ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Gratitude

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve spent a lot of time looking at Hallel, as part of the concept of ื”ืœืœ ื•ื”ื•ื“ืื”. I want to look at two perakim of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that are specifically about the physical expression of ื”ื•ื“ืื”, the ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื”. The first is ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืง, which is titled ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื”, and was the ืฉื™ืจ sung when a ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื” was brought:

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื”: ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ื” ืœืื•ืžืจื• ืขืœ ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืชื•ื“ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืง:ื

The second is ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–, which starts like a โ€œHallelโ€: ื”ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื˜ื•ื‘; ื›ื™ ืœืขื•ืœื ื—ืกื“ื•ืƒ but is actually a long list of situations when a ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื” is brought. The refrain is ื•ื™ื–ืขืงื• ืืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื”ื; ืžืžืฆืงื•ืชื™ื”ื ื™ื•ืฉื™ืขืืƒ and then ื™ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื—ื• ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืชื•ื“ื”; ื•ื™ืกืคืจื• ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื‘ืจื ื”ืƒ. Itโ€™s where we get the laws of ื‘ืจื›ืช ื’ื•ืžืœ today.

So what is a ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื”? It is a kind of ืฉืœืžื™ื, brought to the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ but eaten by the owners:

ื™ื ื•ื–ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื–ื‘ื— ื”ืฉืœืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ื™ืงืจื™ื‘ ืœื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ืื ืขืœ ืชื•ื“ื” ื™ืงืจื™ื‘ื ื• ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืขืœ ื–ื‘ื— ื”ืชื•ื“ื” ื—ืœื•ืช ืžืฆื•ืช ื‘ืœื•ืœืช ื‘ืฉืžืŸ ื•ืจืงื™ืงื™ ืžืฆื•ืช ืžืฉื—ื™ื ื‘ืฉืžืŸ; ื•ืกืœืช ืžืจื‘ื›ืช ื—ืœืช ื‘ืœื•ืœืช ื‘ืฉืžืŸืƒ ื™ื’ ืขืœ ื—ืœืช ืœื—ื ื—ืžืฅ ื™ืงืจื™ื‘ ืงืจื‘ื ื• ืขืœ ื–ื‘ื— ืชื•ื“ืช ืฉืœืžื™ื•ืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืžืžื ื• ืื—ื“ ืžื›ืœ ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชืจื•ืžื” ืœื”ืณ; ืœื›ื”ืŸ ื”ื–ืจืง ืืช ื“ื ื”ืฉืœืžื™ื ืœื• ื™ื”ื™ื”ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื‘ืฉืจ ื–ื‘ื— ืชื•ื“ืช ืฉืœืžื™ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ืงืจื‘ื ื• ื™ืื›ืœ; ืœื ื™ื ื™ื— ืžืžื ื• ืขื“ ื‘ืงืจืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืื ื ื“ืจ ืื• ื ื“ื‘ื” ื–ื‘ื— ืงืจื‘ื ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืืช ื–ื‘ื—ื• ื™ืื›ืœ; ื•ืžืžื—ืจืช ื•ื”ื ื•ืชืจ ืžืžื ื• ื™ืื›ืœืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื”ื ื•ืชืจ ืžื‘ืฉืจ ื”ื–ื‘ื— ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืืฉ ื™ืฉืจืฃืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืื ื”ืื›ืœ ื™ืื›ืœ ืžื‘ืฉืจ ื–ื‘ื— ืฉืœืžื™ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ืœื ื™ืจืฆื” ื”ืžืงืจื™ื‘ ืืชื• ืœื ื™ื—ืฉื‘ ืœื• ืคื’ื•ืœ ื™ื”ื™ื”; ื•ื”ื ืคืฉ ื”ืื›ืœืช ืžืžื ื• ืขื•ื ื” ืชืฉืืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืคืจืง ื–

ื›ื˜ ื•ื›ื™ ืชื–ื‘ื—ื• ื–ื‘ื— ืชื•ื“ื” ืœื”ืณ ืœืจืฆื ื›ื ืชื–ื‘ื—ื•ืƒ ืœ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื™ืื›ืœ ืœื ืชื•ืชื™ืจื• ืžืžื ื• ืขื“ ื‘ืงืจ; ืื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ ืœื ื•ืฉืžืจืชื ืžืฆื•ืชื™ ื•ืขืฉื™ืชื ืืชื; ืื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ ืœื‘ ื•ืœื ืชื—ืœืœื• ืืช ืฉื ืงื“ืฉื™ ื•ื ืงื“ืฉืชื™ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ืื ื™ ื”ืณ ืžืงื“ืฉื›ืืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

Weโ€™ve talked many times about the ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื: it is not a sacrifice but a barbecue. Only the inedible ื—ืœื‘ is offered on the ืžื–ื‘ื—; the meat is eaten by the ื‘ืขืœ, the ื›ื”ืŸ, and by the entire community. It is a ื—ื™ืœื•ืœ ื”ืณ to save the meat and not offer it to others (thereโ€™s no way one person, or even one family, can eat an entire cow in a single day). That is why ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืชื•ื“ื” are connected to ื•ื™ืกืคืจื• ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื‘ืจื ื”. I need to tell the story, over and over again, of how ื”ืณ saved me, what I am bringing this ื–ื‘ื— for.

And that leads to a fascinating midrash:

ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ืคึผึดื ึฐื—ึธืก ื•ึฐืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ืœึตื•ึดื™ ื•ึฐืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ื™ื•ึนื—ึธื ึธืŸ ื‘ึผึฐืฉืึตื ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ืžึฐื ึทื—ึตื ื“ึผึฐื’ึทืœึฐื™ึธื: ืœึถืขึธืชึดื™ื“ ืœึธื‘ื•ึนื ื›ึผึธืœ ื”ึทืงึผึธืจึฐื‘ึผึธื ื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึฐื˜ึตืœึดื™ืŸ ื•ึฐืงึธืจึฐื‘ึผึทืŸ ืชึผื•ึนื“ึธื” ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื‘ึผึธื˜ึตืœ; ื›ึผึธืœ ื”ึทืชึผึฐืคึดืœึผื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึฐื˜ึตืœื•ึนืช, ื”ึทื”ื•ึนื“ึธืึธื” ืึตื™ื ึธื”ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื˜ึตืœึธื”. ื”ึฒื“ึธื ื”ื•ึผื ื“ึดื›ึฐืชึดื™ื‘ (ื™ืจืžื™ื” ืœื’:ื™ื): โ€ืงื•ึนืœ ืฉื‚ึธืฉื‚ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐืงื•ึนืœ ืฉื‚ึดืžึฐื—ึธื” ืงื•ึนืœ ื—ึธืชึธืŸ ื•ึฐืงื•ึนืœ ื›ึผึทืœึผึธื” ืงื•ึนืœ ืึนืžึฐืจึดื™ื ื”ื•ึนื“ื•ึผ ืึถืช ื”ืณ ืฆึฐื‘ึธืื•ึนืช ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€œ, ื–ื•ึน ื”ื•ึนื“ึธืึธื”. (ื™ืจืžื™ื” ืœื’:ื™ื): โ€ืžึฐื‘ึดืึดื™ื ืชึผื•ึนื“ึธื” ื‘ึผึตื™ืช ื”ืณโ€œ, ื–ึถื” ืงึธืจึฐื‘ึผึทืŸ ืชึผื•ึนื“ึธื”. ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ืื•ึนืžึตืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื ื•:ื™ื’): โ€ืขึธืœึทื™ ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื ึฐื“ึธืจึถื™ืšึธ ืึฒืฉืึทืœึผึตื ืชึผื•ึนื“ึนืช ืœึธืšึฐ;, โ€ืชึผื•ึนื“ึธื”โ€œ ืึตื™ืŸ ื›ึผึฐืชึดื™ื‘ ื›ึผึธืืŸ ืึถืœึผึธื โ€ืชึผื•ึนื“ึนืชโ€œ, ื”ึทื”ื•ึนื“ึธืึธื” ื•ึฐืงึธืจึฐื‘ึผึทืŸ ืชึผื•ึนื“ึธื”.

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืจื‘ื” ื˜ืณ:ื–

Rav Nahum Rabinovitch explains this based on the gemara:

ื”ื”ื•ื ื“ื ื—ื™ืช ืงืžื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื™ ื—ื ื™ื ื, ืืžืจ: ื”ืึพืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื”ื ื•ืจื ื•ื”ืื“ื™ืจ ื•ื”ืขื–ื•ื– ื•ื”ื™ืจืื•ื™ ื”ื—ื–ืง ื•ื”ืืžื™ืฅ ื•ื”ื•ื“ืื™ ื•ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“. ื”ืžืชื™ืŸ ืœื• ืขื“ ื“ืกื™ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืกื™ื™ื ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืกื™ื™ืžืชื™ื ื”ื• ืœื›ื•ืœื”ื• ืฉื‘ื—ื™ ื“ืžืจืš? ืœืžื” ืœื™ ื›ื•ืœื™ ื”ืื™? ืื ืŸ ื”ื ื™ ืชืœืช ื“ืืžืจื™ื ืŸโ€”ืื™ ืœืื• ื“ืืžืจื™ื ื”ื• ืžืฉื” ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื™ืชื, ื•ืืชื• ืื ืฉื™ ื›ื ืกืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืชืงื ื™ื ื”ื• ื‘ืชืคืœื”โ€”ืœื ื”ื•ื™ื ืŸ ื™ื›ื•ืœื™ืŸ ืœืžื™ืžืจ ืœื”ื•, ื•ืืช ืืžืจืช ื›ื•ืœื™ ื”ืื™ ื•ืื–ืœืช! ืžืฉืœ, ืœืžืœืš ื‘ืฉืจ ื•ื“ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืืœืฃ ืืœืคื™ื ื“ื™ื ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘, ื•ื”ื™ื• ืžืงืœืกื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœ ื›ืกืฃ, ื•ื”ืœื ื’ื ืื™ ื”ื•ื ืœื•!

ื‘ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืœื’,ื‘

ื–ื•ื”ื™ ื”ืžืฉืžืขื•ืช ืฉืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื‘ืขืœ ื”ืžื“ืจืฉ: ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื•ื, ื›ืืฉืจ ืชืชืจื‘ื” ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืณ ืขื“ ืงืฆื” ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื™ื›ื•ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืื“ื, ื›ืœ ื”ื”ื•ื“ืื•ืช ื‘ื˜ืœื•ืช ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ื›ื™ืจ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืžื” ืœื”ื’ื™ื“โ€ฆื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉืื•ืžืจื™ื, ื›ืœ ืชื•ืืจ, ื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื— ืฉืžื™ื™ื—ืกื™ื ืœื”ืณ ืžืฆืžืฆื ื•ืžืงื˜ื™ืŸ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืžื ืกื” ืœื”ื‘ื™ืข ืืช ืžื” ืฉืœื ื ื™ืชืŸ ืœื”ื‘ืขื” ื•ื ื›ืฉืœ.

ื”ืจื‘ ื ื—ื•ื ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืจื‘ื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืฅ, ืืžื•ืจ: ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื”ืชื•ื“ื”

In the ืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื, we will have a much better understanding of the nature of ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, which will only serve to emphasize how much we donโ€™t understand, to the point that we will realize that we can never praise ื”ืณ. But gratitude is different. The more we realize ื”ืณ's role in our lives, the more we will express that gratitude.

ืื•ืœื, ืžืื™ื“ืš, ื”ื•ื“ืืช ื”ืชื•ื“ื” ืื™ื ื” ื‘ื˜ืœื”. ืžื” ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ืืžื™ืจื” ื”ื–ื•? ื‘ืคื•ืขืœ ื™ืฉ ื›ืืŸ ืฉื ื™ ืชื”ืœื™ื›ื™ื ืฉื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ื™ื—ื“ื™ื•, ืžืชืื™ืžื™ื ื•ืžืงื‘ื™ืœื™ื. ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ื–ืืช ื™ืฉ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืชืจื’ื™ืœ ืžื—ืฉื‘ืชื™โ€”ื›ืžื” ืื ื• ืฉื•ืืœื™ื ืืช ืขืฆืžื ื• ืžื” ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื ืชืŸ ืœื ื• ื”ื™ื•ื? ื›ืžืขื˜ ื•ืœื ืฉื•ืืœื™ื ืืช ื”ืฉืืœื” ื”ื–ื• ื›ืœืœ. ื™ืฉ ื”ื–ื“ืžื ื•ื™ื•ืช ืฉืœ ื”ืชืขืœื•ืช, ืื™ืจื•ืขื™ื ื‘ื”ื ืื“ื ื ื™ืฆืœ ืžืื™ื–ื• ืกื›ื ื” ืื• ืจื’ืขื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ื‘ื”ื ืื“ื ืžืจื’ื™ืฉ ืฆื•ืจืš ื ืคืฉื™ ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœืงื‘ืดื” ืขืœ ื—ืกื“ื•, ืื‘ืœ ื›ื›ืœืœ ืืœื• ืื™ืจื•ืขื™ื ืžืžื•ืงื“ื™ื ื•ื“ื™ ื ื“ื™ืจื™ื. ื›ืœ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื›ื•ืœื•, ื›ืœ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื ื›ื•ืœื, ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉืžืชืจื—ืฉ ื‘ื™ื•ืžื™ื•ืโ€”ืื™ืŸ ืื ื• ืจื•ืื™ื ื‘ื–ื” ืžืชื ื” ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืขืœื™ื”. ื‘ืขืœ ื”ืžื“ืจืฉ ืื•ืžืจ ืœื ื• ืฉื”ื ื˜ื™ื™ื” ื”ื–ื• ื ื•ื‘ืขืช ืžื—ื•ืกืจ ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืณ. ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื•ื, ื›ืืฉืจ ืื“ื ื™ื’ื™ืข ืœื“ืจื’ื” ืžืขื•ืœื” ืฉืœ ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืณ, ื”ื•ื ื™ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื”ื›ื™ืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืžืฉื ื” (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื“:ื”): โ€ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื™ ื ื‘ืจื ื”ืขื•ืœืโ€œ. ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ืฉ ื‘ืขื•ืœื, ื”ื›ืœ, ื”ื•ื ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื™ื—ื™ื” ืืช ื”ืจื’ืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ื™ ืขื›ืฉื™ื•. ืœื ื ื™ืชืŸ ืœืื“ื ืœื—ื™ื•ืช ืืฃ ืจื’ืข ืื—ื“ ื‘ืœื™ ืฉื™ื”ื ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืขื•ืœื, ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฆื™ืื•ืช, ื‘ืขืฆื ื”ื™ื•ืชื•. ื›ืœ ืจื’ืข ื‘ื—ื™ื™ื ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ืฉ ื‘ื• ื”ื•ื ืžืชื ื” ืžืืช ื”ืณ.

ื”ืจื‘ ื ื—ื•ื ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืจื‘ื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืฅ, ืืžื•ืจ: ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื”ืชื•ื“ื”

The ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื” is similar. When the midrash talks of ื”ึทืงึผึธืจึฐื‘ึผึธื ื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึฐื˜ึตืœึดื™ืŸ, it is talking about private ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช. When we get to a point of ื“ืจื’ื” ืžืขื•ืœื” ืฉืœ ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืณ, we will not need to bring ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช.

ืžื‘ื™ืื™ื ืชื•ื“ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ: ื•ืœื ืืžืจ ื—ื˜ืืช ื•ืืฉื ืœืคื™ ืฉื‘ื–ืžืŸ ื”ื”ื•ื ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื”ื ืจืฉืขื™ื ื•ื—ื•ื˜ืื™ื ื›ื™ ื›ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ืืช ื”ืณ ื•ื›ืŸ ืืžืจื• ืจื–ืดืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื˜ืœื™ื ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื•ื ื—ื•ืฅ ืžืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ืœื’:ื™ื

ืœื ื™ืจืขื• ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื—ื™ืชื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื™; ื›ื™ ืžืœืื” ื”ืืจืฅ ื“ืขื” ืืช ื”ืณ ื›ืžื™ื ืœื™ื ืžื›ืกื™ืืƒ

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื™ื:ื˜

ื•ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ: ื›ืœ ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื˜ืœื™ืŸ ื•ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื” ืื™ื ื• ื‘ื˜ืœ; ื›ืœ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื•ืช ื‘ื˜ืœื•ืช ื•ื”ื”ื•ื“ืื” ืื™ื ื” ื‘ื˜ื™ืœื”โ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื™ื—ื™ื“, ืฉื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœื ืชืฉืชื ื” ืœืขื•ืœื ื•ื™ื‘ื™ืื• ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ืฆื‘ื•ืจ, ืืš ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ืื™ื ืขืœ ื—ื˜ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ (ืชื ื—ื•ืžื ืคืจืฉืช ืฆื• ื–) ืฉื›ืœ ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ืื™ืŸ ืขืœ ื—ื˜ื, ื—ื˜ืืช ื•ืืฉื, ื•ืืฃ ืขื•ืœื” ื‘ืื” ืขืœ ื”ืจื”ื•ืจ ื”ืœื‘, ื•ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื•ื ืฉื™ื‘ื•ืขืจ ื”ืฉืื•ืจ ืฉื‘ืขื™ืกื” ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉื•ื ื—ื˜ื ื™ืชื‘ื˜ืœ ื›ืœ ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื™ื—ื™ื“ ืœื‘ื“ ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื ืฉื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื‘ื”ื ืชื•ื“ื”, ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื ืœืชืช ื”ื•ื“ืื” ืขืœ ืืฉืจ ื ื™ืฆื•ืœ ืžืฉืื•ืจ ืฉื‘ืขื™ืกื”, ื•ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืื—ื“ ื•ืฉืžื• ืื—ื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ื›ื•ืœื• ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื”ืžื™ื˜ื™ื‘.

ืจืณ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืžืœื•ื‘ืœื™ืŸ, ืคืจื™ ืฆื“ื™ืง, ืคืจืฉืช ืžืฆื•ืจืข ื

ื›ื•ืœื• ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื”ืžื™ื˜ื™ื‘ is a reference to the gemara that says that ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื, we will understand ื”ืณ's role in the world and His goodness in all that He does, and we will appreciate even the apparently negative things in life:

(ื–ื›ืจื™ื” ื™ื“:ื˜) .ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื” ื”ืณ ืœึฐืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ืขึทืœ ื›ึผื‡ืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ื•ึผื ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึถื” ื”ืณ ืึถื—ึธื“ ื•ึผืฉืึฐืžื•ึน ืึถื—ึธื“: ืื˜ื• ื”ืื™ื“ื ื ืœืื• ืื—ื“ ื”ื•ื? ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืื—ื ื‘ืจ ื—ื ื™ื ื: ืœื ื›ืขื•ืœื ื”ื–ื” ื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื. ื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ื–ื”, ืขืœ ื‘ืฉื•ืจื•ืช ื˜ื•ื‘ื•ืช ืื•ืžืจ: โ€ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื”ืžื˜ื™ื‘โ€œ, ื•ืขืœ ื‘ืฉื•ืจื•ืช ืจืขื•ืช ืื•ืžืจ: โ€ื‘ืจื•ืš ื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ืืžืชโ€œ. ืœืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื, ื›ื•ืœื• โ€ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื”ืžื˜ื™ื‘โ€œ.

ืคืกื—ื™ื ื ,ื

So our goal for the world is to be left with only one form of prayer and one form of ืงืจื‘ืŸ, the ืชื•ื“ื”. And that is why we stand for ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื” in ืคืกื•ืงื™ ื“ื–ื™ืžืจื:

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื” ื™ืฉ ืœืื•ืžืจื” ื‘ื ื’ื™ื ื”, ืฉื›ืœ ื”ืฉื™ืจื•ืช ืขืชื™ื“ื•ืช ืœื™ื‘ื˜ืœ ื—ื•ืฅ ืžืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื”.

ืฉื•ืœื—ืŸ ืขืจื•ืš ืื•ืจื— ื—ื™ื™ื, ื ื:ื˜

With that, letโ€™s look at ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืง, the psalm of the thanksgiving offering.

ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื”;
ื”ืจื™ืขื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ
ื‘ ืขื‘ื“ื• ืืช ื”ืณ ื‘ืฉืžื—ื”; ื‘ืื• ืœืคื ื™ื• ื‘ืจื ื ื”ืƒ
ื’ ื“ืขื• ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื”ื•ื ืืœืงื™ื;
ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื ื• ื•ืœื (ื•ืœื•) ืื ื—ื ื•
ืขืžื• ื•ืฆืืŸ ืžืจืขื™ืชื•ืƒ
ื“ ื‘ืื• ืฉืขืจื™ื• ื‘ืชื•ื“ื” ื—ืฆืจืชื™ื• ื‘ืชื”ืœื”; ื”ื•ื“ื• ืœื• ื‘ืจื›ื• ืฉืžื•ืƒ
ื” ื›ื™ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ืณ ืœืขื•ืœื ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ืขื“ ื“ืจ ื•ื“ืจ ืืžื•ื ืชื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืง

The good news is that it is short, so it should be easy to analyze. The bad news is that it is short, so despite its importance (we stand when we say it), we mumble it quickly and never pay attention to the words. The other bad news is that it isnโ€™t actually easy to analyze; being short just means it is being poetic and ambiguous. Rav Elchanan Samet has a 15 page essay on these 5 psukim.

We wonโ€™t spend that much time on it. But itโ€™s importance is highlighted by its authorship: it dates back to Moshe himself:

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืœื•ื™ ื‘ืฉื ืจื‘ื™ ื—ื ื™ื ื: ืื—ื“ ืขืฉืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ื ืฉืืžืจ ืžืฉื” ื‘ื˜ื›ืกื™ืก ืฉืœ ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืืžืจืŸ. ื•ืœืžื” ืœื ื ื›ืชื‘ื• ื‘ืชื•ืจื”? ืืœื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืืœื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื ื‘ื•ืื”.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆ

(I think that ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื ื‘ื•ืื” shouldnโ€™t be taken literally; ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is in ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื. Moshe sometimes writes ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงืจืฉ, not at the level ื‘ืืกืคืงืœืจื™ื ื”ืžืื™ืจื”.)

These are the eleven:

  1. ืชืคืœื” ืœืžืฉื” ืื™ืฉ ื”ืืœืงื™ื
  2. ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืกืชืจ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ
  3. ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉื™ืจ ืœื™ื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ืช
  4. ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ื’ืื•ืช ืœื‘ืฉ
  5. ืึพืœ ื ืงืžื•ืช ื”ืณ
  6. ืœื›ื• ื ืจื ื ื” ืœื”ืณ
  7. ืฉื™ืจื• ืœื”ืณ ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ
  8. ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ
  9. ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉื™ืจื• ืœื”ืณ ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ
  10. ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ื™ืจื’ื–ื• ืขืžื™ื
  11. ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื”

So our ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื” (at least in some prototypical form) goes back to the time of the ืžืฉื›ืŸ.

The perek itself is a chiasm: it starts with a call to all people, ื”ืจื™ืขื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ and ends with the common refrain, ื›ื™ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ืณ ืœืขื•ืœื ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ืขื“ ื“ืจ ื•ื“ืจ ืืžื•ื ืชื•. Thatโ€™s not the ืงืจื‘ืŸ; thatโ€™s the verbal praise. The next line is ืขื‘ื“ื• ืืช ื”ืณ ื‘ืฉืžื—ื”; ื‘ืื• ืœืคื ื™ื• ื‘ืจื ื ื” which again, is non-specific. The corresponding second-to-last line is specific: ื‘ืื• ืฉืขืจื™ื• ื‘ืชื•ื“ื” ื—ืฆืจืชื™ื• ื‘ืชื”ืœื”; ื”ื•ื“ื• ืœื• ื‘ืจื›ื• ืฉืžื•. Here we have the ืงืจื‘ืŸ along with the verbal praise.

The reason for the change is in the middle section. We go from ื“ืขื• ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื”ื•ื ืืœืงื™ื, a universal, intellectual relationship with ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, to ืขืžื• ื•ืฆืืŸ ืžืจืขื™ืชื•: we, the Jewish people, are G-dโ€™s people.

The volta is the ambiguous center line: ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื ื• ื•ืœื ืื ื—ื ื•, the ื›ืชื™ื‘, is a statement about creation. ื”ืณ created the world and therefore we need to serve Him. ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื ื• ื•ืœื• ืื ื—ื ื•, the ืงืจื™ื, is about relationship. ื”ืณ not only created us but made us His people. That is why the ืฉืœืžื™ื is a form of ืขื‘ื•ื“ื”. Itโ€™s not about the sacrifice; itโ€™s about sharing a meal, as it were, with ื”ืงื‘ืดื”. The idea of ืฉืœืžื™ื was an innovation:

ืืžืจ ืžืจ: ื•ื”ื›ืœ [ืœืคื ื™ ืงื™ื•ื ื”ืžืฉื›ืŸ] ืงืจื‘ื• ืขื•ืœื•ืช. ืขื•ืœื•ืช ืื™ืŸ; ืฉืœืžื™ื ืœืโ€ฆืจืดื ื•ืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจ ื—ื ื™ื ื: ื—ื“ ืืžืจ ืงืจื‘ื• [ืฉืœืžื™ื ื‘ื ื™ ื ื—], ื•ื—ื“ ืืžืจ ืœื ืงืจื‘ื•.

ื–ื‘ื—ื™ืŸ ืงื˜ื–,ื

ื–ื• ืžืกื™ื™ืขืช ืœืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจืณ ื—ื ื™ื ื (ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื ื“:ื˜ื–): ืขื•ึผืจึดื™ ืฆึธืคื•ึนืŸ ื•ึผื‘ื•ึนืึดื™ ืชึตื™ืžึธืŸ [ื”ึธืคึดื™ื—ึดื™ ื’ึทื ึผึดื™ ื™ึดื–ึผึฐืœื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืฉื‚ึธืžึธื™ื• ื™ึธื‘ึนื ื“ื•ึนื“ึดื™ ืœึฐื’ึทื ึผื•ึน ื•ึฐื™ึนืื›ึทืœ ืคึผึฐืจึดื™ ืžึฐื’ึธื“ึธื™ื•]. ืขื•ึผืจึดื™ ืฆึธืคื•ึนืŸโ€”ื–ื• ืขื•ืœื” ืฉื ืฉื—ื˜ื” ื‘ืฆืคื•ืŸ. ื•ืœืžื” ืงื•ืจื ืื•ืชื” โ€œืขื•ืจื™โ€? ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื™ืฉืŸ ื•ื ืชืขื•ืจืจ. ื•ึผื‘ื•ึนืึดื™ ืชึตื™ืžึธืŸโ€”ืืœื• ืฉืœืžื™ื ืฉื ืฉื—ื˜ื• ื‘ื“ืจื•ื, ื•ืœืžื” ืงื•ืจื ืื•ืชื” โ€ื•ื‘ื•ืื™ ืชื™ืžืŸโ€œ? ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืœื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉ. ืืฃ ื”ืžืงืจื ืžืกื™ื™ืข ืœืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจ ื—ื ื™ื ื” (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื•:ื‘):ื–ึนืืช ืชึผื•ึนืจึทืช ื”ึธืขึนืœึธื”, ื”ึดื•ื ื”ึธืขึนืœึธื”โ€”ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื ื—. ื•ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ืฉื‘ืื• ืฉืœืžื™ื (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื–:ื™ื): ื–ึนืืช ืชึผื•ึนืจึทืช ื–ึถื‘ึทื— ื”ึทืฉืึผึฐืœึธืžึดื™ื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื™ึทืงึฐืจึดื™ื‘ ืœึทื”ืณโ€”ืดืืฉืจ ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ" ืœื ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืืŸ, ืืœื: โ€ืืฉืจ ื™ืงืจื™ื‘ ืœื”ืณโ€œ, ืžื›ืืŸ ื•ืœื”ื‘ื.

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืจื‘ื” ื˜:ื•

And that is reflected in our perek. The first half is addressed to the world, โ€œserve G-dโ€. The second half is addressed to ืขื ื™ืฉืจืืœ and adds โ€œjoin Him in this holy mealโ€.

ื”ื”ื‘ื—ื ื” ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉืชื™ ื”ืžื—ืฆื™ื•ืช, ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ืขืžื“ื ื• ืขืœื™ื”, ื”ื™ื ื›ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื ืžืขื ื™ื ืฉืืœื™ื”ื ืžื•ืคื ื•ืช ื”ืงืจื™ืื•ืช ืœื”ืœืœ: ื‘ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื”โ€”ื”ื ืžืขืŸ ื”ื•ื ื›ืœืœื™-ืื•ื ื™ื‘ืจืกืœื™: โ€ื›ึธืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅโ€œ; ื‘ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉื ื™ื™ื”โ€”ื”ื ืžืขืŸ ื”ื•ื ืขื ื™ืฉืจืืœ: โ€ืขืžึนื• ื•ืึฐืฆืืŸ ืžืจืึฐืขึผึดื™ืชึนื•โ€œ.

ื”ืจื‘ ืืœื—ื ืŸ ืกืžื˜, ื‘ื™ืŸ ืชื”ื™ืœืช โ€ื›ึธืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅโ€œ ืœืชื”ื™ืœืช โ€ืขึทืžึนื• ื•ึฐืฆืืŸ ืžึทืจึฐืขึดื™ืชึนื•โ€œ

It is only when we have a personal relationship with ื”ืงื‘ืดื” that the ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื makes any sense.

ืื ื• ืฉื•ืืœื™ื: ืžื” ื›ืœ ื›ืš ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ื‘ืฉืืœื” ืื ื‘ื ื™ ื ื— ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืขื•ืœื•ืช ื•ืฉืœืžื™ื? ืžืื™ ื ืคืงื ืžื™ื ื™ื”? ื‘ืฉืœ ืžื” ื”ื“ื™ื•ืŸ ื”ืืจื•ืš ื”ื–ื” ื•ื—ื–ืจืชื” ืฉืœ ื”ื“ืจืฉื” ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ื›ื” ืจื‘ ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ืจื•ืช? ื•ื‘ืคืจื˜ ืœืฉื™ื˜ืช ืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจืณ ื—ื ื™ื ื, ืœืžื” ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืœื• ืœื”ื•ื›ื™ื— ืฉืฉืœืžื™ื ื”ื•ื ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉ ืฉืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ืฉืœ ืกืคืจ ื•ื™ืงืจื?

โ€ฆืื ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื ื”ื•ื โ€œื’ื•ืœืช ื”ื›ื•ืชืจืชโ€ ื•ื”ืคืจืคืจืช, ื”ื•ื ื”ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื”ืจืฆื•ื™ ืžืฉื•ื ืฉื™ืฉ ื‘ื• ืฉืœื•ื, ืฉืœืžื•ืช ื•ืฉืžื—ื”, ืฉื‘ื ื‘ื“ืดื› ื‘ื ื“ื‘ื” ื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš โ€œืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื•ื ื›ืœ ื”ืงื•ืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื˜ื™ืœื™ืŸ ื•ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื” ืื™ื ื• ื‘ื˜ืœ ืœืขื•ืœื. ื›ืœ ื”ื”ื•ื“ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื˜ืœื•ืช ื•ื”ื•ื“ื™ื™ืช ืชื•ื“ื” ืื™ื ื” ื‘ื˜ืœื” ืœืขื•ืœืโ€โ€ฆืื ื›ืš, ืœื ืžื•ื›ืŸ ืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจืณ ื—ื ื™ื ื โ€œืœืชืชโ€ ืื•ืชื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ื ื—. ื”ื•ื ืžืขื“ื™ืฃ ืžืฆื‘ ืฉื‘ื• ืื•ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื, ื•ื’ื ืื‘ื•ืช ื”ืื•ืžื”, ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื“ ืจื’ืข ืœืคื ื™ ืžืชืŸ ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืฆื™ื•ื•ื™ ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช, ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืขื•ืœื•ืชโ€”ื›ืœื™ืœ ืœืžื–ื‘ื—. ื‘ืื” ืชื•ืจืช ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื•ืžื’ื“ื™ืจื” ืคืจื˜ื™ ื“ื™ื ื™ื ืืœื”, ื•ืžื•ืกื™ืคื” ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ื›ืจ ื‘ืขื•ืœื, ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœ ืฉื•ืชืคื•ืช ื•ืฉืœื•ื, ืฉืœ โ€ื—ืฆื™ื• ืœื”ืณ ื•ื—ืฆื™ื• ืœื›ืโ€œ, ื—ืœืง ืœื’ื‘ื•ื” ื•ื—ืœืง ืœื”ื“ื™ื•ื˜, ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœืฉืชืฃ ื‘ื• ืื ืฉื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ื›ื™ ื–ืžืŸ ืื›ื™ืœืชื• ื•ืžืงื•ืžื• ืžื•ื’ื‘ืœื™ื. ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœ ืฉืœืžื•ืช ื•ืฉืžื—ื” ื•ื‘ืขืœ ืชื•ืงืฃ ื’ื ื›ืืฉืจ ื›ืœ ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื™ืชื‘ื˜ืœื•. ื›ื™ืฆื“ (ื’ื ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื‘ื˜ืœ ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ)? ื‘ืชืคื™ืœืช ื”ื•ื“ื™ื” ืฉืœืขื•ืœื ืœื ืชืชื‘ื˜ืœ. ื–ื” ื”ืžืกืจ ื”ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ื›ืœ ื›ืš ืœืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจืณ ื—ื ื™ื ื ืฉืœืžืขื ื• ื”ื•ื ื˜ื•ืจื— ืœืคืจืง ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ื•ื›ื—ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ื˜ืขื ื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืœ ืจืณ ืืœืขื–ืจ ื•ืœื”ืฆื™ืข ื”ื•ื›ื—ื•ืช ืžืฉืœื•.

ืžื—ืœืงื™ ืžื™ื, ืฉืœืžื™ื ื”ื ืฉืœื•ื

So why have the first, universal, half, if the perek is meant to be a ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืชื•ื“ื”? Because our goal is that, through the invitation to join the ืชื•ื“ื” and the ื”ื•ื“ื• ืœื• ื‘ืจื›ื• ืฉืžื• that accompanies it, the entire world will come to acknowlege ื”ืณ.

ื”ื‘ื” ื ืฉื•ื‘ ืœืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืฉืœ ืžื–ืžื•ืจื ื• ื•ื ืืžืจ ืืช ืžื” ืฉื ืจืื” ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ืžืืœื™ื•: ื”ืงืจื™ืื” ืœโ€ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅโ€œ ืœื”ืจื™ืข ืœื”ืณ ื•ืœืขื‘ื“ื• ื‘ืฉืžื—ื”, ืžืชื•ืš ื”ื›ืจื” ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ื“ื• ื”ื-ืœื•ื”ื™ื ืฉื‘ืจืื ื•, ืžืชื™ื™ื—ืกืช ื›ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ืœืขื™ื“ืŸ ืขืชื™ื“ื™ ืฉื‘ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื. ืงืจื™ืื” ื–ื• ืื™ื ื” ืžืชืื™ืžื” ื›ืœืœ ืœืžืฆื™ืื•ืช ื”ื“ืชื™ืช-ืคื•ืœื™ื˜ื™ืช ื‘ื–ืžืŸ ืฉื‘ื• ื ืชื—ื‘ืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจื ื•!

โ€ฆื•ื‘ื›ืŸ, ื”ืงืจื™ืื” ื‘ืžื–ืžื•ืจื ื• ืืœ โ€ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅโ€œ ืœื”ืจื™ืข ืœื”ืณ ื•ืœืขื‘ื“ื• ื‘ืฉืžื—ื” ืฆื•ืžื—ืช ืžืชื•ืš ืžืฆื‘ ืฉื‘ื• ืขื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื‘ืจ ื ื’ืืœ ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ื”ืณ, ืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ื˜ืจื ื ื’ืืœโ€”ืื™ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ื•ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืžืฉื•ืจืจื™ื• ื ืฉืžืขื™ื ื›ืœืœ. ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” ืื™ื ื• ื ืืžืจ ืจืง ืžืกื‘ืจื”: ื’ืื•ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืขื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ื ื”ืžืฆืข ืฉืœ ื”ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉื ื™ื™ื” ืฉืœ ืžื–ืžื•ืจื ื•, ื•ื‘ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื–ื• ืžืชื‘ืจืจ ืœืžืคืจืข ื’ื ื”ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืืœื™ื• ืžืชื™ื™ื—ืกืช ืžื—ืฆื™ืชื• ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื”.

ื”ืจื‘ ืืœื—ื ืŸ ืกืžื˜, ื‘ื™ืŸ ืชื”ื™ืœืช โ€ื›ึธืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅโ€œ ืœืชื”ื™ืœืช โ€ืขึทืžึนื• ื•ึฐืฆืืŸ ืžึทืจึฐืขึดื™ืชึนื•โ€œ

Maybe I should say ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืง with more ื›ื•ื•ื ื”.

The other psalm of the ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื” is ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–. That perek is the beginning of book five of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื; the previous perek ends with a coda:

ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืŸ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“ ื”ืขื•ืœื
ื•ืืžืจ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืžืŸ;
ื”ืœืœื•ื™ื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื•:ืžื—

And book five is the real โ€œsiddurโ€ of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ; it includes all three of the โ€œHallelโ€s along with all the ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืชโ€˜s. Our perek is the introduction to that siddur; it describes those who have to offer thanks and praise to ื”ืงื‘ืดื”. Itโ€™s a long perek, that has four parts: a short introduction; the bulk of the perek that describes four individuals who are saved and have to offer ื”ื•ื“ืื”; a description ื”ืณโ€™s power over entire nations, when the community has to offer ื”ื•ื“ืื”; then a short conclusion.

The introduction is about praising ื”ืณ for redeeming Israel and gathering them from exile:

ื ื”ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื˜ื•ื‘; ื›ื™ ืœืขื•ืœื ื—ืกื“ื•ืƒ
ื‘ ื™ืืžืจื• ื’ืื•ืœื™ ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ื’ืืœื ืžื™ื“ ืฆืจืƒ
ื’ ื•ืžืืจืฆื•ืช ืงื‘ืฆื; ืžืžื–ืจื— ื•ืžืžืขืจื‘; ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ึผืžึดื™ึผึธืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

It looks like the pasuk is trying to say that ื”ืณ gathers them from all four corners of the earth: east, west, north and west. What does that mean? The Koren translation cheats:

and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

Psalms 107:3, Koren translation

But ื™ึธื doesnโ€™t mean south; it means west. The Targum takes a similar tack:

ื•ึผืžึตืึทืจึฐืขึฒืชึธื ื›ึผึทื ึฐืฉืึดื™ื ื•ึผืŸ ืžึดืžึทื“ึดื ึฐื—ึธื ื•ึผืžึดืžึทืขึฒืจึธื‘ึธื ืžึดืฆึดืคึผื•ึผื ึธื ื•ึผืžึดืŸ ื™ึทืžึธื ื“ึธืจื•ึนืžึธืืƒ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื’

But the major sea, from the point of view of ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, is in the west. Why mention the Red Sea? Most ืžืคืจืฉื™ื argue that ืžืžื–ืจื— ื•ืžืžืขืจื‘ ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ are directions; ืžืžื–ืจื— ื•ืžืžืขืจื‘ is a merism for the entire world:

ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืžื–ืจื— ื•ืžืขืจื‘ ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืžืŸ ื”ืงืฆื” ืืœ ื”ืงืฆื”.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื’

We see this often in ืชื ืดืš:

ืžืžื–ืจื— ืฉืžืฉ ืขื“ ืžื‘ื•ืื• ืžื”ืœืœ ืฉื ื”ืณืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื™ื’:ื’

ื ื•ืขืชื” ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ื‘ืจืืš ื™ืขืงื‘ ื•ื™ืฆืจืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ื›ื™ ื’ืืœืชื™ืš ืงืจืืชื™ ื‘ืฉืžืš ืœื™ ืืชื”ืƒโ€ฆื” ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ื›ื™ ืืชืš ืื ื™; ืžืžื–ืจื— ืื‘ื™ื ื–ืจืขืš ื•ืžืžืขืจื‘ ืืงื‘ืฆืšืƒ

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ืžื’

And according to Ibn Ezra, north is another populated area, but the land south of Israel is not. ื™ื means literally โ€œthe seaโ€, referring to those lost at sea (which is one of the groups that have to offer a ืชื•ื“ื”:

ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ, ื›ื™ ืฉื ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืœื ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื“ืจื•ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื—ื•ื ื”ืฉืžืฉ ืื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ื‘ืจืื™ื•ืช ื’ืžื•ืจื•ืช. ื•ื˜ืขื ื•โ€ืžื™ืโ€œ, ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื•ืจื“ ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืžื”ืืจื‘ืขื” ื”ื ื–ื›ืจื™ื.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื’

ื•ืžื™ื: ืžืื™ื™ ื”ื™ื.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื’

I donโ€™t like that. There are plenty of people living south of Israel, and why single out those lost at sea? There are three other groups that are mentioned in this perek.

So I will propose my own explanation. ืžืžื–ืจื— ื•ืžืžืขืจื‘ means โ€œfrom one end of the earth to the otherโ€, as weโ€™ve said. The expression ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ืžื™ื is its own phrase, an idiom that occurs elsewhere in ืชื ืดืš:

ื”ื ื” ืืœื” ืžืจื—ื•ืง ื™ื‘ืื•; ื•ื”ื ื” ืืœื” ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ืžื™ื ื•ืืœื” ืžืืจืฅ ืกื™ื ื™ืืƒ

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืžื˜:ื™ื‘

And I remembered my Asimov, that โ€œthe ends of the earthโ€ can mean different things:

For four hundred years, so many men have been blinded by Seldonโ€™s words, โ€œthe other end of the Galaxy.โ€ They brought their own peculiar physical-science thought to the problem, measuring off the other end with protractorsโ€ฆ

The solution could have been reached immediately, if the questioners had but remembered that Hari Seldon was a social scientistโ€ฆWhat could โ€opposite endsโ€œ mean to a social scientist? Opposite ends on the map? Of course notโ€ฆ

The First Foundation was at the periphery, where the original Empire was weakestโ€ฆwhere its wealth and culture were most nearly absent. And where is the social opposite end of the Galaxy? Why, at the place where the original Empire was strongest, where its civilizing influence was mostโ€ฆstrongly present.

Isaac Asimov, Second Foundation, p. 190

ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื›ืจืช ื”ืณ ืืช ืื‘ืจื ื‘ืจื™ืช ืœืืžืจ; ืœื–ืจืขืš ื ืชืชื™ ืืช ื”ืืจืฅ ื”ื–ืืช ืžื ื”ืจ ืžืฆืจื™ื ืขื“ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื”ื’ื“ืœ ื ื”ืจ ืคืจืชืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื˜ื•:ื™ื—

In Brit Bein HaBโ€™tarim, โ€haโ€™Aretzโ€œ is defined as the land between the Nile and Euphrates. These rivers are not borders; never in the history of mankind have these rivers marked the borders of a single country. Rather, these rivers mark the two centers of ancient civilization โ€”Mesopotamia (โ€œNโ€™har Pratโ€) and Egypt (โ€œNโ€™har Mitzrayimโ€).

โ€ฆWe are to become a nation โ€œdeclaring G-dโ€™s Nameโ€ at the crossroads of the two great centers of civilization.

Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, The Biblical Borders of the Land of Israel

So ื•ืžืืจืฆื•ืช ืงื‘ืฆืโ€ฆืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ืžื™ื also means "gathered from one [cultural] end of the earth to the other.

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

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื›ื–:ื™ื’

And that vision, of ืงื™ื‘ื•ืฅ ื’ืœื•ื™ื•ืช, is why this perek has been adopted as the โ€œืฉื™ืจ ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืโ€ for ื™ื•ื ื”ืขืฆืžืื•ืช:

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืงืดื– ื‘ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, ื”ืคื•ืชื— ืืช ื”ื—ืœืง ื”ื—ืžื™ืฉื™ ืฉืœ ื”ืกืคืจ ืœืคื™ ื—ืœื•ืงืช ื”ืžืกื•ืจื”, ื”ื•ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื’ืื•ืœื” ื”ื ืืžืจ ืขืดื™ ืขื“ื•ืช ื”ืžื–ืจื— ื‘ืคืกื—, ื•ืชื•ืงืŸ ืขืดื™ ื”ืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ืจืืฉื™ืช ื‘ืจืืฉื•ืชื ืฉืœ ื”ืจื‘ ื”ืจืฆื•ื’ ื•ื”ืจื‘ ืขื•ื–ื™ืืœ ืœื”ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ืคืชื™ื—ืช ืชืคื™ืœื•ืช ืœื™ืœ ื™ื•ื ื”ืขืฆืžืื•ืช.

ื“ืดืจ ื ืื•ื” ื›ื”ืŸ, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืดื–โ€”ืžืชืŸ ืขืœ ื”ืคืจืง

The perek then switches from the salvation of the people as a whole, to individuals. The gemara learns many details of the halachot of ื”ื•ื“ืื” from this perek:

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืืจื‘ืขื” ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ืŸ ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช: ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื, ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจื•ืช, ื•ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื—ื•ืœื” ื•ื ืชืจืคื, ื•ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื—ื‘ื•ืฉ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืกื•ืจื™ื ื•ื™ืฆืโ€ฆืžืื™ ืžื‘ืจืš? ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”: โ€ื‘ืจื•ืš ื’ื•ืžืœ ื—ืกื“ื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ืโ€œ. ืื‘ื™ื™ ืืžืจ: ื•ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืื•ื“ื•ื™ื™ ืงืžื™ ืขืฉืจื”, ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘: โ€ื•ื™ืจื•ืžืžื•ื”ื• ื‘ืงื”ืœ ืขื ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€œ. ืžืจ ื–ื•ื˜ืจื ืืžืจ: ื•ืชืจื™ืŸ ืžื™ื ื™ื™ื”ื• ืจื‘ื ืŸ, ืฉื ืืžืจ: โ€ื•ื‘ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื–ืงื ื™ื ื™ื”ืœืœื•ื”ื•โ€œ. ื™ื—ืžืชืงื™ืฃ ืœื” ืจื‘ ืืฉื™: ื•ืื™ืžื ื›ื•ืœื”ื• ืจื‘ื ืŸ?!โ€”ืžื™ ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ื‘ืงื”ืœ ื–ืงื ื™ืโ€œ? โ€ื‘ืงื”ืœ ืขืโ€œ ื›ืชื™ื‘.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื ื“,ื‘

When we look at the four cases, they all have a similar structure: 2 to 4 psukim describing their plight, one pasuk describing their prayer, 1 to 2 psukim describing how they were saved, and 2 psukim describing their ืชื•ื“ื”. But each has different details; for instance, one case has ื‘ืงื”ืœ ืขื ื•ื‘ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื–ืงื ื™ื, another has another has ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื—ื• ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืชื•ื“ื”.

ื›ืœ ื”ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ื ื•ื™ ืขืœ ื”ื“ืžื•ื™ ื•ืขืœ ื”ืฉื ื•ื™โ€ฆืื ื• ืžื’ื™ืขื™ื ืœืžืกืงื ื” ืื—ืช: ืื™ืŸ ืžืขืฆื•ืจ ืœื”ืณ ืœื”ื•ืฉื™ืข ื‘ืขืœ ืืœื” ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ืืœื” ื™ืฉ ืœื–ืขื•ืง ืœื”ืณโ€ฆืขืœ ื›ืœ ืืœื” ื™ืฉ ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœื”ืณ.

ืคื™ื‘ืœ ืžืœืฆืจ, ืคื ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–

The halachic assumption here is not that the cases are distinct, with different halachot for different kinds of salvation, but that they are all the same. The poetic variation emphasizes that ื”ืณ can save in many different ways. Sometimes His hand is obvious; sometimes it is hidden. And our inclination to respond to that salvation manifests in different ways. It is the role of the halacha to give a consistent structure to that feeling.

[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

So letโ€™s look at the four cases. The first is ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจื•ืช:

ื“ ืชืขื• ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื™ืฉื™ืžื•ืŸ ื“ืจืš; ืขื™ืจ ืžื•ืฉื‘ ืœื ืžืฆืื•ืƒ
ื” ืจืขื‘ื™ื ื’ื ืฆืžืื™ื ื ืคืฉื ื‘ื”ื ืชืชืขื˜ืฃืƒ
ื• ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• ืืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื”ื; ืžืžืฆื•ืงื•ืชื™ื”ื ื™ืฆื™ืœืืƒ
ื– ื•ื™ื“ืจื™ื›ื ื‘ื“ืจืš ื™ืฉืจื” ืœืœื›ืช ืืœ ืขื™ืจ ืžื•ืฉื‘ืƒ
ื— ื™ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ื˜ ื›ื™ ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืข ื ืคืฉ ืฉืงืงื”; ื•ื ืคืฉ ืจืขื‘ื” ืžืœื ื˜ื•ื‘ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

The perek starts with those lost in the wilderness, then those imprisioned, then the ill and those lost at sea. The gemara has a different order: ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื, ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจื•ืช, ื•ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื—ื•ืœื” ื•ื ืชืจืคื, ื•ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื—ื‘ื•ืฉ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืกื•ืจื™ื ื•ื™ืฆื. Some are bothered by that. The ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™ says that the gemara is emphasizing the transition from large groups to the individual:

ืžืงืฉื™ื ืืžืื™ ืœื ื ืงื™ื˜ ืœื”ื• ื›ืกื“ืจ ื“ื ืงื™ื˜ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘? ื•ื ืจืื” ืœื™ ื‘ืกืดื“ ื›ื™ ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื ืœื ืฉื™ื™ืš ื‘ื™ื—ื™ื“ ื›ืœืœ, ื›ื™ ื”ืกืคื™ื ื” ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœืžื ื”ื™ื’ื™ื ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืคื ื™ื, ื•ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจื•ืช ืฉื™ื™ืš ืœืคืขืžื™ื ื‘ื™ื—ื“, ืื‘ืœ ื”ืจื•ื‘ ืœื ืฉื™ื™ืš ื‘ื™ื—ื™ื“ ืืœื ืจื‘ื™ื ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ื™ื—ื“, ื•ืœื›ืš ื ืงื™ื˜ ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื ื‘ืจื™ืฉื ื•ืื—ืจื™ ื–ื” ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจื•ืช. ืืš ื—ื•ืœื” ื•ื—ื‘ื•ืฉ ืฉืžืฆื•ื™ื™ื ื‘ื™ื—ื™ื“ ื ืงื™ื˜ ืœื”ื• ืื—ืจ ื›ืšโ€ฆื•ื‘ื–ื” ื™ืฉ ืœืชืจืฅ ืงื•ืฉื™ื ืื—ืจืช ืœืžื” ื ืงื™ื˜ ื™ื•ึนืจึฐื“ึตื™ ื”ื•ึนืœึฐื›ึตื™ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืจื‘ื™ื.

ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข, ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื ื“,ื‘

The next case is ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื—ื‘ื•ืฉ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืกื•ืจื™ื ื•ื™ืฆื:

ื™ ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ื—ืฉืš ื•ืฆืœืžื•ืช; ืืกื™ืจื™ ืขื ื™ ื•ื‘ืจื–ืœืƒ
ื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ืžืจื• ืืžืจื™ ืึพืœ; ื•ืขืฆืช ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื ืืฆื•ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ื›ื ืข ื‘ืขืžืœ ืœื‘ื; ื›ืฉืœื• ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขื–ืจืƒ
ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื–ืขืงื• ืืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื”ื; ืžืžืฆืงื•ืชื™ื”ื ื™ื•ืฉื™ืขืืƒ
ื™ื“ ื™ื•ืฆื™ืื ืžื—ืฉืš ื•ืฆืœืžื•ืช; ื•ืžื•ืกืจื•ืชื™ื”ื ื™ื ืชืงืƒ
ื˜ื• ื™ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ื˜ื– ื›ื™ ืฉื‘ืจ ื“ืœืชื•ืช ื ื—ืฉืช; ื•ื‘ืจื™ื—ื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื’ื“ืขืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

The new twist is that now there is a reason for their trouble: they were punished ื›ื™ ื”ืžืจื• ืืžืจื™ ืึพืœ; ื•ืขืฆืช ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื ืืฆื•. Even so, they need to express gratitude for being saved, ื™ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื.

The next case, ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื—ื•ืœื” ื•ื ืชืจืคื, also says that they deserved their fate:

ื™ื– ืื•ืœื™ื ืžื“ืจืš ืคืฉืขื; ื•ืžืขื•ื ืชื™ื”ื ื™ืชืขื ื•ืƒ
ื™ื— ื›ืœ ืื›ืœ ืชืชืขื‘ ื ืคืฉื; ื•ื™ื’ื™ืขื• ืขื“ ืฉืขืจื™ ืžื•ืชืƒ
ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ื–ืขืงื• ืืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื”ื; ืžืžืฆืงื•ืชื™ื”ื ื™ื•ืฉื™ืขืืƒ
ื› ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื‘ืจื• ื•ื™ืจืคืื; ื•ื™ืžืœื˜ ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื•ืชืืƒ
ื›ื ื™ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื—ื• ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืชื•ื“ื”; ื•ื™ืกืคืจื• ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื‘ืจื ื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

The next case, ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื, is unique. Itโ€™s longer, as the description of their plight starts with the backstory (they are ืขืฉื™ ืžืœืื›ื” ื‘ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื) and they start admiring ื”ืณ's handiwork, ืจืื• ืžืขืฉื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ืžืฆื•ืœื”. But despite this positive description, ื”ืณ still brings the storm that threatens them: ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื•ื™ืขืžื“ ืจื•ื— ืกืขืจื”. Life is like that sometimes; we think weโ€™re doing everything right but everything goes wrong. And we still need to express our gratitude.

ื† ื›ื’ ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื ื‘ืื ื™ื•ืช; ืขืฉื™ ืžืœืื›ื” ื‘ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืืƒ
ื† ื›ื“ ื”ืžื” ืจืื• ืžืขืฉื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ืžืฆื•ืœื”ืƒ
ื† ื›ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื•ื™ืขืžื“ ืจื•ื— ืกืขืจื”; ื•ืชืจื•ืžื ื’ืœื™ื•ืƒ
ื† ื›ื• ื™ืขืœื• ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืจื“ื• ืชื”ื•ืžื•ืช; ื ืคืฉื ื‘ืจืขื” ืชืชืžื•ื’ื’ืƒ
ื† ื›ื– ื™ื—ื•ื’ื• ื•ื™ื ื•ืขื• ื›ืฉื›ื•ืจ; ื•ื›ืœ ื—ื›ืžืชื ืชืชื‘ืœืขืƒ
ื† ื›ื— ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื• ืืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื”ื; ื•ืžืžืฆื•ืงืชื™ื”ื ื™ื•ืฆื™ืืืƒ
ื›ื˜ ื™ืงื ืกืขืจื” ืœื“ืžืžื”; ื•ื™ื—ืฉื• ื’ืœื™ื”ืืƒ
ืœ ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืชืงื•; ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืืœ ืžื—ื•ื– ื—ืคืฆืืƒ
ืœื ื™ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื—ืกื“ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ืœื‘ ื•ื™ืจื•ืžืžื•ื”ื• ื‘ืงื”ืœ ืขื; ื•ื‘ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื–ืงื ื™ื ื™ื”ืœืœื•ื”ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

And thereโ€™s another thing that makes this section unique: itโ€™s marked by a series of inverted ื†'s.

Allepo Codex Psalm 107

Scanned Allepo Codex, Psalms 107

No one knows why those marks are there; they are present only in one other place, in ืคืจืฉืช ื‘ื”ืขืœื•ืชืš:

ื†

ืœื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื ืกืข ื”ืืจืŸ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžืฉื”: ืงื•ืžื” ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืคืฆื• ืื™ื‘ื™ืš ื•ื™ื ืกื• ืžืฉื ืื™ืš ืžืคื ื™ืšืƒ ืœื• ื•ื‘ื ื—ื” ื™ืืžืจ: ืฉื•ื‘ื” ื”ืณ ืจื‘ื‘ื•ืช ืืœืคื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื†

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื™

In that case, the gemara discusses the reason:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื ืกื•ืข ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžืฉื”: ืคืจืฉื” ื–ื• ืขืฉื” ืœื” ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืกื™ืžื ื™ื•ืช ืžืœืžืขืœื” ื•ืœืžื˜ื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืžืงื•ืžื”. ืจืณ ืื•ืžืจ ืœื ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื ื”ื•ื ื–ื” ืืœื ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืกืคืจ ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื•

ืฉื‘ืช ืงื˜ื•,ื‘-ืงื˜ื–,ื

Weโ€™ve discussed why this section of ืกืคืจ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ is out of place, ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืžืงื•ืžื”. But how do we explain this section? Why is it โ€œout of placeโ€?

No one, in my opinion, has a good answer. However, Sforno has an interesting suggestion. He points out that the โ€œwandering in the wildernessโ€ sounds familiar:

ืชืขื• ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ: ื•ื›ื–ื” ืงืจื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืฆืืชื ืืœ ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ, ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฆืžืื™ื ื‘ืžืจื” ื•ืจืขื‘ื™ื ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืกื™ืŸ, ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืข ื ืคืฉ ืฉื•ืงืงื” ื‘ืžืจื” โ€ื•ื™ืžืชืงื• ื”ืžื™ืโ€œ, ื•ื ืคืฉ ืจืขื‘ื” ืžืœื ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืกื™ืŸ, ื‘ืฉืœื™ื• ื•ืœื—ื ืฉืžื™ื.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื“

And the next two can also be connected to ื™ืฆื™ืืช ืžืฆืจื™ื:

ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ื—ืฉืš ื•ืฆืœืžื•ืช: ื•ื–ื” ืงืจื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืฆืืชื ืžืžืฆืจื™ื, ืฉื”ื™ื™ืชื” ืžืืกืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื™

ื•ื™ื’ื™ืขื• ืขื“ ืฉืขืจื™ ืžื•ืช: ื•ื–ื” ืงืจื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืžื’ืคืช ื”ืชืœื•ื ื”, ื›ืืžืจื (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื–:ื•) ืึทืชึถึผื ื”ึฒืžึดืชึถึผื ืึถืช ืขึทื ื”ืณ, ืฉื ืจืคืื• ื‘ืงื˜ื•ืจืช, ื•ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื ื—ืฉื™ื, ืฉื ืจืคืื• ื‘ื ื—ืฉ ื”ื ื—ื•ืฉืช.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื™ื—

But ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื”ื™ื ื‘ืื ื™ื•ืช doesnโ€™t fit. So Sforno says it is a reference to the future, to the ื’ืœื•ืช promised in the ืชื•ื›ื—ื”:

ืกื• ื•ื”ื™ื• ื—ื™ื™ืš ืชืœืื™ื ืœืš ืžื ื’ื“; ื•ืคื—ื“ืช ืœื™ืœื” ื•ื™ื•ืžื ื•ืœื ืชืืžื™ืŸ ื‘ื—ื™ื™ืšืƒ ืกื– ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ืชืืžืจ ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ืขืจื‘ ื•ื‘ืขืจื‘ ืชืืžืจ ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืงืจ ืžืคื—ื“ ืœื‘ื‘ืš ืืฉืจ ืชืคื—ื“ ื•ืžืžืจืื” ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืืฉืจ ืชืจืื”ืƒ ืกื— ื•ื”ืฉื™ื‘ืš ื”ืณ ืžืฆืจื™ื ื‘ืื ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื“ืจืš ืืฉืจ ืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ืœื ืชืกื™ืฃ ืขื•ื“ ืœืจืืชื”; ื•ื”ืชืžื›ืจืชื ืฉื ืœืื™ื‘ื™ืš ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื•ืœืฉืคื—ื•ืช ื•ืื™ืŸ ืงื ื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

ื•ื›ื–ื” ืงืจื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื’ืœื•ืชื ืžืืจืฆื, ื›ืืžืจื•: ื•ึถื”ึฑืฉืึดื™ื‘ึฐืšึธ ื”ืณ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื‘ึผึธืึณื ึดื™ึผื•ึนืช, ื•ื‘ืฉื•ื‘ื ืœืขืชื™ื“ ื›ืืžืจื• (ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื™ื:ื˜ื•) ื•ึฐื”ึถื—ึฑืจึดื™ื ื”ืณ ืึตืช ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื™ึธื ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–:ื›ื’

And it is โ€œout of placeโ€ because it hints at a ื’ืื•ืœื” that hasnโ€™t happened yet: ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืืœ ืžื—ื•ื– ื—ืคืฆื. And when that happens, we will be able to say, ื•ื™ืจื•ืžืžื•ื”ื• ื‘ืงื”ืœ ืขื.

That serves as a segue to the next section, which talks about ื”ืณ's providence over countries, causing drought or bringing rain and prosperity:

ืœื’ ื™ืฉื ื ื”ืจื•ืช ืœืžื“ื‘ืจ; ื•ืžืฆืื™ ืžื™ื ืœืฆืžืื•ืŸืƒ
ืœื“ ืืจืฅ ืคืจื™ ืœืžืœื—ื”; ืžืจืขืช ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ื‘ื”ืƒ
ืœื” ื™ืฉื ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืœืื’ื ืžื™ื; ื•ืืจืฅ ืฆื™ื” ืœืžืฆืื™ ืžื™ืืƒ
ืœื• ื•ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืฉื ืจืขื‘ื™ื; ื•ื™ื›ื•ื ื ื• ืขื™ืจ ืžื•ืฉื‘ืƒ
ืœื– ื•ื™ื–ืจืขื• ืฉื“ื•ืช ื•ื™ื˜ืขื• ื›ืจืžื™ื; ื•ื™ืขืฉื• ืคืจื™ ืชื‘ื•ืื”ืƒ
ืœื— ื•ื™ื‘ืจื›ื ื•ื™ืจื‘ื• ืžืื“; ื•ื‘ื”ืžืชื ืœื ื™ืžืขื™ื˜ืƒ
ืœื˜ ื•ื™ืžืขื˜ื• ื•ื™ืฉื—ื• ืžืขืฆืจ ืจืขื” ื•ื™ื’ื•ืŸืƒ
ื† ืž ืฉืคืš ื‘ื•ื– ืขืœ ื ื“ื™ื‘ื™ื; ื•ื™ืชืขื ื‘ืชื”ื• ืœื ื“ืจืšืƒ
ืžื ื•ื™ืฉื’ื‘ ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸ ืžืขื•ื ื™; ื•ื™ืฉื ื›ืฆืืŸ ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืชืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

And that ties back to the beginning, and the ื’ืื•ืœื” that starts with ืงื™ื‘ื•ืฅ ื’ืœื•ื™ื•ืช and continues with making the deserts bloom:

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช;
ื‘ืฉื•ื‘ ื”ืณ ืืช ืฉื™ื‘ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื›ื—ืœืžื™ืืƒ
โ€ฆื” ื”ื–ืจืขื™ื ื‘ื“ืžืขื” ื‘ืจื ื” ื™ืงืฆืจื•ืƒ
ื• ื”ืœื•ืš ื™ืœืš ื•ื‘ื›ื” ื ืฉื ืžืฉืš ื”ื–ืจืข;
ื‘ื ื™ื‘ื ื‘ืจื ื” ื ืฉื ืืœืžืชื™ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื›ื•

And the perek ends with the lesson of the ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื“ื”: we publicly celebrate ื”ืณ's providence, so that others join us and learn from us:

ืžื‘ ื™ืจืื• ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื•; ื•ื›ืœ ืขื•ืœื” ืงืคืฆื” ืคื™ื”ืƒ
ืžื’ ืžื™ ื—ื›ื ื•ื™ืฉืžืจ ืืœื”; ื•ื™ืชื‘ื•ื ื ื• ื—ืกื“ื™ ื”ืณืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื–

ืžื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ื›ื ื™ืฉืžื•ืจ ืžืืœื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืžื•ืจื™ื ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื™ืฉืžืจื ื‘ืœื‘ื• ื•ื™ื›ื™ืจ ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืืœ ื™ืชืณ ื”ื›ืœ ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืขืœื” ื•ืžืฉืคื™ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื™ืฉ ื•ืžื•ื—ืฅ ื•ืจื•ืคื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื–:ืžื’

And that is true for our national salvation as well.

ืื– ื™ืžืœื ืฉื—ื•ืง ืคื™ื ื• ื•ืœืฉื•ื ื ื• ืจื ื”; ืื– ื™ืืžืจื• ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื™ืœ ื”ืณ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืขื ืืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื›ื•:ื‘