The Malbim has an extensive commentary on this chapter and I would like to spend some time going through it. No translation can to justice to the Malbim’s commentary, his command of the Hebrew language, and his ability to convey subtleties and nuances are simply lost when rendered into English. I will try my best … More 18th Elul – More than a speck of stardust

ב) ה’ אֲדֹנֵינוּ מָה אַדִּיר שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תְּנָה הוֹדְךָ עַל הַשָּׁמָיִם: Hashem our master! How uniquely mighty shall Your Name be one day over all earth: You, Who constantly proclaims your being and Your might unto the heavens. This posuk outlines the central theme of this chapter and will be further explained in … More 17th Elul – A One Liner for Rosh Hashana

לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל הַגִּתִּית מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד To the conductor on the ‘Gittis’ a song of David. Rashi explains that the Gittis is a type of musical instrument that came from a place called Gat. The Radak introduces this psalm by saying that it full of praises and thanks of Hashem, relating His greatness. The seforno says … More 16th Elul – Crushed grapes produce fine wine

As we enter into the last two weeks of Elul we ought to set our sights even more closely on Rosh Hashana. In just over two weeks we will be standing in front of Hashem and literally everything hangs in the balance. Contrary to the common understanding of Rosh Hashana,  is not reallocating the resources … More 15th Elul – The dual focus of Rosh Hashana

‘יד) קַוֵּה אֶל ה’ חֲזַק וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ וְקַוֵּה אֶל ה Hope to Hashem, strengthen yourself and He will give you courage and hope to Hashem! Our chapter concludes with a message of hope and strength. Rashi explains that the reason why the words ‘Hope to Hashem’ are repeated is to teach us that if at … More 13th and 14th Elul Hope and hope again

Shabbat Parshas Ki Seitsei This weeks parsha discusses, amongst many other topics, the Torah’s approach to warfare and the various diverse mitzvos that apply on the battlefield. One of the more unusual ones is found in the following verses דברים פרק כ”ג (יג) וְיָד תִּהְיֶה לְךָ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה וְיָצָאתָ שָׁמָּה חוּץ: (יד) וְיָתֵד תִּהְיֶה לְךָ … More Parsha Post – Ki Seitzei

12th Elul. When the going gets tough… יב) אַל תִּתְּנֵנִי בְּנֶפֶשׁ צָרָי כִּי קָמוּ בִי עֵדֵי שֶׁקֶר וִיפֵחַ חָמָ Do not deliver me to the wishes of my tormentors, for false witnesses who breathe violence have arisen against me. יג) לוּלֵא הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לִרְאוֹת בְּטוּב ה’ בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים Had I not trusted that I would see … More 12th Elul – When the going gets tough

Verse 11 (contd.) יא) הוֹרֵנִי ה’ דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי Teach me your way Hashem, and lead me in path of integrity because of my watchful foes. The Malbim then offers an additional explanation, saying that when one is on a journey there are two main problems that can prevent a person from … More 11th Elul – Show me the way

Please daven for a Refua Sheleima for Chana Bracha Bas Rus Zev Yaakov Moshe Ben Chaya (יא) הוֹרֵנִי ה’ דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי: Teach me your way Hashem, and lead me in path of integrity because of my watchful foes. After having expressed his sense of total awareness of his reliance on Hashem, … More 10th Elul. Lead me on the path of truth

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