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

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