{"id":80753,"date":"2018-07-09T17:51:39","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-584\/"},"modified":"2020-10-05T17:10:04","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T14:10:04","slug":"wall-584","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-584\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Writings-Psalms-17"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"584","date":"20271124","book":"Psalms","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"584","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"80781","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible Psalms Chapter 17 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible Psalms Chapter 17","slug":"jps-audio-bible-psalms-chapter-17","old_id":"80781","type":"user","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"584","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Psalms Chapter 17","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_psalms_chapter_17","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"584","date":"20271124","wall_id":"584"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"80964","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Divine, Majestic Super-Goodly Image ","post_title":"The Divine, Majestic Super-Goodly Image","slug":"the-divine-majestic-super-goodly-image","old_id":"80964","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"584","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"That\u2019s us, actually\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The closing verse of our psalm reads: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Then I, justified, will behold Your face; awake, I am filled with the vision of You.\u201d Considering Maimonides\u2019s stipulation that \u201cThe blessed Creator is not corporeal, He cannot be described using corporeal adjectives, and He has no appearance whatsoever\u201d (3<\/span>rd<\/span> Article of Faith), what does the psalmist mean by God\u2019s face and vision?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We have encountered both these expressions in the Torah. Beholding the face of God is a euphemism for going on pilgrimage to the Temple, to wit: \u201cThrice yearly shall every male behold the face of the Lord your God in the place He will choose\u201d (Deut. 16:16). \u201cRegarding the vision of God\u201d is a euphemism for prophecy, as in \u201cI shall speak with him [Moses] face to face, in a [clear] vision rather than an enigmatic one, and he regards the appearance of God\u201d (Numbers 12:8).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Its particular use here is debated by the exegetes. Ibn Ezra said: \u201cThis vision does not occur visually, but intellectually, which is the true way to perceive God.\u201d Radak cited our example of Moses, saying:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This resembles \u201cregarding God\u2019s appearance\u201d (Numbers 12:8), which is intellectual, referring to the activity of the soul separate from the body. Moses\u2014unlike all other prophets\u2014possessed this [acuity] because his active intellect was able to suppress all his corporeal functions, such as not eating bread or drinking water, and thereby he was able to regard God\u2019s appearance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The acknowledgment that God has no visible appearance and can only be perceived intellectually recalls questions around the Torah\u2019s description of man as created \u201cin His image\u201d (<\/span>tzelem elohim<\/span><\/em>; <\/span><\/i>Gen. 1:27). The word <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em> is homonymous, referring to many things such as God: \u201cIn the beginning, <\/span>Elohim<\/span><\/em> created heaven and earth\u201d (Gen. 1:1), other objects of worship and deification: \u201cYou may have no other <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em> before Me\u201d (Exodus 20:2), the judiciary: \u201cTo the <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em> shall their case be brought\u201d (Exodus\u00a0 22:8), and, possibly, the upper class: \u201cThe sons of <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em> saw that the daughters of men (<\/span>adam<\/span><\/em>) were good\u201d (Gen. 6:1, 4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak (Ezekiel 1:1) pointed out yet another usage: When even the superlative (\u201cbest\u201d) is inadequate, <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em> serves as an adjectival form of hyperbole and should be translated as \u201cdivine.\u201d Thus, <\/span>tzelem elohim<\/span><\/em> can be defined as a divine or super-goodly image. Indeed, Se`adyah Gaon (882-942), in his Arabic translation of the Torah, rendered it as \u201ca majestic image,\u201d thereby distinguishing it from the lesser images in which lower life forms were created.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: from William Blake (1752-1827), <\/span>To Justify the Ways of God to Men<\/em> <\/span>\/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80966,"alt":"","title":"ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake,","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","width":422,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake-211x300.jpg","medium-width":211,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","medium_large-width":422,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","large-width":422,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","1536x1536-width":422,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","2048x2048-width":422,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","post_full_size-width":422,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake-296x420.jpg","home_baner-width":296,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Divine, Majestic Super-Goodly Image","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"That\u2019s us, actually","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80966,"alt":"","title":"ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake,","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","width":422,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake-211x300.jpg","medium-width":211,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","medium_large-width":422,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","large-width":422,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","1536x1536-width":422,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","2048x2048-width":422,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake.jpg","post_full_size-width":422,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-Prophecy_by_William_Blake-296x420.jpg","home_baner-width":296,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"584","date":"20271124","wall_id":"584"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"80958","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Tzedek, Tzadik, Tzedakah ","post_title":"Tzedek, Tzadik, Tzedakah","slug":"tzedek-tzadik-tzedakah","old_id":"80958","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"584","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"First give, then ask!\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our psalm is presented as a nighttime prayer of David. This\u00a0 becomes clear from the psalmist\u2019s noting: \u201cYou have visited me at night\u201d (<\/span>17:3<\/span><\/a>) and from the conclusion of the Psalm: \u201cI, in righteousness, will behold Your face; I will be sustained with the image of You upon awaking\u201d (<\/span>verse 15<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

David\u2019s beholding God\u2019s face seems to contradict what God said to Moses: \u201c\u2026You cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live\u201d (<\/span>Exodus 33:20<\/span><\/a>). Perhaps for this reason,<\/span> Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 21:7<\/span><\/a> provides a dramatic rereading of the concluding verse of our Psalm. David is depicted creatively as saying, When Adam, who was created in the image of God, awakes from the deep sleep that God cast upon him (<\/span>Genesis 2:21<\/span><\/a>), I, David, \u201cwill behold\u201d that God has \u201cmade man like one of us\u201d (<\/span>Genesis 3:22<\/span><\/a>). [And though banished from the Garden of Eden (<\/span>Genesis 3:23<\/span><\/a>), Adam and his descendants, if righteous, will be granted the reward of eternal life].<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk, one of the founding <\/span>Rebbes<\/span><\/em> of the Hasidic movement, in his<\/span> Noam Elimelekh<\/span><\/a>, derives from the mention of \u201crighteousness \u2013 <\/span>tzedek<\/span><\/em>\u201d at the conclusion of our Psalm, that if even a righteous person considers himself to be a <\/span>tzadik<\/span><\/em>, he will \u201cfall from his [elevated] status \u2013 <\/span>nofel mi-madregato<\/span><\/i>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Bava Batra 10a<\/span><\/a>, understands <\/span>tzedek<\/em> <\/span>in our Psalm as equivalent to <\/span>tzedakah<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/i>God is said to not be like His creatures of flesh and blood. For when a person brings a gift to the king, he does not know whether the king will accept it. And even if the king accepts the gift, the one who brought the gift does not know if he will be invited to see the face of the king. However, when a person gives just a <\/span>pruta<\/span><\/em> (copper coin of minimal value) to a poor person, he merits to receive the Divine Presence, as it is stated: \u201cI, in righteousness [understood here as referring to <\/span>tzedakah<\/span><\/em>], will behold Your face\u201d (<\/span>Psalms 17:5<\/span><\/a>). This Talmudic discussion goes on to relate that Rabbi Elazar would first give a <\/span>pruta<\/span><\/em> to a poor person and then pray: \u201cI, in righteousness [again referring to <\/span>tzedakah<\/span><\/em>], will behold Your face\u201d (Psalms 17:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The <\/span>Gemara<\/span><\/i> continues by interpreting the continuation of the verse: \u201cI will be sustained (<\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/i>esbba\u2019ah<\/span><\/em>) with the image of You upon awaking\u201d. This refers to <\/span>Talmidey Chakhamim<\/em> <\/span>(Torah scholars), who in the intensity of their learning banish sleep from their eyes in this world. And the Holy One, Blessed be He, sustains them from the radiance of the Divine Presence (<\/span>masbi\u2019an mi-ziv ha-Shekhinah<\/span><\/em>) in the World to Come.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Tzedakah box, Jewish Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem, 2014 \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80959,"alt":"","title":"ps17-tzedekah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","width":800,"height":450,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":450,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":450,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":450,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":450,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Tzedek, Tzadik, Tzedakah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"First give, then ask!\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80959,"alt":"","title":"ps17-tzedekah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","width":800,"height":450,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":450,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":450,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":450,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":450,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/ps17-tzedekah-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"584","date":"20271124","wall_id":"584"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"80804","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Psalmsongs 17 ","post_title":"Psalmsongs 17","slug":"psalmsongs-17","old_id":"80804","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":80010,"post_title":"Gaya Aranoff Bernstein","slug":"gaya-aranoff-bernstein","old_id":"80010","first_name":"Gaya Aranoff ","last_name":"Bernstein ","description":"Gaya (Aranoff, M.D.) Bernstein has been a student of Rav Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz for many years. With his encouragement, she published Psalmsongs, A Gathering of Psalms (An Arthur Kurzweil Book, New York\/Jerusalem, 2013), and translated The Steinsaltz Tehillim, Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd, 2018). She is a professor of pediatric endocrinology on the faculty of Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Gaya Aranoff Bernstein is the author of Psalmsongs: A Gathering of Psalms.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":80011,"alt":"","title":"gaya bernstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","width":332,"height":492,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-202x300.jpg","medium-width":202,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","medium_large-width":332,"medium_large-height":492,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","large-width":332,"large-height":492,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","1536x1536-width":332,"1536x1536-height":492,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","2048x2048-width":332,"2048x2048-height":492,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","post_full_size-width":332,"post_full_size-height":492,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-283x420.jpg","home_baner-width":283,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"584","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

hear me
\r\nlisten to my thoughts
\r\nYou know me inside out
\r\nI can\u2019t deceive
\r\nYou<\/p>\r\n

You read my heart
\r\nall night all day
\r\nYou know I err
\r\nagain
\r\nand yet I come
\r\nto You and cry
\r\nForgive
\r\nat least I come to You
\r\nO that man O that I
\r\ncould pass Your tests
\r\nand always do what\u2019s right
\r\nI try and fail
\r\nI fail to try
\r\nhave mercy<\/p>\r\n

don\u2019t use my foes
\r\ntheir weaponry
\r\nto mete out punishment
\r\nsurround me now
\r\nwith clouds of love
\r\njust hide me now
\r\nprotect me<\/p>\r\n

they lurk like lions
\r\nproud and poised
\r\nto pounce and make their kill
\r\nthey have no clue
\r\nthey\u2019re just Your tools<\/p>\r\n

when my time comes
\r\nI want to die fulfilled with years
\r\nand progeny
\r\nI need more time
\r\nto purify my soul
\r\nmy deeds for You<\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from: Gaya Aranoff Bernstein,\u00a0Psalmsongs: A Gathering of Psalms<\/em>, (An Arthur Kurzweil Book, New York\/Jerusalem, 2013).<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80037,"alt":"","title":"psalmsongs4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","width":2894,"height":1928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Psalmsongs 17","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"hear me listen to my thoughts","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80037,"alt":"","title":"psalmsongs4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","width":2894,"height":1928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"584","date":"20271124","wall_id":"584"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"80961","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Giving A Single Coin ","post_title":"Giving A Single Coin","slug":"giving-a-single-coin","old_id":"80961","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"584","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"All that\u2019s required to see God\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The final verse in Psalm 17 states \" I, in righteousness (tzedek<\/em>) I will behold Your presence, I will be satisfied when I awake with your likeness.\" The Talmud, in tractate Bava Batra 10a picks up the use of the Hebrew word <\/span>tzedek<\/span><\/em>\/righteousness. The word <\/span>tzedek<\/span><\/em>, is very similar to the word <\/span>tzedakah<\/span><\/em>, the Hebrew word for charity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Gemara uses this verse to show how God is greater than any living monarch. When one wants an audience with a monarch, they would bring a large expensive gift. Even with such a gift it is uncertain that the ruler will accept the gift. Even if the monarch accepts the gift, it is uncertain they will accept an audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Taking this verse, the Talmud explains that God is different. God says \"I, with charity (<\/span>tzedakah<\/span><\/em>), will behold your presence.\u201d All God needs is for man to give a single coin to a poor neighbor for an audience. God does not require massive expensive gifts. David, as a monarch himself, responds to this message in the second part of the verse. \"I will be satisfied when I awake with Your likeness.\" David hopes to emulate God's humble ask of man in his own throne room. Opening up the doors of his palace to those who do something simple as an act of charity for the poor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Giving A Single Coin","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"All that\u2019s required to see God","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"584","date":"20271124","wall_id":"584"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"80955","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Without A Name ","post_title":"Without A Name","slug":"without-a-name","old_id":"80955","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"584","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"So can I write this prayer to You, my God?\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\" \u2026 incline Your ear unto me, hear my speech.\" (Psalm 17:6)<\/span>
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I cannot leave my bed without a prayer.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>cannot walk across the room without <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>a prayer. I cannot even think about<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>another night without a prayer. But dare <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I pray? How can I pray when everywhere <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I turn, it seems as if my shadows doubt <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>the need to pray, as if my shadows shout <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>in ancient Greek You neither see nor hear.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So can I write this prayer to You, my God?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I've found some paper and a ball-point pen.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And words \u2014 these very simple words that came <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>to me when dreaming that I pray. How odd <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>it is, to wake up from a dream again <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and pray to You, the Name without a 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Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Without A Name","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"So can I write this prayer to You, my 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Like, Similar ","post_title":"It\u2019s Like, Similar","slug":"its-like-similar","old_id":"80968","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david 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Hebrew imaginary\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Psalm 17, David declares his faithfulness to God, even though enemies pursue him. He describes his foes as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cGuard me like the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who despoil me, my mortal enemies who encircle me. Their hearts are closed to pity; they mouth arrogance; now they hem in our feet on every side; they set their eyes roaming over the land.\u201d (Psalms 17:8-11)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In these verses, his pursuers are mentioned in the plural. However, in the following verse, a particular enemy is mentioned:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cHe is like a lion eager for prey, a king of beasts lying in wait.\u201d (17:12)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The commentaries differ on who is compared to the lion here. Ibn Ezra says each one of the marauders is like a lion. Radak, however, says that David is portraying in this psalm his feelings when he was fleeing from Saul, and that King Saul was the lion-like figure. Radak points out that in an earlier psalm we see this imagery:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201c\u2026concerning Cush, a Benjaminite [a reference to Saul] \u2026 deliver me from all my pursuers and save me, lest, like a lion, they tear me apart.\u201d (Psalms 7:1-3)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In our verse, the Hebrew word for \u201clike, similar,\u201d <\/span>dimyon<\/span><\/em>, is a hapax legomenon \u2013 that is it appears only once in the entire bible. In some cases, that makes interpreting the meaning rather difficult (just wait until we get to the book of Job). But here \u201clike\u201d is certainly the meaning. It derives from the root <\/span>damah<\/span><\/em>, which means \u201cto be like, resemble.\u201d From \u201clikened,\u201d it progressed to \"compared\" to \"considered\" to \"imagined\". And this gives us another meaning of <\/span>dimyon<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in modern Hebrew \u2013 \u201cimagination.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This same root gave us a number of other familiar words in Hebrew:<\/span><\/p>\r\n