{"id":91186,"date":"2018-07-09T17:53:45","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-712\/"},"modified":"2021-04-04T18:17:20","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T15:17:20","slug":"wall-712","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-712\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Writings-Psalms-145"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"712","date":"20280522","book":"Psalms","chapter":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"91219","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible Psalms Chapter 145 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible Psalms Chapter 145","slug":"jps-audio-bible-psalms-chapter-145","old_id":"91219","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":"712","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 145","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_145","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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"91485","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Between Piety and Liturgy ","post_title":"Between Piety and Liturgy","slug":"between-piety-and-liturgy","old_id":"91485","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":77758,"post_title":"AJ Berkovitz","slug":"aj-berkovitz","old_id":"77758","first_name":"AJ ","last_name":"Berkovitz ","description":"Dr. AJ Berkovitz serves as an Assistant Professor at HUC-JIR in New York. He received his Ph.D. in Religion from Princeton University and a B.A.\/M.A. in Jewish Studies\/Hebrew Bible from Yeshiva University. He is the co-editor of Rethinking \u2018Authority\u2019 in Late Antiquity: Authorship, Law, and Transmission in Jewish and Christian Tradition (Routledge, 2018). His current book project, The Life of Psalms in Jewish Late Antiquity, deal with Psalm reception and materiality, translation, liturgy, piety and magic. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. AJ Berkovitz serves as an Assistant Professor at HUC-JIR in New York.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":77759,"alt":"","title":"AJ Berkovitz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz.jpg","width":2100,"height":3150,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz.jpg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The birth of (a) prayer","post_main_content_content":"

How does Jewish prayer develop? How did we get from the requirement to say <\/span>Shema<\/em> <\/span>and the <\/span>Amidah<\/em> <\/span>to an entire siddur? Psalm 145, the core of <\/span>ashrei<\/span><\/em>, holds one of the answers. In our <\/span>siddur<\/span><\/em>, one says <\/span>ashrei<\/span><\/em> three times daily. By tracing the rise of this practice, we get a glimpse into one of the key dynamics that stimulates the development of Jewish prayer: the fluidity between reading a text as part of mandated Jewish prayer and reciting a text as a religiously and spiritually advantageous practice. In other words, in the movement between liturgy and piety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At one point in its early history, reciting Psalm 145 was an act of piety. Talmud, Berakhot 4b: \u201cR. Elazar in the name of R. Avina, \u2018Anyone who recites \u2018A Praise of David\u2019 (Ps. 145) three times daily, will merit the world to come\u2019.\u201d The promise of reward in this statement mirrors those for activities that go above and beyond mandated law. But does not \u201cthree times daily\u201d indicate we are talking about <\/span>ashrei<\/span><\/em> and Jewish prayer? First, note that these sages do not call the recited text <\/span>ashrei<\/span><\/em>, but rather by the title of Psalm 145.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Second, here we witness the pitfalls of using a printed edition of the Talmud instead of its earlier manuscripts. Talmud manuscripts housed in the libraries of Oxford and Paris read \u201conce every day.\u201d The Florence manuscript presents a different situation. A scribe initially wrote \u201cthree times a day.\u201d The manuscript\u2019s corrector, however, erased it. He then wrote a comment in the margins of the manuscript noting that the erased text is not the gemara and should not be perpetuated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The manuscripts agree with the Geonim, the sages that followed the compilers of the Talmud. The prayer book of R. Amram Gaon cites a responsum of R. Natronai Gaon that recognizes that the talmudic statement reads that one should say \u201cA Psalm of David\u201d once a day. It moves this statement, however, from the realm of piety to that of liturgy. R. Natronai suggests that the \u201clater sages\u201d demanded its repetition three times lest a Jew miss it once or twice and \u201cnot because there is a requirement to say it three times a day.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The story of <\/span>ashrei<\/span><\/em> highlights the porous borders between liturgy and piety. Reciting Psalm 145 began as a pious act. As time passed and reading the poem grew more popular, saying it as part of prayer once a day became mandatory. Repeating it three times was not required. As time continued to pass, the habit of repeating the poem three times stuck, and it became a fixed part of Jewish liturgy.\u00a0 Eventually, this practice became so ensconced that some scribes and every printer could not imagine R. Elazar\u2019s statement as anything but the repetition of <\/span>ashrei<\/span><\/em> thrice daily. Instead of preserving the Talmudic text, they changed it to fit their current experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like the siddur, Jewish tradition is ever-evolving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Ps. 145, <\/span>\u201cSha\u2019ar Hashem He-\u1e24adash:\" Daniel Bomberg\u2019s \"Miqra\u2019ot Gedolot\", from The Museum Of The Bible's Hebraica and Judaica.<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91486,"alt":"","title":"ps145-ms 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Piety and Liturgy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The birth of (a) prayer","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91486,"alt":"","title":"ps145-ms 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","post_title":"Vatikin","slug":"vatikin","old_id":"91475","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":89733,"post_title":"Felice Miryam Kahn Zisken","slug":"felice-miryam-kahn-zisken","old_id":"89733","first_name":"Felice Miryam ","last_name":"Kahn Zisken","description":"Felice Miryam Kahn Zisken is a poet and translator, independent writing and editing professional","short_description":"Felice Miryam Kahn Zisken is a poet and translator, independent writing and editing professional","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":90272,"alt":"","title":"felice kahn 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up \/ Be counted\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness.<\/em>
\r\nPsalm 145: 8
\r\n
\r\nA minyan of Jerusalem doves
\r\ncalls to the wild
\r\nsoul bird inside,
\r\n\u201cDawn.
\r\nWake up.
\r\nBe counted.\u201d<\/p>\r\n


\r\nImage: Peace Dove Stuck in Stone, Jerusalem Center, Talita Kumi house in front of the Ha'Mashbir Building, 2010 \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91476,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem.jpg","width":1517,"height":763,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-300x151.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":151,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-768x386.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":386,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-1024x515.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":515,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem.jpg","1536x1536-width":1517,"1536x1536-height":763,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem.jpg","2048x2048-width":1517,"2048x2048-height":763,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-1200x604.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":604,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-835x420.jpg","home_baner-width":835,"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":"Vatikin","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Wake up \/ Be counted","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91476,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem.jpg","width":1517,"height":763,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-300x151.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":151,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-768x386.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":386,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-1024x515.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":515,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem.jpg","1536x1536-width":1517,"1536x1536-height":763,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem.jpg","2048x2048-width":1517,"2048x2048-height":763,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-1200x604.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":604,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dove-jerusalem-835x420.jpg","home_baner-width":835,"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"91492","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Could It Be A Question? ","post_title":"Could It Be A Question?","slug":"could-it-be-a-question","old_id":"91492","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38047,"post_title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","slug":"shoshana-michael-zucker","old_id":"38047","first_name":"Shoshana Michael ","last_name":"Zucker ","description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor by profession, but would much rather be learning and teaching Torah. A graduate of Barnard College, she made aliyah in 1983 and now lives in Kfar Saba where she is an active member of the Masorti Congregation Hod veHadar. ","short_description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor and lives in Kfar Saba \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38048,"alt":"","title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","width":231,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-224x300.jpg","medium-width":224,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","medium_large-width":231,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","large-width":231,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","1536x1536-width":231,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","2048x2048-width":231,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","post_full_size-width":231,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","home_baner-width":231,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"It could be a question...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The traditional trope (cantillation marks) and punctuation used for Biblical texts in Hebrew do not include question marks. Therefore, all sentences that do not begin with a clear expression of inquiry (e.g. \u201cwho?\u201d \u201cwhy?\u201d)\u00a0 are usually read as statements. And rightly so. But sometimes an astute reader hears a question or challenge between the lines, or even within them, in ways that can be very telling. When researching Psalm 145, I found two modern American-Israeli commentators who hear questions many readers miss.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In <\/span>The Poetry of Prayer<\/span><\/em>, Rabbi Avi Baumol writes that Psalm 145 expresses \u201cthe imperative to praise.\u201d In the first two verses, the psalmist declares his intention to praise God. The praise itself begins in the third verse, \u201cGreat is the Eternal and much acclaimed; God\u2019s greatness cannot be fathomed.\u201d The sense seems smooth enough but Baumol notes that the Hebrew verse lacks the conjunctive <\/span>vav<\/em> <\/span>(\u201cand\u201d) found in most verses in the chapter, and understands this as indicative of a break in its meaning, a reconsideration of the entire project of praise. Baumol would read the verse as saying, \u201cGod is great and most worthy of praise <\/span>but<\/em> <\/span>[who am I to describe God, how can <\/span>I<\/span><\/i> call Him good, or great or any description? After all,] His greatness cannot be investigated\u201d (page 58, italics original). In this reading, the psalmist\u2019s stance is one of great humility in the face of overwhelming awe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Benjamin J. Segal, in <\/span>A New Psalm<\/span><\/em>, reads the chapter very differently, and sees a turning point in a different structural anomaly, the \u201cmissing\u201d verse, between verses 13 and 14, that would have begun with the letter \u201cnun\u201d if the acrostic were complete. He \u201cproposes that the poet used the omission to alert his readers to the turn\u201d the psalm is about to take (p. 674). In verses 14-16, the praise continues, but God\u2019s beneficence \u201calmost seems too good to be true\u201d (p. 675). The grandiose claims provoke doubt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I read this comment and wonder, perhaps these verses are questions, \u201cDoes the Eternal support all who stumble, and make all who are bent stand straight? You give them their food when it is due, feeding every creature to its heart\u2019s content?\u201d Is verse 17 a strident retort to the question, as Segal suggests, citing Amos Hacham? Perhaps, but the idyll is broken, and praise \u201cbegins to retreat before reality,\u201d as people cry out to God, who now responds only to the faithful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The contrast is striking. Where Baumol reads the psalm as expressing great praise and amazement, Segal sees complexity and doubt. We could debate who is more correct but it might be more interesting to ask, where would you put a question mark?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78726,"alt":"","title":"hab3-question-marks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks.jpg","width":1920,"height":960,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":960,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-1200x600.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"Could It Be A Question?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"It could be a question...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78726,"alt":"","title":"hab3-question-marks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks.jpg","width":1920,"height":960,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":960,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-1200x600.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hab3-question-marks-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"91494","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"The Limits Of Imitatio Dei ","post_title":"The Limits Of Imitatio Dei","slug":"the-limits-of-imitatio-dei","old_id":"91494","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An argument against zealotry\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 145, colloquially known as \u201cAshrei<\/em>,\u201d the first word of Psalm 84:5 by which 145 is introduced in Jewish liturgy three times each day, contains many of the key principles of Jewish faith:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

a.Because God is the unquestioned ruler of all: v. 11-3; <\/span>
\r\n<\/span> b. He is to be praised: v. 1, 3-7, 10-2, 21; <\/span>
\r\n<\/span> c. and blessed: v. 2, 10, 21. (<\/span>See Maimonides<\/span>, <\/span><\/i>Sefer HaMitzvot<\/span><\/em>, #3<\/span><\/i>.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to Sotah 14a, descriptions of God\u2019s attributes, as found in v. 8-9, 14-19, are not only abundantly praiseworthy, but they are also to be personally emulated as much as possible by the religious individual, in the spirit of the theme \u201c<\/span>imitateo dei<\/span><\/em>,\u201d expressed multiple times in Deuteronomy: 8:6; 10:12; 11:22 and more. Shabbat 133b cites Aba Shaul\u2019s interpretation of Exodus 15:2 \u201c\u2026<\/span>this is my God, and I will enshrine Him<\/span>\u2026\u201d as a source for the same concept.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, the assumption that all of God\u2019s praises are models for human behavior, can be challenged by a literal reading of the second portion of Psalm 145:20:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked (<\/span>haresha\u2019im<\/span><\/em>) He will destroy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At first glance, the verse would appear to justify the stance of a zealot, i.e., just as God is determined to eliminate the \u201cwicked\u201d individual, we should try to do the same.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Humans are not God, with the ability to objectively determine who qualifies as a \u201c<\/span>rasha<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i>\u201dand so: since we are so prone to error, with innumerable biases, should we ever be given the capacity to do away with evil-doers? However, if we were to decide that all forms of punishment can only be doled out by God, but never human beings, won\u2019t criminals who don\u2019t believe in God be encouraged to strike terror into the hearts of law-abiding citizens?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I recall many years ago reading an essay by R. Yaakov Yosef, who, basing himself on the \u201c<\/span>alef-bet<\/span><\/em>\u201d configuration of Psalm 145, posits that the psalm\u2019s structure reflected how a person had to first personalize a particular attribute before undertaking the next one mentioned. E.g., prior to enacting v. 12, \u201cTo make His mighty acts known among men and the majestic glory of His kingship,\u201d i.e., publicizing God\u2019s Greatness to others, it would be necessary to make oneself a living example of v. 11, \u201cAll Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your faithful ones shall bless You.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It therefore follows that only after internalizing all of the previous divine virtues (verses 1-19) does the attribute associated with the letter \u201c<\/span>shin<\/span><\/em>\u201d (v. 20) become a possibility. Furthermore, if indeed the individual will have become that much more \u201cGodly\u201d in their dealings with their fellow, abuse of the legitimization to \u201cdestroy\u201d evildoers will, more likely than not, be replaced with a desire to bring about their repentance (<\/span>see <\/span>Berachot 10a<\/span><\/em>)<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Zimri and Cozbi are slain by Phinehas (Mortier's Bible), c. 1700 \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91495,"alt":"","title":"ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_(Mortier's_Bible)","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","width":566,"height":392,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible-300x208.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":208,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","medium_large-width":566,"medium_large-height":392,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","large-width":566,"large-height":392,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","1536x1536-width":566,"1536x1536-height":392,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","2048x2048-width":566,"2048x2048-height":392,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","post_full_size-width":566,"post_full_size-height":392,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","home_baner-width":566,"home_baner-height":392}},"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 Limits Of Imitatio Dei","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An argument against zealotry","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91495,"alt":"","title":"ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_(Mortier's_Bible)","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","width":566,"height":392,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible-300x208.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":208,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","medium_large-width":566,"medium_large-height":392,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","large-width":566,"large-height":392,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","1536x1536-width":566,"1536x1536-height":392,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","2048x2048-width":566,"2048x2048-height":392,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","post_full_size-width":566,"post_full_size-height":392,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-Zimri_and_Cozbi_are_slain_by_Phinehas_Mortiers_Bible.jpg","home_baner-width":566,"home_baner-height":392}},"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"91488","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"The Case of the Missing Nun ","post_title":"The Case of the Missing Nun","slug":"the-case-of-the-missing-nun","old_id":"91488","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":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Dead Sea Scrolls? Septuagint? Nun in the above...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our psalm, known colloquially as \u201c<\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/i> even though that opening verse is actually drawn from Psalms 84:5, is one of the mainstays of the Jewish liturgical tradition. For instance, the Talmud remarks:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Eleazar b. Abina says: Whoever recites [the psalm] \u201cPraise of David\u201d (<\/span>t\u2019hillah l\u2019David<\/span><\/em>) three times daily, is sure to inherit the world to come. What is the reason? Shall I say it is because it has an alphabetical arrangement? Then let him recite, \u201cHappy are they that are upright in the way\u201d (psalm 119), which has an eightfold alphabetical arrangement. Again, is it because it contains [the verse], \u201cYou give it openhandedly, feeding every creature to its heart\u2019s content\u201d (145:16)? Then let him recite the great Hallel, where it is written: \u201cWho gives food to all flesh.\u201d Rather, [the reason is] because it contains both (Berakhot 4b).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

(for a different reading of this text - see AJ Berkowitz\u2019s piece on today\u2019s page).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The reference to the \u201calphabetical arrangement\u201d of our psalm is particularly interesting because it is incomplete. As the talmudic passage notes in its continuation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why is there no <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em> in <\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em>? Because the fall of Israel's enemies begins with it. For it is written: \u201cFallen (<\/span>naf\u2019lah<\/span><\/em>) is the virgin of Israel, she shall no more rise\u201d (Amos 5:2)\u2026 R. Nahman b. Isaac says: Even so, David refers to it by inspiration and promises them an uplifting. For it is written: \u201cThe Lord supports (<\/span>someikh<\/span><\/em>) all that stumble (<\/span>noflim<\/span><\/em>)\u201d (145:14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In other words, when David reached the letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>, he foresaw the catastrophe of falling (<\/span>naf\u2019lah<\/span><\/em>) so he did two things: he skipped the letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em> entirely, and sought to forestall its consequence by immediately adding the element of support (<\/span>someikh<\/span><\/em>) that begins with the very next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is noteworthy that the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of Tanakh, inserts a verse where the <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em> verse ought to be and, when translated back into Hebrew, actually begins with that letter. Its equivalent in English would be: \u201cTrustworthy (<\/span>ne\u2019eman<\/span><\/em>) is the Lord in all His words and holy in all His works,\u201d which also appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls text of our psalm (see image).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91490,"alt":"","title":"ps145-dead sea scroll","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","width":334,"height":118,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll-150x118.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":118,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll-300x106.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":106,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","medium_large-width":334,"medium_large-height":118,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","large-width":334,"large-height":118,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","1536x1536-width":334,"1536x1536-height":118,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","2048x2048-width":334,"2048x2048-height":118,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","post_full_size-width":334,"post_full_size-height":118,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":118}},"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 Case of the Missing Nun","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Dead Sea Scrolls? Septuagint? Nun in the above...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91490,"alt":"","title":"ps145-dead sea scroll","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","width":334,"height":118,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll-150x118.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":118,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll-300x106.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":106,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","medium_large-width":334,"medium_large-height":118,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","large-width":334,"large-height":118,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","1536x1536-width":334,"1536x1536-height":118,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","2048x2048-width":334,"2048x2048-height":118,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","post_full_size-width":334,"post_full_size-height":118,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-dead-sea-scroll.png","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":118}},"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"91478","color":"#f6edf6","size":"2","name":"Speaking Of Happiness ","post_title":"Speaking Of Happiness","slug":"speaking-of-happiness","old_id":"91478","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. 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Psalm145 is the only instance of a psalm beginning with the word \u201c<\/span>Tehillah<\/span><\/em> \u2013 a song of praise.\u201d This psalm forms the basis of the <\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em> prayer, a standard in the daily prayer cycle. Before the words of this Psalm though, the <\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em> prayer opens with Psalms 84:5 that begins with the word <\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em> - hence the naming of the prayer. <\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em> also happens to be the very first word of the Book of Psalms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The thrice-daily prayer begins by speaking of happiness. \u201c<\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em> \u2013 Happy - are those who dwell in Your house\u201d introduces the full text of Psalm 145 in which King David speaks of both praising and blessing God. Those key words \u201cpraise\u201d and \u201cbless\u201d are repeated throughout this psalm and used side-by-side in the final verse. Rabbi Avi Baumol draws a distinction between those two words. Praising, says Rabbi Baumol, implies setting someone in a class by themselves, on a different level from the \"praiser,\" while blessing someone necessitates as relationship with them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This psalm tells us that each generation will praise and recite God\u2019s deeds to the next. These are the generational remembrances of the epic acts of God, the supernatural events that have highlighted Jewish history. Each generation passes on the memories that have passed down, and adds the knowledge they personally have gained from their own lived experience. While we sometimes mourn our every-increasing temporal distance from the open miracles of biblical times, we are reassured in this psalm that our closeness to God comes, at least in part, from the iterative process of remembering the past and accumulating new memories from every generation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Kind David understands that praising God is not enough. With every generation covering the big events, David commits to adding the memories of the normative, ever-present, non-generationally specific greatness of God. While \u201cthey will recite your mighty deeds\u201d, says David, \u201cI will speak of the glory of Your splendor (v.4-5).\u201d \u201cThey will tell of the strength of Your awesome deeds\u201d and \u201cI will sing of your greatness (v.6).\u201d \u201cThey will speak of your goodness\u201d and \u201cI will sing of Your righteousness (v.7).\u201d David reminds us that God\u2019s greatness comes not just from epic experiences, but from the everyday, constant experience of the presence of God in our lives.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

King David sought to bridge the gap between praising God\u2019s acts and blessing the nature of God, in order to help us reach <\/span>Ashrei<\/span><\/em> \u2013 happiness. And those who codified our daily prayers ensured a constant reminder of that totality of experience.<\/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":"Speaking Of Happiness","tile_main_caption":"Each generation passes on the memories that have passed down, and adds the knowledge they personally have gained from their own lived experience","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"91516","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Help The Fallen ","post_title":"Help The Fallen","slug":"help-the-fallen","old_id":"91516","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":83630,"post_title":"Yoni Dolgin","slug":"yoni-dolgin","old_id":"83630","first_name":"Yoni ","last_name":"Dolgin ","description":"Yoni Dolgin runs a tech scouting and investment advisory in Tel Aviv. 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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":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Therefore: gotta love Him...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 145 is the bulk of the <\/span>Ashrei<\/em> <\/span>prayer. Starting with the last verse of Psalm 144, the prayer uses the classic <\/span>aleph-bet<\/em> <\/span>structure. <\/span>Psalm 145 is very upbeat. It discusses how God is there for those who seek him out. God straightens the bent over, helps the poor, supports the weak, and feeds all of his creations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, there is one small line in the penultimate verse that King David slips in that is negative. \"The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.\" Why, after all this positive energy does King David include this line? A careful reading of the verse reveals that this is not a negative idea. The verse does not read \"and all the righteous he protects and the sinners he will destroy.\"\u00a0 The message is not about who behaves well and who is a sinner. The message is one of love for God. Anyone can love God, the good and the bad. It is this love of God that protects them no matter their personal foibles. It is only the wicked that he will destroy: those who reject God outright and do not turn to him with love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91499,"alt":"","title":"ps145-thank love god 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A Letter Goes Missing ","post_title":"When A Letter Goes Missing","slug":"when-a-letter-goes-missing","old_id":"91501","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 curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 145, known as \u201cAshrei<\/em>\u201d due to its first word, is very well known. It is recited three times daily in our prayers. It was composed as an alphabetic acrostic, with each line beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. However, one letter is missing \u2013 the 14<\/span>th<\/span> letter of the alphabet, <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>. While there are other acrostic psalms with letters missing, due to the familiarity of Ashrei<\/em>, the rabbis gave an explanation for this omission:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cRabbi Yo\u1e25anan said: Why is there no verse beginning with the letter <\/span>nun<\/em> <\/span>in ashrei<\/em>? Because it contains an allusion to the downfall of the enemies of Israel [a euphemism for Israel itself]. As it is written: \u2018The virgin of Israel has fallen \u201c<\/span>naflah<\/span><\/em>\u201dand she will rise no more; abandoned in her land, none will raise her up\u2019 (Amos 5:2). [Due to this verse, which begins with <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>ashrei<\/em> <\/span>does not include a verse beginning with the letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>.]\u201d (Berachot 4b)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's hard to know whether this was the original reason for leaving out that verse, or if this was a homiletical message by Rabbi Yochanan. But one thing is certain \u2013 the letter <\/span>nun <\/span><\/i>is omitted, or more properly drops out, from many Hebrew words.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For example, in the Talmudic passage above, the root for fall is <\/span>n-f-l<\/span><\/em>. But the noun, \u201cdownfall,\u201d is <\/span>mapala<\/span><\/em>, and not <\/span>*<\/span><\/i>manpala<\/span><\/em>, as we might have expected. The reason the <\/span>nun<\/em> <\/span>dropped out is that the \u201cn\u201d sound would be difficult to pronounce. In English, we see the same phenomenon. Instead of saying \u201cinlegal\u201d (\u201cnot legal\u201d), we drop the \u201cn\u201d and say illegal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The dropping of <\/span>nun<\/em> <\/span>can help us understand the history of some Hebrew words, and even some English ones.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For example, the Hebrew word for India is <\/span>Hodu<\/span><\/em>, as it appears in the first verse of the scroll of Esther. That word derives from the Persian <\/span>Hindu<\/span><\/em>, but the <\/span>nun<\/em> <\/span>dropped out when it entered Hebrew.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew word for son is <\/span>ben<\/span><\/em>. So we could have assumed that a feminine suffix would be added to the word when referring to a daughter. And that\u2019s how Arabic has it \u2013 <\/span>bint<\/span><\/em>. But in Hebrew, the nun dropped out, and we were left with <\/span>bat<\/span><\/em>. Traces of the original form are preserved in the plural, <\/span>banot<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lastly, let\u2019s look at the Hebrew word <\/span>mapa<\/span><\/em>. Originally meaning \u201cbanner,\u201d it derived from the root <\/span>nof\u00a0<\/span><\/em>(\u201cto wave\u201d), but instead of <\/span>*manpa<\/span><\/em>, the <\/span>nun <\/span><\/i>dropped and we were left with <\/span>mapa<\/span><\/em>. Those banners were made of cloth, and so <\/span>mapa<\/span><\/em>\u00a0came to mean \u201ctablecloth\u201d as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Mapa<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>was borrowed into Latin, via Punic (a sister language to Hebrew). It also meant \u201ccloth.\u201d In French, that word became <\/span>nappa<\/span><\/em>, which eventually became the English word \u201cnapkin.\u201d A small tablecloth in French was a <\/span>napron.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0When that word entered English, the \u201cn\u201d sound got shifted again \u2013 and instead of \u201ca napron,\u201d the word became \u201can apron.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So know one thing about the letter <\/span>nun<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 even if we don\u2019t see it, its shadow may remain.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91502,"alt":"","title":"ps145-searching missing nun","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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":"When A Letter Goes Missing","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A little after-nun delete","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91502,"alt":"","title":"ps145-searching missing nun","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-searching-missing-nun-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"91438","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Proximity ","post_title":"Proximity","slug":"proximity","old_id":"91438","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":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"How far away You are, O Lord, how far \/ Away I've strayed from You, how far away\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.\" (Psalm 145:18)<\/p>\r\n

How far away You are, O Lord, how far
\r\nAway I've strayed from You, how far away
\r\nFrom paths I knew, for when I disobey
\r\nYour word, I find how far away You are.
\r\nHow far away I've wandered from Your star
\r\nWhose light is gone, extinguished on the day
\r\nI turned my back on You; no words convey
\r\nHow lost I feel, remote and insular.<\/p>\r\n

Beyond, beyond, beyond all time and space
\r\nYou live; how can a laggard leap to where
\r\nYou dwell? But I have heard that contrite prayer
\r\nConstructs a sturdy bridge, a meeting-place
\r\nWhere God and man may meet, for You declare
\r\nHow near You are, my Lord, my God, how near.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91473,"alt":"","title":"ps145-distant telescoope","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope.jpg","width":1920,"height":1271,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-768x508.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":508,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-1024x678.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1017,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1271,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-1200x794.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":794,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-634x420.jpg","home_baner-width":634,"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":"Proximity","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"How far away You are, O Lord, how far \/ Away I've strayed from You, how far away","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91473,"alt":"","title":"ps145-distant telescoope","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope.jpg","width":1920,"height":1271,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-768x508.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":508,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-1024x678.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1017,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1271,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-1200x794.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":794,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ps145-distant-telescoope-634x420.jpg","home_baner-width":634,"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"91432","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Psalmsongs 145 ","post_title":"Psalmsongs 145","slug":"psalmsongs-145","old_id":"91432","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":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

I\u2019ll extol You endlessly
\r\nmy God my Lord my King
\r\nand bless Your name
\r\neach day each year
\r\nwhile there is breath
\r\nin me
\r\nYour sovereignty
\r\nextends to worlds
\r\nand generations
\r\nwe can\u2019t know
\r\nbut I have seen
\r\nYour miracles
\r\nand I will speak
\r\nand teach of You
\r\nineffable in majesty
\r\nunreachable yet close enough
\r\nto intimately love
\r\nI have seen
\r\nYour kindness boundless
\r\ntolerance of man
\r\nwe stoop and lean
\r\nwe fall and cry
\r\nwe look to You for food
\r\nand You
\r\nwith open palms
\r\nprovide
\r\na niche for every soul
\r\nin time when air
\r\nis breathed in peace
\r\nwhen evil is expunged
\r\nall life will sing
\r\nand echo words of praise
\r\nnow on my lips<\/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 145","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"I have seen Your kindness boundless tolerance of man we stoop and lean we fall and cry","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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"91436","color":"#e8ecf6","size":"1","name":"From Your Lips: Psalm 145 ","post_title":"From Your Lips: Psalm 145","slug":"from-your-lips-psalm-145","old_id":"91436","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":79754,"post_title":"Reuben Ebrahimoff","slug":"reuben-ebrahimoff","old_id":"79754","first_name":"Reuben ","last_name":"Ebrahimoff ","description":"Reuben Ebrahimoff is the author of a \"user's guide\" to the Book of Psalms, entitled \"From Your Lips to God\u2019s Ears, The 10 Things You Need To Know About the Book of Tehillim \u2013 Psalms.\" Affectionately known as \u201cThe Haftorahman,\u201d was the first Mashadi Jew from Persia to attend Yeshiva in the U.S.A. Over 2000 people read his weekly Haftorahman Handouts. He is President of Brilliant I.D.E.A.S. a jewelry manufacturing company, located in NYC. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Reuben Ebrahimoff is the author of a \"user's guide\" to the Book of Psalms, entitled \"From Your Lips to God\u2019s Ears, The 10 Things You Need To Know About the Book of Tehillim \u2013 Psalms.\" ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":79755,"alt":"","title":"reuben ebrahimoff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","width":252,"height":242,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","medium-width":252,"medium-height":242,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","medium_large-width":252,"medium_large-height":242,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","large-width":252,"large-height":242,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","1536x1536-width":252,"1536x1536-height":242,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","2048x2048-width":252,"2048x2048-height":242,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","post_full_size-width":252,"post_full_size-height":242,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/reuben-ebrahimoff.jpg","home_baner-width":252,"home_baner-height":242}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Psalms: A Users Guide","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 145:<\/p>\r\n

Author:<\/em>
\r\nKing David--the second king of Israel and father of the Davidic royal and messianic dynasty. David composed over seventy of the 150 psalms of Sefer Tehillim.<\/p>\r\n

Genre:<\/em>
\r\nPsalm of Praise--This is a psalm of celebration, often the result of a victory. It declares God\u2019s goodness and urges all of creation to worship.
\r\nAcrostic--A literary composition in which the writer has used the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in their order as the initial letters for a sequence of verses. i.e \u05d0.\u05d1.\u05d2.\u05d3<\/p>\r\n

Chapter Summary:<\/em>
\r\nIn this psalm, which comprises most of the famous prayer Ashrei, King David proclaims and highlights God\u2019s kindnesses and compassion, as well as His constant overseeing of, and involvement in, nature. Written in acrostic form (with the exception of the verse beginning with the letter nun), it contains only pure, unadulterated praise of the Almighty, thus serving as a fitting opening to the final unit of Songs of Praise of David\u2019s magnum opus.<\/p>\r\n

This psalm consists of twenty-one verses, subdivided into four parts. It is the first of the final collection of Songs of Praise.
\r\nIn verses 1-7, King David proclaims God\u2019s greatness, boldly declaring that his praise joins with the praises of God that have been and will be spoken in every generation.
\r\nIn verses 8-14, he describes the glory of the kingdom of God.
\r\nIn verses 15-20, the Psalmist proclaims that God is close to all those who cry out to Him, providing for all of their needs.
\r\nIn verse 21, he comes full circle and declares that he, and indeed all flesh, will continue to praise and bless the Almighty.<\/p>\r\n

Introductory Word:<\/em>
\r\n\u05ea\u05e4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4--Tefilah--Prayer<\/p>\r\n

Shimush Tehillim--When to Say:<\/em>
\r\nTo overcome fear--Verse 19 states: \u201cThe will of those who fear Him He fulfills; He hears their cry and delivers them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Talmud on Tehillim:<\/em>
\r\nVerse 1: \u201cA praise by David\u201d.
\r\nThe Talmud, Berachot 4b, states that one who says this verse three times daily is guaranteed to merit a place in the World to Come.
\r\nVerse 15: \u201cThe eyes of all look to You expectantly, and You give them their food in its proper time.\u201d
\r\nThe Talmud, Ketubot 67b, noting that the verse states \u201cin its (his) time\u201d and not \u201cin their time\u201d, deduces that God provides for every individual based upon his specific needs.
\r\nVerse 17: \u201cAdonoy is just in all His ways and benevolent in all His deeds.\u201d
\r\nThe Talmud, Rosh HaShanah 17b, infers that the term \u201cTzaddik\u201d (\u201crighteous\u201d) ascribes to God the attribute of passing true judgement; the term \u201cChasid\u201d (\u201cfaithful\u201d), the attribute of God\u2019s mercy. The Talmud further explains that God as Chasid prevails over God as Tzaddik, for man cannot measure up to the demands of strict judgment. Indeed, the Almighty judges and interacts with his creatures with kindness and compassion.<\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from <\/span>From Your Lips To God\u2019s Ears<\/span><\/em>, by Reuben Ebrahimoff.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79908,"alt":"","title":"psalms - rebrahimoff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"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":"Psalms: A Users Guide","tile_main_caption":"From Your Lips: Psalm 145","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A concise survey of the psalm's structure and content","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79908,"alt":"","title":"psalms - rebrahimoff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalms-rebrahimoff-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"91434","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"The Mystery Of The Missing \u201cNun\u201d ","post_title":"The Mystery Of The Missing \u201cNun\u201d","slug":"the-mystery-of-the-missing-nun","old_id":"91434","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"712","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And then there wasn\u2019t nun...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

145:1 \u201cA David song of praise. Let me exalt You, my God the king, and let me bless Your name forevermore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew <\/span>\u2018aromimkha<\/span><\/em> shows an initial <\/span>aleph<\/span><\/em>, marking the beginning of an alphabetic acrostic. <\/span>Nun<\/span><\/em>, the fourteenth letter of the alphabet, is missing, so the psalm has twenty-one verses instead of twenty-two. But most of the ancient translations as well as a text of this psalm found at Qumran and also one medieval Hebrew manuscript have a verse for <\/span>nun<\/span><\/i>. \u201cTrustworthy [<\/span>ne\u2019eman<\/span><\/em>] is God in all His ways, and faithful in all His deeds.\u201d The evidence strongly suggests that this line was in the original psalm and somehow was dropped in the tradition of scribal transmission that became the Masoretic Text. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The mode of verbs here should be noted. Previous English translations usually render them as simple figure verbs. But the suffix <\/span>ah<\/span><\/em> of several verbs in the second versets (verses 1,2, and 5) indicates a jussive or optative mode (\u201clet me,\u201d \u201cmay I\u201d), and this translation registers that nuance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 3: Writings, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"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":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"The Mystery Of The Missing \u201cNun\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And then there wasn\u2019t nun...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","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,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":15,"id":"91440","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - 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    \r\n\t
  1. Drawing to a close<\/em>. In the final six psalms of the Book of Psalms, beginning today - you won\u2019t find any petitions or complaints, just praise and thanks. A nice note to end on.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Sing praise in the morning<\/em>. In the heart of the morning prayers (<\/span>shacharit<\/span><\/em>), in the section called <\/span>Pesukei D\u2019zimra<\/span><\/em>, you\u2019ll find in order psalms 145-150. From today\u2019s psalm til the end of the book.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The talking psalm<\/em>. Follow along with all the speaking verbs in the psalm: \u201cI will extol\u2026 bless\u2026 praise\u2026 laud\u2026 declare...recite...talk\u2026 recount\u2026 celebrate\u2026 sing...thank...bless\u2026 talk... speak\u2026 make known\u2026 speak\u2026 bless\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. ABCDEFG - who\u2019s missing?<\/em> The psalm is structured as an alphabetical acrostic, from aleph<\/em> to tav<\/em>. If you follow closely, you\u2019ll notice one letter is missing - <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>. It\u2019s interesting to note that in the Dead Sea Scrolls, that verse is present: <\/span>Ne\u2019eman elohim<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>God is faithful in His words, and full of lovingkindness in His deeds.\u201d So was that verse omitted - or added? Researchers also argue over this.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. In truth<\/em>. Verse 18 asks for sincerity and also mutuality: \u201cThe LORD is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  6. All in<\/em>. 17 times the word kol<\/em> (all, everything) is used in this psalm. One central message is that \u201cYour kingship is an eternal kingship (<\/span>kol olamim<\/em>); Your dominion is for all generations,\u201d recognized by all.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"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":"Psalm 145","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","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,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":16,"id":"91198","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Psalms 145 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Psalms 145","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-psalms-145","old_id":"91198","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. 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    \u201cA Brief History of Prayer\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a> by Jay Schlesinger: Looking at the history of prayer to better understand its significance today.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u201cThe Litmus Test of God\u2019s Plan: The Unique Role of Gentiles in the Bible\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/a> by Avi Baumol: Looking at the significant role other nations played in the Torah.<\/span><\/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":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - Psalms 145","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","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":"145","chapter_main_number":"712","date":"20280522","wall_id":"712"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/91186"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}