ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Into Pruning Hooks

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

We have looked at most of ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื though the lens of the life of David. I want to finish our study of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื by looking at some of the different kinds of psalms that David wrote. The gemara says that there are ten different kinds:

ืืžืจ ืจื™ื‘ืดืœ ื‘ืขืฉืจื” ืžืืžืจื•ืช ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื— ื ืืžืจ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื ื‘ื ื™ืฆื•ื— ื‘ื ื’ื•ืŸ ื‘ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ื‘ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื‘ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ืืฉืจื™ ื‘ืชื”ืœื” ื‘ืชืคืœื” ื‘ื”ื•ื“ืื” ื‘ื”ืœืœื•ื™ึพื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื›ื•ืœืŸ.

ืคืกื—ื™ื ืงื™ื–,ื‘

And the Zohar (ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื–ื”ืจ ื™ื’) has a slightly different list, and associates each type with one of the ืขืฉืจ ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช, which is largely the approach I take. This is how I would like to read ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:

ืžืืžืจ ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื— ืกืคื™ืจื”
ืื™ืฉื•ืจ ื›ืชืจ
ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื›ืžื”
ื–ืžืจ ื‘ื™ื ื”
ื‘ืจื›ื” ื—ืกื“
ื ื’ื•ืŸ ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”
ื”ืœืœ ืชืคืืจืช
ื ืฆื•ื— ื ืฆื—
ื”ื•ื“ืื” ื”ื•ื“
ืจื™ื ื” ื™ืกื•ื“
ืชืคืœื” ืžืœื›ื•ืช

But Rabbi Baumol warns that we donโ€™t really know what the titles mean.

  1. Donโ€™t spend too much time on the title; no one knows what lamenatzeich really refers to so just accept one of the approaches.
  2. Donโ€™t spend too much time on whether David was the author; accept it like you accept that Moshe was the author of the word of G-d.
  3. Donโ€™t get bogged down on words; some of them are hard and it is the theme that is crucial, not the word itself.
  4. Donโ€™t limit yourself to what others sayโ€”mefarshim or teachersโ€”โ€œvechapatish yfotzeitz selaโ€.
Rabbi Avi Baumol, The Poetry of Prayer: Tehillim in Tefillah, p. 290: Appendix 2: Methods to Analyze Tehillim: Ideas for Teachers, โ€Donโ€™tsโ€œ

But I am utterly unqualified and so utterly unconstrained and will look at some of the ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื titled ืžื–ืžื•ืจ. I associate it with the ืกืคื™ืจื” of ื‘ื™ื ื”, analytic wisdom, which goes with the ืžื™ื“ื” of ื“ื™ืŸ. A ืžื–ืžื•ืจ is a psalm of ื”ืณ's trancendance, separation from us. Rav Hutner explains:

โ€ฆโ€ื–ืžืจื”โ€œ ืขื ื™ื ื” ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืงื™ืœื•ืก. ื•ืขื•ื“ ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ืื—ื“ ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ืฉื•ืจืฉ ืชื™ื‘ืช ื–ืžืจื”, ืฉืžืชืคืจืฉ ื”ื•ื ื’ื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื›ืจืชื”, ื•ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ื–ื•ืžืจ ื“ืœืดื˜ ืžืœืื›ื•ืช. ื•ื’ื ื‘ืžืงืจื ื”ื•ื ืžืฉืžืฉ ื›ืžื” ืคืขืžื™ื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื–ื”. ืฉื•ืชืคื•ืช ื–ื• ืฉืœ ืขื ื™ืŸ ืงื™ืœื•ืก ื•ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืจืชื” ื‘ืฉื•ืจืฉ ืื—ื“ ืฉืœ ื–ืžืจ, ืžืชื‘ืืจืช ื”ื™ื ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ื”ื‘ื ื” ื›ื™ ืคืกื’ืช ื”ืงื™ืœื•ืก ื”ื™ื ื›ืฉื”ืžืงืœืก ืžืจื‘ื” ืœื”ืชืคืขืœ ื›ืœ ื›ืš ืžื’ื•ื“ืœ ืžืขืœืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืžืชืงืœืก ืขื“ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืชื‘ื˜ืœ ืžื”ืจื’ืฉืช ืžืฆื™ืื•ืชื•, ื•ื”ืจื™ ื–ื” ื›ืžื›ืจื™ืช ืืช ื™ืฉื•ืชื•. ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉืงื™ืœื•ืก ื•ื”ื›ืจืชื” ื™ืฉ ืœื”ื ืฉื•ืจืฉ ืžืฉื•ืชืฃ, ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื›ืจืชืช ื”ืจื’ืฉืช ื™ืฉื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ื‘ืคื ื™ ืžื™ ืฉื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื•, ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ื ืงื™ืœื•ืกื• ืฉืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. ืืœื ืฉืžื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืื™ืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื–ืžืจื” ืœืกืชื ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืงื™ืœื•ืก, ืืœื ืฉื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื”ื™ื ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ ืงื™ืœื•ืก ื”ื ืืžืจื™ื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืจื” ื“ื•ืงื. ื›ืœื•ืžืจ, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืงื™ืœื•ืก ืกืชื ืขื ื™ื ื ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ื”ืชื‘ื˜ืœื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ื‘ืคื ื™ ืžื™ ืฉื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื•; ื•ืื™ืœื• ืงื™ืœื•ืก-ืฉืœ-ื–ืžืจื” ืขื ื™ื ื• ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ื”ืชืขื ื•ื’ ืฉืœ ื”ืจื’ืฉืช ื”ื”ืชื‘ื˜ืœื•ืช ื‘ืคื ื™ ืžื™ ืฉื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื•. ื•ื›ืืŸ ื”ื•ื ื”ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืฉื™ืจ ืฉืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืฉื ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืฉื. ื“ื”ืฉื™ืจ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ื”ืชืขื ื•ื’ ืฉืœ ื”ืจื’ืฉืช ื”ื”ืฉืชื™ื™ื›ื•ืช ื•ื”ื”ืžืฉื›ื”, ื•ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ื”ืชืขื ื•ื’ ืฉืœ ื”ืจื’ืฉืช ื”ื ืฉื’ื‘ื™ื•ืช ื•ื”ื”ืคืœืื”. ื•ืžืžื™ืœื ื™ื•ืฆื ืžื–ื” ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ื”ืชืขื ื•ื’ ืฉืœ ืชื ื•ืขืช ื”ื”ืชืคืฉื˜ื•ืช ื‘ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืฉื ื”ื•ื ืชื•ื›ื ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืฉื™ืจ; ื•ื”ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ืฉืœ ื”ืชืขื ื•ื’ ืฉืœ ืชื ื•ืขืช ื”ื”ืชื›ื•ื•ืฆื•ืช [ื”ื•ื ืชื•ื›ื ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ].

ืคื—ื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง ืคืกื— ื ื“:ื—

In other words, ืฉื™ืจ is a celebration of ืื”ื‘ืช ื”ืณ;โ€Ž ื–ืžืจื” is a celebration of ื™ืจืืช ื”ืณ.

We talked about โ€œืฉื™ืจโ€ in Old Wivesโ€™ Tales. Now I want to look at โ€œืžื–ืžื•ืจโ€. The most well-known ืžื–ืžื•ืจ is ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜.

ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“; ื”ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื™ื; ื”ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื•ืขื–ืƒ ื‘ ื”ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืฉืžื•; ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื”ื“ืจืช ืงื“ืฉืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜

This may be a ืžื–ืžื•ืจ , a psalm of ื™ืจืื”, but is clearly a happy, celebratory psalm. As Dick Clark might have said, โ€Itโ€™s got a good beat and you can dance to itโ€œ. It is addressed to the ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื™ื, the powerful and elite. Donโ€™t be so proud of yourselves; you need to bow to ื”ืงื‘ืดื”:โ€Ž ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื”ื“ืจืช ืงื“ืฉ. This introduction is borrowed from ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื• (which I will assume is earlier; it is one of the ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื attributed to Moshe):

ื– ื”ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืช ืขืžื™ื; ื”ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื•ืขื–ืƒ ื— ื”ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืฉืžื•โ€ฆ ื˜ ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื”ื“ืจืช ืงื“ืฉโ€ฆ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื•

But that is a ืฉื™ืจ (it starts ืฉื™ืจื• ืœื”ืณ ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ) about all the nations singing to G-d together ((ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื•:ื™ื) ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืžึฐื—ื•ึผ ื”ึทืฉืึผึธืžึทื™ึดื ื•ึฐืชึธื’ึตืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ), where our perek is about ื”ืณ's awesome power, as manifest in ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ:

ื’ ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ืžื™ื;
ืืœ ื”ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืจืขื™ื; ื”ืณ ืขืœ ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืืƒ
ื“ ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ื—; ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ื”ื“ืจืƒ
ื” ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ืฉื‘ืจ ืืจื–ื™ื; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืช ืืจื–ื™ ื”ืœื‘ื ื•ืŸืƒ
ื• ื•ื™ืจืงื™ื“ื ื›ืžื• ืขื’ืœ; ืœื‘ื ื•ืŸ ื•ืฉืจื™ืŸ ื›ืžื• ื‘ืŸ ืจืืžื™ืืƒ
ื– ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื—ืฆื‘ ืœื”ื‘ื•ืช ืืฉืƒ
ื— ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื™ื—ื™ืœ ืžื“ื‘ืจ; ื™ื—ื™ืœ ื”ืณ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืงื“ืฉืƒ
ื˜ ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื™ื—ื•ืœืœ ืื™ืœื•ืช ื•ื™ื—ืฉืฃ ื™ืขืจื•ืช;
ื•ื‘ื”ื™ื›ืœื• ื›ืœื• ืืžืจ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜

What is ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ? There is a hint in the line ื•ื™ืจืงื™ื“ื ื›ืžื• ืขื’ืœ; ืœื‘ื ื•ืŸ ื•ืฉืจื™ืŸ ื›ืžื• ื‘ืŸ ืจืืžื™ื.

ื ื‘ืฆืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืžืฆืจื™ื; ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ ืžืขื ืœืขื–โ€ฆ ื“ ื”ื”ืจื™ื ืจืงื“ื• ื›ืื™ืœื™ื; ื’ื‘ืขื•ืช ื›ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืืŸืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื™ื“

ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ in the world is a reference to giving the Torah.

ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืจืื™ื ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœืช ื•ืืช ื”ืœืคื™ื“ื ื•ืืช ืงื•ืœ ื”ืฉืคืจ ื•ืืช ื”ื”ืจ ืขืฉืŸ; ื•ื™ืจื ื”ืขื ื•ื™ื ืขื• ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ืžืจื—ืงืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื›:ื™ื“

ืืžืจ ืžืจ: ืžืื™ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืจื•ืื™ื ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœื•ืช ื•ืืช ื”ืœืคื™ื“ื™ืโ€œ, ื•ื›ื™ ื ืจืื™ื ืงื•ืœื•ืช? ืืœื ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืจื•ืื™ื ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœื•ืช; ืื•ืชืŸ ืงื•ืœื•ืช ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ โ€ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ืžื™ื ืืœ ื”ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืจืขื™ื ื”ืณโ€ฆืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ื—โ€œโ€ฆโ€ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื—ื•ืฆื‘ ืœื”ื‘ื•ืช ืืฉโ€œ ื–ื” ืฉืขื•ืฉื” ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืžื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืืฉโ€ฆื”ื ืœืžื“ืช ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ืข ืงื•ืœื•ืช ื ื™ืชื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื•ื‘ื›ืœื ื ื’ืœื” ืื“ื•ืŸ ื”ืขื•ืœื ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ืจืื•ื”ื• ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืจื•ืื™ื ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœื•ืช.

ืกืคืจ ื”ื‘ื”ื™ืจ, ืžื”

But ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ was not a one-time event.

ื•ื‘ื‘ื ืžืฉื” ืืœ ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืืชื• ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื™ื• ืžืขืœ ื”ื›ืคืจืช ืืฉืจ ืขืœ ืืจืŸ ื”ืขื“ืช ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ ื”ื›ืจื‘ื™ื; ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื™ื•ืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื–:ืคื˜

ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื™ื•: ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืงื•ืœ ื ืžื•ืš, ืชืœืžื•ื“ ืœื•ืžืจ: ืืช ื”ืงื•ืœ, โ€ืงื•ืœโ€œ ืœื ื ืืžืจ ืืœื โ€ื”ืงื•ืœโ€œ, ื”ื•ื ื”ืงื•ืœ ื”ืžืชืคืจืฉ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื. ื•ืžื” ื”ื•ื ื”ืงื•ืœ ื”ืžืชืคืจืฉ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื? โ€ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ื— ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ื”ื“ืจ, ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ืฉื‘ืจ ืืจื–ื™ื, ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื—ืฆื‘ ืœื”ื‘ื•ืช ืืฉ, ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื™ื—ื™ืœ ืžื“ื‘ืจ, ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื™ื—ื•ืœืœ ืื™ืœื•ืชโ€œ. ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ืื•ืชื• ืžื‘ื—ื•ืฅ, ืชืœืžื•ื“ ืœื•ืžืจ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื:ื): ื•ึทื™ึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตืจ ื”ืณ ืึตืœึธื™ื• ืžึตืึนื”ึถืœ ืžื•ึนืขึตื“, ืžืœืžื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ืงื•ืœ ื ืคืกืง ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ืฆื ื—ื•ืฅ ืœืื”ืœ. ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ื• ืืชื” ืื•ืžืจ (ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื™:ื”): ื•ึฐืงื•ึนืœ ื›ึผึทื ึฐืคึตื™ ื”ึทื›ึผึฐืจื•ึผื‘ึดื™ื ื ึดืฉืึฐืžึทืข ืขึทื“ ื”ึถื—ึธืฆึตืจ ื”ึทื—ึดื™ืฆึนื ึธื”, ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืงื•ืœ ื ืžื•ืš, ืชืœืžื•ื“ ืœื•ืžืจ (ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื™:ื”): ื›ึผึฐืงื•ึนืœ ืึตึพืœ ืฉืึทื“ึผึทึพื™ ื‘ึผึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึฐืจื•ึน. ืื ื›ืŸ ืœืžื” ื ืืžืจ: โ€ื ืฉืžืข ืขื“ ื”ื—ืฆืจ ื”ื—ื™ืฆื ื”โ€œ? ืืœื ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื’ื™ืข ืขื“ ื”ื—ืฆืจ ื”ื—ื™ืฆื ื”, ื”ื™ื” ื ืคืกืง.

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื” ื™ื“:ื›ื

ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ manifests in different ways, both as ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ื— and ืืœื™ื”ื•'s ืงื•ืœ ื“ืžืžื” ื“ืงื”

ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฆื ื•ืขืžื“ืช ื‘ื”ืจ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ืณ ืขื‘ืจ ื•ืจื•ื— ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื—ื–ืง ืžืคืจืง ื”ืจื™ื ื•ืžืฉื‘ืจ ืกืœืขื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ืœื ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืณ; ื•ืื—ืจ ื”ืจื•ื— ืจืขืฉ ืœื ื‘ืจืขืฉ ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ืื—ืจ ื”ืจืขืฉ ืืฉ ืœื ื‘ืืฉ ื”ืณ; ื•ืื—ืจ ื”ืืฉ ืงื•ืœ ื“ืžืžื” ื“ืงื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืฉืžืข ืืœื™ื”ื• ื•ื™ืœื˜ ืคื ื™ื• ื‘ืื“ืจืชื• ื•ื™ืฆื ื•ื™ืขืžื“ ืคืชื— ื”ืžืขืจื”; ื•ื”ื ื” ืืœื™ื• ืงื•ืœ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžื” ืœืš ืคื” ืืœื™ื”ื•ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

We have cited Robert Cover before:

We inhabit a nomosโ€”a normative universe. We constantly create and maintain a world of right and wrong, of lawful and unlawful, of valid and void.

Robert Cover, Nomos and Narrative

The seven ืงื•ืœื•ืช represent the seven days of creation; not the creation of the physical universe, but of the normative universe. We can hear the voice of ื”ืณ in acting according to His rules. That voice can be overwhelming but at the same time it can only be appreciated by those who are prepared to hear it.

But this ืžื–ืžื•ืจ is not simply a paean to ื”ืณ's voice in the world. It starts with ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ืžื™ื and ends with a reference to the flood:

ื™ ื”ืณ ืœืžื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉื‘; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ืœืขื•ืœืืƒ
ื™ื ื”ืณ ืขื– ืœืขืžื• ื™ืชืŸ; ื”ืณ ื™ื‘ืจืš ืืช ืขืžื• ื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜

We have talked about the ืžื‘ื•ืœ as a symbol for the chaos of a world without rules; without ื”ืณ as ืžืœืš ืœืขื•ืœื, then the world drowns in the โ€œGossip Trapโ€.

โ€ฆA โ€œGossip Trapโ€ is whenโ€ฆto organize your society you are forced to discuss mostly people. It is Mean Girls (and mean boys), but foreverโ€ฆEveryone just lives like crabs in a bucket, pulling each other down. All cognitive resources go to reputation management in the group, leaving nothing left in the tank for invention or creativity or art or engineering. Again, much like high school.

Eric Hoel, The Gossip Trap

And that is what it means to hear ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ืžื™ื, that results in ื”ืณ ื™ื‘ืจืš ืืช ืขืžื• ื‘ืฉืœื•ื. If we do not listen to ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ, the world drowns: ื”ืณ ืœืžื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉื‘.

The next ืžื–ืžื•ืจ I want to look at is not a paean but a prayer, referring not to ืงื•ืœ ื”ืณ but ืงื•ืœื™:

ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“;
ื”ืณ ืงืจืืชื™ืš ื—ื•ืฉื” ืœื™; ื”ืื–ื™ื ื” ืงื•ืœื™ ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืœืšืƒ
ื‘ ืชื›ื•ืŸ ืชืคืœืชื™ ืงื˜ืจืช ืœืคื ื™ืš; ืžืฉืืช ื›ืคื™ ืžื ื—ืช ืขืจื‘ืƒ
ื’ ืฉื™ืชื” ื”ืณ ืฉืžืจื” ืœืคื™; ื ืฆืจื” ืขืœ ื“ืœ ืฉืคืชื™ืƒ
ื“ ืืœ ืชื˜ ืœื‘ื™ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืจืข
ืœื”ืชืขื•ืœืœ ืขืœืœื•ืช ื‘ืจืฉืข
ืืช ืื™ืฉื™ื ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸ;
ื•ื‘ืœ ืืœื—ื ื‘ืžื ืขืžื™ื”ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื

And it is specifically a ืชืคื™ืœื” to protect him from his own speech. We end our ืขืžื™ื“ื” with a similar idea:

ืžืจ ื‘ืจื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื™ื ื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื” ืžืกื™ื™ื ืฆืœื•ืชื™ื” ืืžืจ ื”ื›ื™: ืืœืงื™, ื ืฆื•ืจ ืœืฉื•ื ื™ ืžืจืข ื•ืฉืคืชื•ืชื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืžืจืžื”, ื•ืœืžืงืœืœื™ ื ืคืฉื™ ืชื“ื•ื, ื•ื ืคืฉื™ ื›ืขืคืจ ืœื›ืœ ืชื”ื™ื”. ืคืชื— ืœื‘ื™ ื‘ืชื•ืจืชืš, ื•ื‘ืžืฆื•ืชื™ืš ืชืจื“ื•ืฃ ื ืคืฉื™โ€ฆ

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื™ื–,ื

In ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜ we concluded that the world needs ื”ืณโ€˜s help to save it from itself. Here, David says he needs ื”ืณโ€™s help to save himself from his own ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข:โ€Ž ืชื˜ ืœื‘ื™ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืจืข.

The simile that he uses is that his prayer should be like ืงื˜ืจืช, which is the symbol of ืื—ื“ื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. It the opposite of ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข.

ืืดืจ ื—ื ื ื‘ืจ ื‘ื–ื ื ืืดืจ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื—ืกื™ื“ื ื›ืœ ืชืขื ื™ืช ืฉืื™ืŸ ื‘ื” ืžืคื•ืฉืขื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื™ื ื” ืชืขื ื™ืช. ืฉื”ืจื™ ื—ืœื‘ื ื” ืจื™ื—ื” ืจืข ื•ืžื ืื” ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืขื ืกืžืžื ื™ ืงื˜ืจืช.

ื›ืจื™ืชื•ืช ื•,ื‘

ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข is very seductive because it is at the basis of what makes us human: we are social primates, and our self-identity depends on what we think others think of us. Everything we do has a level of status-seeking, which is why the lawless โ€œstate of natureโ€ is the โ€œgossip trapโ€. David acknowledges that, ืืœ ืชื˜ ืœื‘ื™ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืจืข and prays that ื•ื‘ืœ ืืœื—ื ื‘ืžื ืขืžื™ื”ื, โ€Let me not eat of their sweet delicaciesโ€œ.

ื‘ืžื ืขืžื™ื”ื: ืžืœืฉื•ืŸ ื ืขื™ืžื•ืช ื•ืขื ื™ื ื• ืžืชื•ืง ื•ืขืจื‘.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืžื:ื“

And part of the poetry here is the sense that his language has gotten out of control. He makes up words, ื“ืœ from ื“ืœืช,โ€Ž ืื™ืฉื™ื instead of ืื ืฉื™ื, and ืืœื—ื as the verbed ืœื—ื. And then the next three psukim are, as ืคื™ื‘ืœ ืžืœืฆืจ says, โ€œืžืŸ ืฉืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื”ืกืชื•ืžื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ื‘ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ืโ€.

Meaning of vv. 5โ€“7 uncertain.

JPS Tanach 1985, Psalm 141, footnote a

ื” ื™ื”ืœืžื ื™ ืฆื“ื™ืง ื—ืกื“ ื•ื™ื•ื›ื™ื—ื ื™
ืฉืžืŸ ืจืืฉ ืืœ ื™ื ื™ ืจืืฉื™;
ื›ื™ ืขื•ื“ ื•ืชืคืœืชื™ ื‘ืจืขื•ืชื™ื”ืืƒ
ื• ื ืฉืžื˜ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ืกืœืข ืฉืคื˜ื™ื”ื; ื•ืฉืžืขื• ืืžืจื™ ื›ื™ ื ืขืžื•ืƒ
ื– ื›ืžื• ืคืœื— ื•ื‘ืงืข ื‘ืืจืฅ ื ืคื–ืจื• ืขืฆืžื™ื ื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืื•ืœืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื

ื™ื”ืœืžื ื™: ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืื” ื”ืžืฉื‘ืจืช ื›ืžื• (ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ื”:ื›ื•) ื•ึฐื”ึธืœึฐืžึธื” ืกึดื™ืกึฐืจึธื.

ื™ื ื™: ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืกืจื” ื•ืžื ื™ืขื” ื›ืžื• (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืœ:ื•) ื•ึฐืึดื ื”ึตื ึดื™ื ืึธื‘ึดื™ื”ึธ.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืžื:ื”

So ืคืกื•ืง ื” means, โ€œMay the righteous hit me with mercy and reproach me; may it be like oil on my head that it does not reject. Even when I am criticisized, may I not react defensively but continue my prayer to be saved from the evil I mentioned in ืคืกื•ืง ื“โ€.

The next pasuk is completely mystifying. I like the way the Alshich interprets it (based on the Sifrei):

ื”ืžืงื•ื ืžื–ื›ื™ืจ ื’ืณ ืคืขืžื™ื: ืžื™ ืžืจื™ื‘ื”, ืžื™ ืžืจื™ื‘ื”, ืžื™ ืžืจื™ื‘ื”, ืœื•ืžืจ: ื›ืš ื”ืจื’ืชื™ ืืช ืื”ืจืŸ, ื›ืš ื”ืจื’ืชื™ ืืช ืžืฉื”! ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืžื:ื•) โ€ื ืฉืžื˜ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ืกืœืข ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื”ืโ€œ.

ืกืคืจื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื•:ื’

ื›ื™ ื”ืœื ืจืื™ืชื™ ื ืฉืžื˜ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ืกืœืข ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื”ื, ื”ื ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ ืฉื ืฉืžื˜ื• ืžืœื™ื›ื ืก ืœืืจืฅ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืกืœืข ืขืœ ืืžื•ืจ (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื›:ื™) ืฉึดืืžึฐืขื•ึผ ื ึธื ื”ึทืžึนึผืจึดื™ื, ืขื ื”ื™ื•ืชื ื—ื•ื˜ืื™ื, ื›ื™ ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื‘ืœ ื™ื’ืขื• ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื‘ื ื™ื•.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืžื:ื•

Mosheโ€™s response after ืžื™ ืžืจื™ื‘ื” is an example of how to respond to criticism and punishment. ืฉืžืขื• ืืžืจื™ ื›ื™ ื ืขืžื•:โ€Ž ื”ืณ's rebuke is sweet, ื ืขื™ื, not the ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข of the ืจืฉืขื™ื, even if ื ืคื–ืจื• ืขืฆืžื™ื ื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืื•ืœ.

ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื”ื’ื ืฉื ืคื•ืœ ืžื”ืกืœืข ืœืขื•ืžืง ืฉืื•ืœ, ื•ืขืฆืžื™ื ื• ื™ืคื–ืจื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื”ื ืคื™ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ื›ืืœื• ื ืคืœื—ื” ื•ื ื‘ืงืขื” ื”ืื“ืžื” ืืฉืจ ืชื—ืชื™ื ื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื,ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืžื:ื–

And then David ends this section with the acknowledgement that human beings are finite and mortal. The only authority is ื”ืงื‘ืดื”.

And the perek ends as it began, with a prayer to be saved from the trap of wickedness:

ื— ื›ื™ ืืœื™ืš ื”ืณ ืื“ื ึพื™ ืขื™ื ื™; ื‘ื›ื” ื—ืกื™ืชื™ ืืœ ืชืขืจ ื ืคืฉื™ืƒ
ื˜ ืฉืžืจื ื™ ืžื™ื“ื™ ืคื— ื™ืงืฉื• ืœื™; ื•ืžืงืฉื•ืช ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸืƒ
ื™ ื™ืคืœื• ื‘ืžื›ืžืจื™ื• ืจืฉืขื™ื; ื™ื—ื“ ืื ื›ื™ ืขื“ ืืขื‘ื•ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื

The next ืžื–ืžื•ืจ I want to look at is also a prayer, but it doesnโ€™t really say what it is a prayer for. David asks to be saved from his enemies.

ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“;
ื”ืณ ืฉืžืข ืชืคืœืชื™ ื”ืื–ื™ื ื” ืืœ ืชื—ื ื•ื ื™;
ื‘ืืžื ืชืš ืขื ื ื™ ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืšืƒ
ื‘ ื•ืืœ ืชื‘ื•ื ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ ืืช ืขื‘ื“ืš;
ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืฆื“ืง ืœืคื ื™ืš ื›ืœ ื—ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื’

What does David mean, when he asks that ื”ืณ answer ื‘ืืžื ืชืš? When we talk about ื”ืณ's ืืžื•ื ื”, what do we mean? We mention it every morning:

ืžื•ื“ื” ืื ื™ ืœืคื ื™ืš ืžืœืš ื—ื™ ื•ืงื™ื™ื ืฉื”ื—ื–ืจืช ื‘ื™ ื ืฉืžืชื™ ื‘ื—ืžืœื”; ืจื‘ื” ืืžื•ื ืชืš.

ืชืคื™ืœืช ื”ืฉื›ืžืช ื”ื‘ื•ืงืจ

Which is based on the pasuk from ืื™ื›ื”:

ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ืœื‘ืงืจื™ื ืจื‘ื” ืืžื•ื ืชืšืƒ

ืื™ื›ื” ื’:ื›ื’

ื”ืณ restores us every day ื‘ืืžื•ื ื”, with faith. Rav Kook says that is ื”ืณ's faith in us; despite everything that we did wrong yesterday, we deserve another chance to fulfill our role in the world.

ืจื‘ื” ืืžื•ื ืชืš: ื”ืืžื•ื ื” ื”ืืœืงื™ืช ื”ื™ื ื”ื—ื•ืงืงืช ืืช ื”ืชืคืงื™ื“ื™ื ืฉืœ ื›ืœ ื›ื—ื•ืช ื”ื”ื•ื™ื”, ืฉื™ืขืฉื• ืืช ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชื ื‘ื›ืœ ืขื– ื•ืžืจืฅ.

ื”ืจื‘ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื™ืฆื—ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืงื•ืง, ืขื•ืœืช ืจืื™ื”, ืžื•ื“ื” ืื ื™

So ื‘ืืžื ืชืš ืขื ื ื™ means, โ€œAnswer me because of Your faith in meโ€. My problem is that I am so beaten and oppressed that I have no faith in myself.

ื’ ื›ื™ ืจื“ืฃ ืื•ื™ื‘ ื ืคืฉื™ ื“ื›ื ืœืืจืฅ ื—ื™ืชื™;
ื”ื•ืฉื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืžื—ืฉื›ื™ื ื›ืžืชื™ ืขื•ืœืืƒ
ื“ ื•ืชืชืขื˜ืฃ ืขืœื™ ืจื•ื—ื™; ื‘ืชื•ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืชื•ืžื ืœื‘ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื’

The expression ื‘ืžื—ืฉื›ื™ื ื›ืžืชื™ ืขื•ืœื was borrowed by Yirmiyahu in ืื™ื›ื” to illustrate the depths of despair that the Jews felt at the time of the ื—ื•ืจื‘ืŸ.

ื‘ืžื—ืฉื›ื™ื ื”ื•ืฉื™ื‘ื ื™ ื›ืžืชื™ ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืื™ื›ื” ื’:ื•

And the fundamental problem is ื•ืชืชืขื˜ืฃ ืขืœื™ ืจื•ื—ื™, literally, โ€œMy spirit is folded over meโ€; I am so wrapped up in my problems that I canโ€™t even think about getting out.

ื•ืชืชืขื˜ืฃ: ืžื—ืฉื‘ืช ื”ื ืคืฉ ื•ื”ืขื˜ืฃ ืงืฆืชื” ืขืœ ืงืฆืชื”.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืžื’:ื“

I can only escape by turning to You, seeing Your hand in history and praying to You:

ื” ื–ื›ืจืชื™ ื™ืžื™ื ืžืงื“ื ื”ื’ื™ืชื™ ื‘ื›ืœ ืคืขืœืš;
ื‘ืžืขืฉื” ื™ื“ื™ืš ืืฉื•ื—ื—ืƒ
ื• ืคืจืฉืชื™ ื™ื“ื™ ืืœื™ืš; ื ืคืฉื™ ื›ืืจืฅ ืขื™ืคื” ืœืš ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื’

The second half of the perek is Davidโ€™s answer to his own prayer: how can I be saved? Let me learn more about You: ื”ืฉืžื™ืขื ื™ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื—ืกื“ืš and ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื™ ื“ืจืš ื–ื• ืืœืš.

ื– ืžื”ืจ ืขื ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ืœืชื” ืจื•ื—ื™;
ืืœ ืชืกืชืจ ืคื ื™ืš ืžืžื ื™; ื•ื ืžืฉืœืชื™ ืขื ื™ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจืƒ
ื— ื”ืฉืžื™ืขื ื™ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื—ืกื“ืš ื›ื™ ื‘ืš ื‘ื˜ื—ืชื™;
ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื™ ื“ืจืš ื–ื• ืืœืš ื›ื™ ืืœื™ืš ื ืฉืืชื™ ื ืคืฉื™ืƒ
ื˜ ื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™ ืžืื™ื‘ื™ ื”ืณ ืืœื™ืš ื›ืกืชื™ืƒ
ื™ ืœืžื“ื ื™ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืจืฆื•ื ืš ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืืœื•ืงื™;
ืจื•ื—ืš ื˜ื•ื‘ื”; ืชื ื—ื ื™ ื‘ืืจืฅ ืžื™ืฉื•ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื’

And to sum up: my relationship to ื”ืณ is (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื›ื’:ื‘)โ€Ž ื›ึฐืขึตื™ื ึตื™ ืขึฒื‘ึธื“ึดื™ื ืึถืœ ื™ึทื“ ืึฒโ€ื“ื•ึนื ึตื™ื”ึถื.

ื™ื ืœืžืขืŸ ืฉืžืš ื”ืณ ืชื—ื™ื ื™; ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืชื•ืฆื™ื ืžืฆืจื” ื ืคืฉื™ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื•ื‘ื—ืกื“ืš ืชืฆืžื™ืช ืื™ื‘ื™; ื•ื”ืื‘ื“ืช ื›ืœ ืฆืจืจื™ ื ืคืฉื™ ื›ื™ ืื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื’

We have three models of ืžื–ืžื•ืจ, all expressing the infinite distance between us and ื”ืงื‘ืดื”. But that distance is not a reason to despair, because ื”ืณ still talks to us. Next time I would like to look at how this ื™ืจืื” leads to ืื”ื‘ื”, to the model of a ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉื™ืจ.