Rabbi Roodyn attended City of London School for boys, is a graduate of Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh and the London School of Economics. He holds a Bsc (hons) in Government. He spent time learning the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem and received a broad Semicha from Rav Yitzchak Berkovits whose Kollel he attended for a number of years. He is currently the Educational Director of both Jewish Futures and Klal-Chazon. He is a member of the Federation Beis Din's ShailaText team. He was recently appointed Rabbi of Finchley Federation Synagogue, London. He is married to Yael and they live in Hendon, London with their eight children.
י) כִּי אָבִי וְאִמִּי עֲזָבוּנִי וַה’ יַאַסְפֵנִי Though my father and mother have forsaken me, Hashem will gather me in. Few leaders in Jewish history have had as difficult an upbringing as David. Rejected by his parents from the point of conception (Rashi) or adolescence (Sforno) there were serious questions regarding his legitimacy. This was … More 9th Elul
ט) אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי אַל תַּט בְּאַף עַבְדֶּךָ עֶזְרָתִי הָיִיתָ אַל תִּטְּשֵׁנִי וְאַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי אֱלֹקֵי יִשְׁעִי Do not hide Your presence from me; do not turn Your servant away with anger. You were my help; do not forsake me and do not abandon me, O G-d of my salvation. For any relationship to flourish, … More 8th Elul
Day 6-7 לְךָ אָמַר לִבִּי בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָי אֶת פָּנֶיךָ ה’ אֲבַקֵּשׁ: For You, my heart says, “Seek My presence.” Your presence, Hashem, I will seek. David Hamelech asks Hashem to listen to his heartfelt prayer and rescue him from his enemies, but before he does so he gives an important caveat. He says, whilst it’s … More 6th – 7th Elul
Elul can be a confusing time of year. Feel free to click on this link for a shiur that adds some focus to these precious days. http://www.torahanytime.com/video/whats-the-point-of-elul/
שְׁמַע ה’ קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי: Hashem, hear my voice when I call, be gracious towards me and answer me. The first six pesukim were essentially words of introduction to his real request. David Hamelech now asks Hashem to remove anything and everything that is an impediment to his avodas Hashem. He realises that this … More 5th Elul
(ה) כִּי יִצְפְּנֵנִי בְּסֻכֹּה בְּיוֹם רָעָה יַסְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵתֶר אָהֳלוֹ בְּצוּר יְרוֹמְמֵנִי: (ו) וְעַתָּה יָרוּם רֹאשִׁי עַל אֹיְבַי סְבִיבוֹתַי וְאֶזְבְּחָה בְאָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵי תְרוּעָה אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמְּרָה לה’: That He will hide me in His tabernacle on the day of calamity; He will conceal me in the secrecy of His tent; He will lift me up on … More 4th Elul
Day 3 Perhaps the most famous line of the chapter, and certainly the most popular song is the next verse. אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת ה’ אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית ה’ כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם ה’ וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ: One thing I asked of Hashem, that I shall seek: To live in the house of Hashem all … More 3rd Elul
Continuing with a look at Tehillim chapter 27 The Malbim, consistent with his approach that there are no synonyms in Tanach and that each word has its own meaning and nuance, discusses the difference between יראה and פחד, which are generally translated into English as ‘fear’ and ‘dread’. He explains that יראה is fear of … More 2nd Elul 5775
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 … More 1st Elul 5775 – time to get going
