CHESHVAN

BSD

i.bmp

LEILUI NISHMAT RUCHAMA YOCHEVED BAT AHARON         d4.bmp

Probably the most well known Perakim (chapters) of Tehillim is Perek 145. It begins with the words Tehilla LeDavid – A Song of Praise by Dovid, but because of two prefixed Pesukim- verses (one from Perek 82 and one from Perek 144), it has been nicknamed Ashrei. We say Ashrei daily three times in the Siddur davening- twice in Shacharis (once in Pesukei D’Zimra and once after Shmone Esray), and once in Mincha. Chazal teach that Ashrei is so fundamental to Jewish thought that a person who can say it three times daily with the proper understanding and intent is promised a soul that will evolve to enjoy Olam Haba.

The beginning letters of each verse of Ashrei are in alphabetical order, and according to the Gemara and Midrash Tehillim this signifies it as a particularly beloved Perek of Tehillim. It also indicates that Dovid Hamelech wanted us to learn the Perek by heart, and he made it easier by arranging the Pesukim alphabetically.

There is one letter however that is not included as a beginning letter of a Passuk- and it is the letter Nun. The Gemara (Brachos 4) asks:


    For what reason is the Nun omitted (as a beginning letter to a verse) in Ashrei? Because that letter contains in it a hint to the decline of the ‘enemies’ of Israel, as it says (Amos 5:2) “She has fallen, the virgin of Israel, and will not rise נָפְלָה לֹא-תוֹסִיף קוּם, בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. Nevertheless, even here, with his Ruach Hakodesh, his Divine spirit, Dovid went back and attached the letter Nun to the letter Samech as it says, “Hashem will raised all those who have fallen…


According to the Gemara, Dovid Hamelech chose to omit the letter Nun as a beginning letter to a verse in his famous song of praise to Hashem because of the negative connotation of that letter. This letter Nun is the first letter in another Passuk, a sad Passuk depicting the future failure of the Jewish Nation to succeed.

The obvious question begs clarification. There are many Pesukim in Tanach that foretell calamity and destruction, exile and dispersion. Why did Dovid Hamelech choose this Passuk, this word, this letter to omit from his song?
Read more

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend