื—ื ื™ื ื ื‘ืจ ืื™ื“ื™ ืืžืจ: ืœืžื” ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืช ื”ืฉื ื‘ืžืงื“ืฉ ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื•ื‘ืžื“ื™ื ื” ื‘ื›ื ื•ื™ื•?โ€ฆืฉื ืืžืจ ื ึดื›ึฐื‘ึผึธื“ื•ึนืช ืžึฐื“ึปื‘ึผึธืจ ื‘ึผึธืšึฐ. ื•ืืŸ ืื™ืชืžืจ? ื‘ืงืจื™ื™ืชื™ื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ ืขึดื™ืจ ื”ึธืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ืกึถืœึธื”.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคื–:ื’

There are great people among the nations, but everyone in Jerusalem is great.

ื“ ืื–ื›ื™ืจ ืจื”ื‘ ื•ื‘ื‘ืœ ืœื™ื“ืขื™;
ื”ื ื” ืคืœืฉืช ื•ืฆืจ ืขื ื›ื•ืฉ; ื–ื” ื™ืœื“ ืฉืืƒ
ื” ื•ืœืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื™ืืžืจ ืื™ืฉ ื•ืื™ืฉ ื™ืœื“ ื‘ื”;
ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื›ื•ื ื ื” ืขืœื™ื•ืŸืƒ
ื• ื”ืณ ื™ืกืคืจ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืขืžื™ื; ื–ื” ื™ืœื“ ืฉื ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื–

[In ืชื ืดืš,โ€Ž ืจื”ื‘ is a poetic term for Egypt.]

This becomes a sort of self-affirmation. After all the negative ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, we need the reassurance that we, individually matter: ื”ืณ ื™ืกืคืจ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืขืžื™ื; ื–ื” ื™ืœื“ ืฉื.

Iโ€™m good enough, Iโ€™m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.

Al Franken as Stuart Smalley

By definition, self-affirmations are empowering, positive statements that assert oneโ€™s own value or worth. Individuals may recite these mantras either out loud or silently to boost confidence, maintain self-integrity, reduce negative self-talk, and soothe anxiety during challenging situations.

Lisa A. Koosis, The Science of Affirmations: The Brainโ€™s Response to Positive Thinking

But the message of the perek is about ื”ืณ, not human beings. All of our existence, fundamentally, is a ืžื–ืžื•ืจ to our ultimate Source.

ื•ืฉืจื™ื ื›ื—ืœืœื™ื ื›ืœ ืžืขื™ื ื™ ื‘ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคื–:ื–

And that is what ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is all about.