Rabbi Roodyn

1st Elul 5775

Today we started saying Tehillim Chapter 27 לדוד ה’ אורי, and whilst the words will become increasingly familiar, we often don’t have time to think about their meaning, so I would like to start with this.

לְדָוִד ה’ אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא ה’ מָעוֹז חַיַּי מִמִּי אֶפְחָד:

Of David, Hashem is my Light and My Salvation, whom shall I fear.

The Malbim explains that this whole chapter is explaining how Hashem’s hashgacha depends on our level of dveikus (attachment) to Him. One who is constantly attached to Hashem will be the beneficiary of Hashem’s constant providence, and as such no harm will befall him. That is why the posuk continues with David saying that he will not have any fear, because, as the Rambam explains in the Moreh Nevuchim the tzaddik is only susceptible to harm once his mind is detached from thinking about Hashem and he turns away from avodas Hashem.

Therefore, (and this is a crucial message in the lead up to Rosh Hashana) amongst all the many requests that we make of Hashem, there is one that really ought to be our main focus, namely that we develop a constant relationship with Hashem. Therefore in this chapter, David Hamelech davens to Hashem and begs him to remove all circumstances and factors that can take him away from this central and most important goal of developing a constant sense of attachment to Hashem.

As we go through the month of Elul, we ought to set our sights on Rosh Hashana, the day when we focus on the big picture, on what life is all about, malchus shamayim  Chazal say that אורי, my light refers to Rosh Hashana, a day of piercing clarity, where the truth is so evident to all who wish to see it.  This light can  howevever be blinding if we are not prepared. Its impossible to expect us to be able to be focussed and switched on when the big day comes, if we haven’t thought about it beforehand.

May we be zoche to prepare ourselves, a little each day, so that we can stand up and be counted in a month’s time, when we crown Hashem as King over ourselves.

Wishing you a כתיבה וחתימה טובה