ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Mixed Messages

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve talked about understanding the various kind of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, and my model, based on the Zohar:

ื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

I would like to look at some ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that have more than one ืžืืžืจ ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื— in the ื›ื•ืชืจืช, specifically ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“.

We looked at ืžื–ืžื•ืจ last time, in Into Pruning Hooks. To quote myself:

I associate ืžื–ืžื•ืจ with the ืกืคื™ืจื” of ื‘ื™ื ื”, analytic wisdom, which goes with the ืžื™ื“ื” of ื“ื™ืŸ. A ืžื–ืžื•ืจ is a psalm of ื”ืณ's transcendence, 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ื›ื•ืชโ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœโ€ฆื•ื›ืื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ื”.

ื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 looked at ืœืžื ืฆื— in Letโ€™s Get Together, and I quote that discussion:

ืฉืึฐื‘ึดื™ืขึธืึธื” [ืกืคื™ืจืช ื ืฆื—] ื‘ึผึฐื ึดืฆึผื•ึผื—ึท, ื“ึผึฐืึดื™ื”ื•ึผ ื ึถืฆึทื— ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ, ื•ึทืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึผ ืึดืชึผึฐืžึทืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื˜ื•:ื›ื˜) ื•ึฐื’ึทื ื ึตืฆึทื— ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืœึนื ื™ึฐืฉืึทืงึผึตืจโ€ฆ

ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื”ื–ื”ืจ, ืชื™ืงื•ืŸ ื™ื’, ื›ื—,ื‘

And as a ืกืคื™ืจื”, a manifestation of the divine in the universe, it is connected to ื—ืกื“:

ื—ืกื“ ื•ื’ื‘ื•ืจื” ื”ืŸ ื”ืฉื•ืจืฉื™ื ืœืกืคื™ืจื•ืช ื ืฆื— ื•ื”ื•ื“, ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื ืงื•ื“ืช ื”ืžื•ืฆื ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื—ืกื“ ื•ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”โ€ฆ

ื”ื ืฆื— ื•ื”ื”ื•ื“ ื”ืŸ ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ ื•ืชื•ืœื“ื” ืฉืœ ื”ื—ืกื“ ื•ื”ื“ื™ืŸ. ืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ื‘ืชื ื•ืขื”, ื‘ืžื’ืžื”, ื•ืื•ืœื™ ืืฃ ื ืืžืจ ืชื•ืฆืื”, ืฉืœ ื”ื ื”ื’ืช ื”ื—ืกื“ ื•ื”ื“ื™ืŸโ€ฆ

ืฉื ื–ื” ืžืฉื•ืชืฃ ืœืฉืชื™ ื”ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช ื•ื”ื”ื‘ื—ื ื” ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ืŸ ื ืขืฉื™ืช ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ืฉื ื”ื ืœื•ื•ื” ืœืฉื ื–ื”: ื“ืณ ืฆื‘ืื•ึพืช ืื• ืึพืœืงื™ื ืฆื‘ืื•ึพืช. ื”ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ื”ืŸ ื›ื—, ืืœื• ื”ืŸ ื—ื™ื™ืœื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืœ ืงื•ื‘ืดื” ื•ื‘ื”ื ืžืฉืชืžืฉ ื›ื‘ื™ื›ื•ืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืืœ ื”ืคื•ืขืœ ืืช ืจืฆื•ื ื•โ€ฆ

ื”ืจื‘ ืื™ืชืžืจ ืืœื“ืจ, ื ืฆื— ื•ื”ื•ื“ (ื): ืกื•ืœื ืžื•ืฆื‘ ืืจืฆื” ื•ืจืืฉื• ืžื’ื™ืข ื”ืฉืžื™ื™ืžื”

ื ืฆื—, as I put all this together, is the manifestation of ื”ืณโ€™s ื—ืกื“ through intermediaries, through us. But the ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช are supposed to be not abstract theological constructs, but inspirations for our own lives. When we do ื—ืกื“, that is ื”ืณ's manifestation in ื ืฆื— but our manifestation of ื—ืกื“. Human beings manifest ื ืฆื— by inspiring others to do ื—ืกื“, by being leaders. Hence the term ืžื ืฆื—, not โ€œvictorโ€ but โ€œconductorโ€. Itโ€™s the multilevel marketing scheme of ืžื“ื” development. And the connection to ื ืฆื— meaning eternity, is that this ืกืคื™ืจื” represents the ultimate goal of creation.

G-dโ€™s primary purpose in creation was that He should be able to reveal Himself to His handiwork, this being the greatest good that He can bestow. This is then the level of Netzach-Victory, the primary purpose.

Aryeh Kaplanโ€™s translation of the Bahir, p. 116

We exist to be ื”ืณ's conduit for ื—ืกื“, and ืœืžื ืฆื— is addressed those who would be leaders, in the terms of ื—ื–ืดืœ,โ€Ž ืคืจื ืกื™ื ืœื“ื•ืจ.

There is a metaphor for the ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช as parts of the human body:

The Human Body as a Model for the Sefirot

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/361885/jewish/The-Sefirot.htm

ื‘ื™ื ื” is the left brain (in modern neuroanatomy, the analytical side of the brain; a fun coincidence) and ื ืฆื— is the right thigh, which (in another fun coincidence) is actually controlled by the left brain (the nerve pathways cross from left to right in the medulla). ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ is a celebration of ื”ืณโ€˜s ืžื™ื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ manifesting in human ื—ืกื“. Acknowledging ื”ืณโ€™s judgment allows us to be less judgmental, and appreciating ื”ืณ's transcendence brings us to appreciate the essential unity of all mankind.

The former is expressed in the pasuk:

ืžึดื“ึฐึผื‘ึทืจ ืฉึถืืงึถืจ ืชึดึผืจึฐื—ึธืง; ื•ึฐื ึธืงึดื™ ื•ึฐืฆึทื“ึดึผื™ืง ืึทืœ ืชึทึผื”ึฒืจึนื’ ื›ึดึผื™ ืœึนื ืึทืฆึฐื“ึดึผื™ืง ืจึธืฉึธืืขืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ื’:ื–

And the latter is expressed in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื—, which we will look at later.

The first perek I want to look at is ืœืžื ืฆื— ื‘ื ื’ื™ื ื•ืช ืžื–ืžื•ืจ, with three ืžืืžืจื•ืช ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื—.โ€Ž ื ื’ื•ืŸ in my model corresponds to the ืžื™ื“ื” of ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”:

ื—ึฒืžึดืฉึผืึธืึธื” [ืกืคื™ืจืช ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”] ื‘ึผึฐื ึดื’ึผื•ึผืŸ, ื‘ึผึฐื’ึดื™ืŸ ื“ึผึฐื”ึทืื™ ื ึดื™ื’ื•ึผืŸ ืกึธืœึดื™ืง ืžึดื ึผึตื™ื”ึผ ื›ึผึทืžึผึธื” ื ึฐื’ึดื™ื ื•ึนืช, ืขื•ึผืœึตื™ืžึธืŸ ืžึดืกึผึดื˜ึฐืจึธื ื“ึดืฉื‚ึฐืžึธืืœึธื, ื“ึผึฐืžึดืชึผึทืžึผึธืŸ ืจื•ึผื—ึท ืฆึธืคื•ึนืŸ ื”ึฒื•ึธื” ื ึธื—ึฒืชึธื ื‘ึฐื›ึดื ึผื•ึนืจ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ื•ึทื”ึฒื•ึธื” ืžึฐื ึทื’ึผึตืŸ ืžึตืึตืœึธื™ื•, ื”ึฒื“ึธื ื”ื•ึผื ื“ึดื›ึฐืชึดื™ื‘ (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื’:ื˜ื•) ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื” ื›ึผึฐื ึทื’ึผึตืŸ ื”ึทืžึฐื ึทื’ึผึตืŸ [ื•ึทืชึฐึผื”ึดื™ ืขึธืœึธื™ื• ื™ึทื“ ื”ืณ].

ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื”ื–ื”ืจ ื™ื’, ื›ื—,ื‘

ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”: ื”ืกืคื™ืจื” ื”ืžื ื•ื’ื“ืช ืœื—ืกื“. ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื” ืžืฆืžืฆืช ืืช ื”ืฉืคืข ื•ื”ื”ืืจื•ืช ืืš ื•ืจืง ืœืžื™ ืฉืจืื•ื™ ืœื” ื•ืขืœ ืคื™ ืžืขืฉื™ ื”ืื“ืโ€ฆืœื›ืŸ ื”ืกืคื™ืจื” ื ืงืจืืช ื’ื โ€ื“ื™ืŸโ€œ ื•โ€ืคื—ื“โ€œ.

ื•ื™ืงื™ืฉื™ื‘ื”, ืขืฉืจ ื”ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช

Both ืžื–ืžื•ืจ and ื ื’ื™ื ื•ืช reflect the kabbalistic ืกึดื˜ึฐืจึธื ื“ึดืฉื‚ึฐืžึธืืœึธื, the โ€œleft sideโ€ of the ืขืฅ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, what we otherwise call ื”ืณ's ืžื™ื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ, so I donโ€™t think it changes the overall sense of the introduction of the perek.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ื‘ื ื’ื™ื ื•ืช ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืขื ื ื™ ืืœืงื™ ืฆื“ืงื™ ื‘ืฆืจ ื”ืจื—ื‘ืช ืœื™; ื—ื ื ื™ ื•ืฉืžืข ืชืคืœืชื™ืƒ
ื’ ื‘ื ื™ ืื™ืฉ ืขื“ ืžื” ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ ืœื›ืœืžื” ืชืื”ื‘ื•ืŸ ืจื™ืง; ืชื‘ืงืฉื• ื›ื–ื‘ ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื“

The Radak connects this perek with the previous one:

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“; ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื

ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืขื ื ื™ ืืœืงื™ ืฆื“ืงื™: ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื”ื–ื” ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื. ื•ืืžืจ: โ€ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืขื ื ื™ ืืœืงื™ ืฆื“ืงื™โ€œ, ืฉืืชื” ื™ื•ื“ืข ื›ื™ ืขืžื™ ื”ืฆื“ืง, ื•ืขื ืืฉืจ ื›ื ื’ื“ื™ ื”ืขื•ืœ ื•ื”ื—ืžืก, ื•ืืชื” ืืœืงื™ื ืฉื•ืคื˜ ืขืœื™ื ื•.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื“:ื‘

But what makes this different from most ืคืจืงื™ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is that he doesnโ€™t go on to address ื”ืณ; he is talking to his enemies. Heโ€™s acting as the ืžื ืฆื—, the conductor, telling them what to do:

ื“ ื•ื“ืขื• ื›ื™ ื”ืคืœื” ื”ืณ ื—ืกื™ื“ ืœื•; ื”ืณ ื™ืฉืžืข ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืืœื™ื•ืƒ
ื” ืจื’ื–ื• ื•ืืœ ืชื—ื˜ืื•; ืืžืจื• ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื›ื; ื•ื“ืžื• ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื“

The gemara understands that there are stages in self-improvement:

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืœื•ื™ ื‘ืจ ื—ืžื, ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืœืงื™ืฉ: ืœืขื•ืœื ื™ืจื’ื™ื– ืื“ื ื™ืฆืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ืขืœ ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข, ืฉื ืืžืจ: โ€ืจื’ื–ื• ื•ืืœ ืชื—ื˜ืื•โ€œ. ืื ื ืฆื—ื•โ€”ืžื•ื˜ื‘, ื•ืื ืœืื•โ€”ื™ืขืกื•ืง ื‘ืชื•ืจื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ: โ€ืืžืจื• ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื›ืโ€œ. ืื ื ืฆื—ื•โ€”ืžื•ื˜ื‘, ื•ืื ืœืื•โ€”ื™ืงืจื ืงืจื™ืืช ืฉืžืข, ืฉื ืืžืจ: โ€ืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื›ืโ€œ. ืื ื ืฆื—ื•โ€”ืžื•ื˜ื‘, ื•ืื ืœืื•โ€”ื™ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืœื• ื™ื•ื ื”ืžื™ืชื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ: โ€ื•ื“ืžื• ืกืœื”โ€œ.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื“,ื‘

Heโ€™s not fighting his enemies; heโ€™s offering them advice!

And then David turns back to ื”ืณ:

ื• ื–ื‘ื—ื• ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืฆื“ืง; ื•ื‘ื˜ื—ื• ืืœ ื”ืณืƒ
ื– ืจื‘ื™ื ืืžืจื™ื ืžื™ ื™ืจืื ื• ื˜ื•ื‘; ื ืกื” ืขืœื™ื ื• ืื•ืจ ืคื ื™ืš ื”ืณืƒ
ื— ื ืชืชื” ืฉืžื—ื” ื‘ืœื‘ื™; ืžืขืช ื“ื’ื ื ื•ืชื™ืจื•ืฉื ืจื‘ื•ืƒ
ื˜ ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื—ื“ื• ืืฉื›ื‘ื” ื•ืื™ืฉืŸ; ื›ื™ ืืชื” ื”ืณ ืœื‘ื“ื“; ืœื‘ื˜ื— ืชื•ืฉื™ื‘ื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื“

This isnโ€™t a psalm of ื“ื™ืŸ, itโ€™s one of ื—ืกื“โ€”we all will live ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื—ื“ื•, with ืฉืžื—ื” ื‘ืœื‘ื™.

Feivel Meltzer, in ืคื ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื, notes that this is a psalm of the evening: ืืžืจื• ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื›ื and ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื—ื“ื• ืืฉื›ื‘ื” ื•ืื™ืฉืŸ. The next perek is another ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ but it is a psalm of morning: ื‘ืงืจ ืืขืจืš ืœืš ื•ืืฆืคื”.โ€Ž ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is, at its core, the ืกื™ื“ื•ืจ of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, but these are almost proto-ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืงืจื™ืืช ืฉืžืข.

ื•ืฉื ื ืชื ืœื‘ื ื™ืš ื•ื“ื‘ืจืช ื‘ื ื‘ืฉื‘ืชืš ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืš ื•ื‘ืœื›ืชืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ื•ื‘ืฉื›ื‘ืš ื•ื‘ืงื•ืžืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื•:ื–

And the evening prayer asks not for ื”ืณ's judgment on the ืจืฉืขื™ื, but their improvement.

ืจึดื‘ึผื•ึนื ื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ืขื•ึนืœึธื ื”ึฒืจึตื™ื ึดื™ ืžื•ึนื—ึตืœ ืœึฐื›ึธืœึพืžึดื™ ืฉืึถื”ึดื›ึฐืขึดื™ืก ื•ึฐื”ึดืงึฐื ึดื™ื˜ ืื•ึนืชึดื™ ืื•ึน ืฉืึถื—ึธื˜ึธื ื›ึฐื ึถื’ึฐื“ึผึดื™โ€ฆ

ืงืจื™ืืช ืฉืžืข ืขืœ ื”ืžื™ื˜ื”

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืืœ ื”ื ื—ื™ืœื•ืช ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ืืžืจื™ ื”ืื–ื™ื ื” ื”ืณ; ื‘ื™ื ื” ื”ื’ื™ื’ื™ืƒ
ื’ ื”ืงืฉื™ื‘ื” ืœืงื•ืœ ืฉื•ืขื™ ืžืœื›ื™ ื•ืืœืงื™; ื›ื™ ืืœื™ืš ืืชืคืœืœืƒ
ื“ ื”ืณ ื‘ืงืจ ืชืฉืžืข ืงื•ืœื™; ื‘ืงืจ ืืขืจืš ืœืš ื•ืืฆืคื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื”

This ืชืคื™ืœืช ื‘ื•ืงืจ is less kumbaya than the previous one.

ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ืึพืœ ื—ืคืฅ ืจืฉืข ืืชื”; ืœื ื™ื’ืจืš ืจืขืƒ
ื• ืœื ื™ืชื™ืฆื‘ื• ื”ื•ืœืœื™ื ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ืš; ืฉื ืืช ื›ืœ ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸืƒ
ื– ืชืื‘ื“ ื“ึผึนื‘ึฐืจึตื™ ื›ื–ื‘; ืื™ืฉ ื“ืžื™ื ื•ืžืจืžื” ื™ืชืขื‘ ื”ืณืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื”

Thatโ€™s part one. The second half of the perek returns to Davidโ€™s peace of mind because ื”ืณ will judge his enemies. Again, ื”ืณโ€˜s ืžื™ื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ allows for human ื—ืกื“.

ื— ื•ืื ื™ ื‘ืจื‘ ื—ืกื“ืš ืื‘ื•ื ื‘ื™ืชืš; ืืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืืœ ื”ื™ื›ืœ ืงื“ืฉืš ื‘ื™ืจืืชืšืƒ
ื˜ ื”ืณ ื ื—ื ื™ ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืœืžืขืŸ ืฉื•ืจืจื™; ื”ื•ืฉืจ (ื”ื™ืฉืจ) ืœืคื ื™ ื“ืจื›ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื”

The perek goes back and forth between the punishment of the wicked and the peace of the righteous.

ื™ ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ืคื™ื”ื• ื ื›ื•ื ื” ืงืจื‘ื ื”ื•ื•ืช; ืงื‘ืจ ืคืชื•ื— ื’ืจื ื; ืœืฉื•ื ื ื™ื—ืœื™ืงื•ืŸืƒ
ื™ื ื”ืืฉื™ืžื ืืœืงื™ื ื™ืคืœื• ืžืžืขืฆื•ืชื™ื”ื;
ื‘ืจื‘ ืคืฉืขื™ื”ื ื”ื“ื™ื—ืžื• ื›ื™ ืžืจื• ื‘ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื”

And so it ends with ืฉืžื—ื”:

ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ื›ืœ ื—ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืš ืœืขื•ืœื ื™ืจื ื ื• ื•ืชืกืš ืขืœื™ืžื•;
ื•ื™ืขืœืฆื• ื‘ืš ืื”ื‘ื™ ืฉืžืšืƒ
ื™ื’ ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืชื‘ืจืš ืฆื“ื™ืง; ื”ืณ ื›ืฆื ื” ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืชืขื˜ืจื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื”

And that is what I am calling a ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ: Donโ€™t worry, be happy. ื”ืณ will take care of your enemies.

ืคืจืง ืกื“ is very similar to ืคืจืง ื”.

ืื™ืŸ ื‘ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืฉื‘ืœื•ื ื”, ืื™ืŸ ื ื•ืกื—ืื•ืช ื ื“ื•ืฉื•ืช, ื™ืฉ ืจื’ืฉ ืžืชื—ื“ืฉ, ื’ื ื›ืฉื”ื ื•ืฉื ื™ืฉืŸ. ืœื›ืื•ืจื” ืœืคื ื™ื ื• ืขื•ื“ ื”ืคืขื ืชืคื™ืœื” ืœื”ืณ, ื‘ืงืฉืช ื™ืฉื•ืขื”. ื”ื‘ืงืฉื” ื”ื™ื ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืฉื•ื‘ ื”ืฆืœื” ืžื™ื“ ืื•ื™ื‘, ืžื™ื“ ืจืฉืข, ื ื•ืฉื ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ืคื’ืฉื ื•ื”ื• ื‘ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ื ืื™ืŸ ืžืกืคืจ, ื•ืืขืคื™ืดื› ืื ื• ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ืฉื•ื‘ ื”ื‘ืขื” ื—ื“ืฉื”, ื”ืกื‘ืจื” ื—ื“ืฉื”, ืืฃ ืจืขื™ื•ื ื•ืช ื—ื“ืฉื™ื.

ืคื™ื‘ืœ ืžืœืฆืจ, ืคื ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื“

The ืจืขื™ื•ืŸ ื—ื“ืฉ here is the emphasis on the sin of the enemy. Rashi, citing ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, says this perek is foreseeing Daniel in the lionโ€™s den, after he was slandered by the other Persian satraps. Sforno says it is foreseeing Hamanโ€™s slander against the Jews. This perek is about ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ืฉืžืข ืืœืงื™ื ืงื•ืœื™ ื‘ืฉื™ื—ื™; ืžืคื—ื“ ืื•ื™ื‘ ืชืฆืจ ื—ื™ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื“

As a ืชืคื™ืœื”, it makes a point that sometimes we cannot do a good job of praying, especially when we need to pray:

ื•ืคื™ืจืฉ ื”ืจื‘ ื”ื—ืกื™ื“ ืžื”ืจืดืจ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื™ืขื‘ืฅ ื–ืดืœ ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื•, ืœืคื™ ืฉืฉืžื™ืขืช ื”ืชืคืœื” ืชืœื•ื™ื” ื‘ื›ื•ื ืช ื”ืœื‘ ื‘ืื•ืžืจื• (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™:ื™ื–) ืชึธึผื›ึดื™ืŸ ืœึดื‘ึธึผื ืชึทึผืงึฐืฉึดืื™ื‘ ืึธื–ึฐื ึถืšึธ, ื•ืื•ืœื™ ืžืคื—ื“ื• ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื›ื•ื™ืŸ ื›ืจืื•ื™ ืืžืจ โ€ืฉืžืข ืืœืงื™ื ืงื•ืœื™ ื‘ืฉื™ื—ื™โ€œ.

ื—ื•ืžืช ืื ืš, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืกื“:ื‘

ื’ ืชืกืชื™ืจื ื™ ืžืกื•ื“ ืžืจืขื™ื; ืžืจื’ืฉืช ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸืƒ
ื“ ืืฉืจ ืฉื ื ื• ื›ื—ืจื‘ ืœืฉื•ื ื; ื“ืจื›ื• ื—ืฆื ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื“

ืกื•ื“ here doesnโ€™t mean โ€œsecretโ€; it mean โ€œcouncilโ€, as in ืงื“ื•ืฉื”:

ื ึทืขึฒืจึดื™ืฆึฐืšึธ ื•ึฐื ึทืงึฐื“ึดื™ืฉืึฐืšึธ ื›ึผึฐืกื•ึนื“ ืฉื™ื—ึท ืฉืจึฐืคึตื™ ืงื“ึถืฉื ื”ึทืžึผึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉืึดื™ื ืฉืึดืžึฐืšึธ ื‘ึผึทืงึผื“ึถืฉืโ€ฆ

ืžื•ืกืฃ ืœืฉื‘ืช, ืขืžื™ื“ื”, ืงื“ื•ืฉื”

But is still has the sense of โ€œsecretโ€, so ืกื•ื“ ืžืจืขื™ื means โ€œthe conspiracy of those planning evilโ€. David may have had external enemies, but the internal ones were the most dangerous. We know that every nation had its favorite sin:

ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœื” ื”ืœืš ืืฆืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืฉื• ื•ืืžืจ ืœื”ื: ืžืงื‘ืœื™ื ืืชื ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”? ืืžืจื• ืœื•: ืžื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื”? ืืžืจ ืœื”ื ืœื ืชืจืฆื—. ืืžืจื•: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข, ื›ืœ ืขืฆืžื• ืฉืœ ืื•ืชื• ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืจื•ืฆื— ื”ื•ืโ€ฆื”ืœืš ืœื• ืืฆืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ื•ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ืืžืจ ืœื”ื: ืžืงื‘ืœื™ื ืืชื ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”? ืืžืจื• ืœื•: ืžื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื•? ืืžืจ ืœื”ื ืœื ืชื ืืฃ. ืืžืจื• ืœืคื ื™ื•: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข, ืขืฆืžื” ืฉืœ ืขืจื•ื” ืœื”ื ื”ื™ืโ€ฆื”ืœืš ื•ืžืฆื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ, ืืžืจ ืœื”ื: ืžืงื‘ืœื™ื ืืชื ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”? ืืžืจื• ืœื•: ืžื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื”? ืืžืจ ืœื”ื ืœื ืชื’ื ื•ื‘. ืืžืจื• ืœืคื ื™ื•: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข, ื›ืœ ืขืฆืžื• ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืœืกื˜ื™ื ื”ื™ื”โ€ฆืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ืื•ืžื” ื‘ืื•ืžื•ืช ืฉืœื ื”ืœืš ื•ื“ื‘ืจ, ื•ื“ืคืง ืขืœ ืคืชื—ื ืžื” ื™ืจืฆื• ื•ื™ืงื‘ืœื• ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”โ€ฆืขื“ ืฉืคืจืงื•ื ื•ื ืชื ื•ื ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ืกืคืจื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืฉืžื’:ื•

I canโ€™t remember where I heard an interpretation of this Sifrei. We received the Torah because we didnโ€™t ask, ืžื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื”?; we said ื ืขืฉื” ื•ื ืฉืžืข. If we had asked, ื”ืณ would have told us: ืœื ืชืœืš ืจื›ื™ืœ ื‘ืขืžื™ืš; donโ€™t say ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข. And we would have responded, ื›ืœ ืขืฆืžื• ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืžืœืฉื™ื ื™ื ื”ื™ื”. That is our own special ืขื‘ืจื”.

David uses the metaphor of a sniper, firing arrows from hiding.

ื” ืœึดื™ืจึนืช ื‘ืžืกืชืจื™ื ืชื; ืคืชืื ื™ึนืจึปื”ื•ึผ ื•ืœื ื™ึดื™ืจึธืื•ึผืƒ
ื• ื™ื—ื–ืงื• ืœืžื• ื“ื‘ืจ ืจืข ื™ืกืคืจื• ืœื˜ืžื•ืŸ ืžื•ืงืฉื™ื;
ืืžืจื• ืžื™ ื™ึดืจึฐืึถื” ืœืžื•ืƒ
ื– ื™ื—ืคืฉื• ืขื•ืœืช ืชืžื ื• ื—ืคืฉ ืžื—ืคืฉ;
ื•ืงืจื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื•ืœื‘ ืขืžืงืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื“

Thereโ€™s a pun here (or perhaps it went with the melody) with ื™ืจื” (shoot), ื™ืจื (fear) and ืจืื” (see). They are getting things all confused; they should be seeing and fearing, not shooting. And the consequence is that ื”ืณ will shoot, and everyone will see and fear:

ื— ื•ึทื™ึผึนืจึตื ืืœืงื™ื; ื—ืฅ ืคืชืื•ื ื”ื™ื• ืžื›ื•ืชืืƒ
ื˜ ื•ื™ื›ืฉื™ืœื•ื”ื• ืขืœื™ืžื• ืœืฉื•ื ื; ื™ืชื ื“ื“ื• ื›ืœ ืจึนืึตื” ื‘ืืƒ
ื™ ื•ึทื™ึผึดื™ืจึฐืื•ึผ ื›ืœ ืื“ื; ื•ื™ื’ื™ื“ื• ืคืขืœ ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ืžืขืฉื”ื• ื”ืฉื›ื™ืœื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื“

And we end as in ืคืจืง ื”: the ืฆื“ื™ืง rejoices as the ืจืฉืข isnโ€™t so much punished as has to deal with the consequences of their own actions.: ื•ึทื™ึผึทื›ึฐืฉืึดื™ืœื•ึผื”ื•ึผ ืขึธืœึตื™ืžื•ึน ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนื ึธื.

ื™ืฉืžื— ืฆื“ื™ืง ื‘ื”ืณ ื•ื—ืกื” ื‘ื•; ื•ื™ืชื”ืœืœื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจื™ ืœื‘ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื“:ื™ื

The next ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ isnโ€™t about reward and punishment, but simply about the glory of ื”ืงื‘ืดื” and what that means for human beings.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ื”ื’ืชื™ืช ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื”ืณ ืื“ื ื™ื ื• ืžื” ืื“ื™ืจ ืฉืžืš ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ;
ืืฉืจ ืชื ื” ื”ื•ื“ืš ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ืืƒ

There is an inclusio here: the last pasuk is also ื”ืณ ืื“ื ื™ื ื•; ืžื” ืื“ื™ืจ ืฉืžืš ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ. So we would expect that the perek would be about ื”ืณ's ืื“ื™ืจื•ืช. And it sort of starts that way:

ื’ ืžืคื™ ืขื•ืœืœื™ื ื•ื™ื ืงื™ื ื™ืกื“ืช ืขื–;
ืœืžืขืŸ ืฆื•ืจืจื™ืš; ืœื”ืฉื‘ื™ืช ืื•ื™ื‘ ื•ืžืชื ืงืืƒ
ื“ ื›ื™ ืืจืื” ืฉืžื™ืš ืžืขืฉื” ืืฆื‘ืขืชื™ืš
ื™ืจื— ื•ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืืฉืจ ื›ื•ื ื ืชื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื—

โ€œOut of the mouths of babesโ€. The sense here is that we need to just stop and look at the universeโ€”ื›ื™ ืืจืื” ืฉืžื™ืš ืžืขืฉื” ืืฆื‘ืขืชื™ืšโ€”to achieve ื™ืจืืช ื”ืณ.

ื ื”ืึพืœ ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ื”ื ื•ืจื ื”ื–ื”โ€”ืžืฆื•ื” ืœืื•ื”ื‘ื• ื•ืœื™ืจืื” ืžืžื ื•โ€ฆื•ื”ื™ืืš ื”ื™ื ื”ื“ืจืš ืœืื”ื‘ืชื•, ื•ื™ืจืืชื•: ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื™ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื•ื‘ืจื•ืื™ื• ื”ื ืคืœืื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื, ื•ื™ืจืื” ืžื”ื ื—ื›ืžืชื• ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื” ืขืจืš ื•ืœื ืงืฅโ€”ืžื™ื“ ื”ื•ื ืื•ื”ื‘ ื•ืžืฉื‘ื— ื•ืžืคืืจ ื•ืžืชืื•ื•ื” ืชืื•ื•ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืœื™ื“ืข ื”ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื‘:ื’) ืฆึธืžึฐืึธื” ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึดื™ ืœึตืืœึนืงึดื™ื ืœึฐืึตึพืœ ื—ึธื™.

ื‘ ื•ื›ืฉืžื—ืฉื‘ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื• ืขืฆืžืŸ, ืžื™ื“ ื”ื•ื ื ืจืชืข ืœืื—ื•ืจื™ื•, ื•ื™ื™ืจื ื•ื™ืคื—ื“ ื•ื™ื™ื“ืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืจื™ื” ืงื˜ื ื” ืฉืคืœื” ืืคืœื”, ืขื•ืžื“ ื‘ื“ืขืช ืงืœื” ืžืขื•ื˜ื” ืœืคื ื™ ืชืžื™ื ื“ืขื•ืช, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื—:ื“) ื›ึผึดื™ ืึถืจึฐืึถื” ืฉืึธืžึถื™ืšึธ [ืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตื” ืึถืฆึฐื‘ึผึฐืขึนืชึถื™ืšึธ ื™ึธืจึตื—ึท ื•ึฐื›ื•ึนื›ึธื‘ึดื™ื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื›ึผื•ึนื ึธื ึฐืชึผึธื”].

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื™ืกื•ื“ื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืคืจืง ื‘

But we canโ€™t stop and look. As adults, we already โ€œknowโ€ everything and never stop to think. We need to return to a โ€œbeginnerโ€™s mindโ€.

Often, adults learn so much that they lose the ability to unlearn, becoming poor at questioning things correctly. On the other hand, children are tuned to learn, which gives them some amazing advantages over adults. While children are designed to explore, to learn, to change, adults are designed to exploit, find resources, and make things happen. Adults have the capacity to learn, but children are in a constant state of extracting as much information from the world as possible. As a result, they are great at generalizing, adapting to challenges, and developing resilience.

Filipe Bastos, Beginnerโ€™s Mind: The Art of Not Knowing

But then the perek changes to focus on human beings:

ื” ืžื” ืื ื•ืฉ ื›ื™ ืชื–ื›ืจื ื•; ื•ื‘ืŸ ืื“ื ื›ื™ ืชืคืงื“ื ื•ืƒ
ื• ื•ืชื—ืกืจื”ื• ืžืขื˜ ืžืืœืงื™ื; ื•ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื•ื”ื“ืจ ืชืขื˜ืจื”ื•ืƒ
ื– ืชืžืฉื™ืœื”ื• ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ ื™ื“ื™ืš; ื›ืœ ืฉืชื” ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ื•ืƒ
ื— ืฆื ื” ื•ืืœืคื™ื ื›ืœื; ื•ื’ื ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช ืฉื“ื™ืƒ
ื˜ ืฆืคื•ืจ ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื“ื’ื™ ื”ื™ื; ืขื‘ืจ ืืจื—ื•ืช ื™ืžื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื—

ื™ืจืืช ื”ืณ should lead to a sense that we are insignificant compared with ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, but we are certainly not insignificant.

ื›ื– ื•ื™ื‘ืจื ืืœืงื™ื ืืช ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืฆืœืžื• ื‘ืฆืœื ืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืจื ืืชื•; ื–ื›ืจ ื•ื ืงื‘ื” ื‘ืจื ืืชืืƒ ื›ื— ื•ื™ื‘ืจืš ืืชื ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื”ื ืืœืงื™ื ืคืจื• ื•ืจื‘ื• ื•ืžืœืื• ืืช ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื›ื‘ืฉื”; ื•ืจื“ื• ื‘ื“ื’ืช ื”ื™ื ื•ื‘ืขื•ืฃ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ื—ื™ื” ื”ืจืžืฉืช ืขืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื

ื ืขืฉื” ืื“ื ื‘ืฆืœืžื ื•: ื”ืฆืœื ื”ืืœื•ืงื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื”, ื‘ืœื™ ื˜ื‘ืข ืžื›ืจื™ื—, ืจืง ืžืจืฆื•ืŸ ื•ืฉื›ืœ ื—ืคืฉื™โ€ฆืื ื• ื™ื•ื“ืขื™ื ืฉื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื” ื”ื—ื•ืคืฉื™ืช ื”ื•ื ืžืฆืžืฆื•ื ื”ืืœื•ืงื•ืช, ืฉื”ืฉื™ืดืช ืžื ื™ื— ืžืงื•ื ืœื‘ืจื•ืื™ื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื›ืคื™ ืžื” ืฉื™ื‘ื—ืจื•.

ืžืฉืš ื—ื›ืžื”, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื:ื›ื•

The message is that we need to be partners with ื”ืณ in creation.

ื”ื›ืจื” ื–ื• ืขืฆืžื” ืžื‘ื™ืื” ืืช ื”ืื“ื ืฉื ื‘ืจื ื‘ืฆืœื ืืœื•ืงื™ืโ€”ื•ึทืชึผึฐื—ึทืกึผึฐืจึตื”ื•ึผ ืžึผึฐืขึทื˜ ืžึตืึฑืœื•ึนืงึดื™ื, ืœื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ื‘ื‘ืจื™ืื”, ืœื ืจืง ื›ืฆื•ืคื” ืžืŸ ื”ืฆื“ ื”ืื•ื”ื‘ ื•ื—ืจื“ ื›ืื—ื“, โ€ืžืžืขืฉื™ื• ื•ื‘ืจื•ืื™ื• ื”ื ืคืœืื™ื ื•ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ืโ€œ ืฉืœ ื”ืณ ื™ืชื‘ืจืš. ืืœื ื’ื ื›ืžื™ ืฉื”ื•ืคืงื“ ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืจื™ืื” ืœื”ื ื”ื™ื’ื” ื•ืœืฉื›ืœืœื”, ื›ืฉื•ืชืฃ ืคืขื™ืœ ืœืจื™ื‘ื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื. ืžื ืงื•ื“ืช ืžื‘ื˜ ื–ื• ื”ื•ืคื›ืช ืื”ื‘ืช ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืจืืชื• ืžืชื—ื•ืฉื” ืคืกื™ื‘ื™ืช ืœืžื—ื•ื™ื‘ื•ืช ืืงื˜ื™ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืงื•ืจืืช ืœืื“ื.

ื—ื ืŸ ืคื•ืจืช, ื™ืจืืช ื”ืจื•ืžืžื•ืช

And when David ends with the same pasuk he starts with,

ื”ืณ ืื“ื ื™ื ื•; ืžื” ืื“ื™ืจ ืฉืžืš ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื—:ื™

there is a new message. ื›ื™ ืืจืื” ืฉืžื™ืš ืžืขืฉื” ืืฆื‘ืขืชื™ืšโ€ฆืชืžืฉื™ืœื”ื• ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ ื™ื“ื™ืš. I see the wonders You have created and realize that you have put me in charge. With great power comes great responsibility.