Psalms 27:1 Jewish Thought: Akeidat Yitzchak, Kol HaTor & Duties

Joseph's brothers say to their father: "recognise whether this is the coat of your son or not." (Genesis 37,32) We are told to remember what Amalek did to us. (Deut. 25,17) We are told not to fear nations surrounding us. (Deut 7,18-21) Since we are human beings, not just animals, it is expected that we can refine certain characteristics, are not limited to instinctive reactions. If one can learn to compensate for the weakness of certain of one's senses, then surely one can find means to reinforce certain character traits. A blind man develops a more acute sense of hearing. A shortsighted person can improve his vision by the use of spectacles. A person suffering from certain character weaknesses must also find means to compensate for this. Using one's power of imagination, one can imagine situations that make one's phobias seem unjustified and ridiculous. The process of thought association with specific objects is known to be an excellent memory jogger. These aids must be applied when we are asked to observe certain commandments involving remembrances. Seeing the tzitzit reminds us of other mitzvot such as kilayim, forbidden mixtures. This has been discussed at greater length in chapter sixty five. Awareness of the importance of memory joggers may have led some prophets to find common denominators for certain mitzvot, and thus make it easy for us to have these short summaries constantly at our command. Isaiah manages to condense Torah into two slogans, "observe justice and perform righteousness." (chapter 56) Chabakuk manages to sum it up in a single slogan, "the righteous will live by his faith" (2,4). No doubt the purpose of these apparent over simplifications is simply to provide a constant reminder, which when triggered will remind us of all the other mitzvot which are incumbent upon us to perform. When the Talmud (Ketuvot 30) tells us that all is in the hands of Heaven except the contracting of colds and heatstrokes, we know very well that both those phenomena are natural phenomena and as such not subject to our control. In fact, no remedy has yet been found for the common cold. Nevertheless, the sages are telling us that if one falls victim to those two ailments, this is due to negligence on the part of man, to wilful over-exposure etc, and cannot be blamed on outside forces. Just as one can control colds and heatstrokes, so, by employing memory properly, one can reinforce one's senses of trust and confidence in the help of G'd, no matter what the circumstances. This is what David said (Psalms 27,1) "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?, The Lord is the source of my strength, of whom shall I be afraid?" He means that if his attitude is based on remembering G'ds many past acts of kindness and assistance, why would he be afraid of anyone in the future? In the same vein, Moses tells the people: "you are today about to cross the Jordan in order to dispossess people greater and more powerful than you etc." (9,1). This calls for faith and confidence based on the recollection of all the past triumphs achieved through Divine intervention. The foremost memory jogger is the keriyat shema, which for that reason has been included in our daily prayers three times. We will examine the passage in detail to gain a better understanding of its significance. The following questions suggest themselves:

The prayer “Yosef is still alive” (which begins: “Have mercy, our Father in Heaven, on the remnant of Yosef, ” etc.), the prayer of Amidah “On the throne of David your servant, ” in the blessing “Build Jerusalem, ” the prayer, “The descendant of David, we hoped for your help all day, who causes the horn of help to sprout.”“A prayer of the afflicted, when he faints” (Ps. 102:1), and there also, “Have mercy on Zion, for it is the time to favor her, etc., for your servants have cherished her stones etc., so nations will fear the name of the lord, ” etc. “I love [Him] for the Lord hears” (Ps. 116:1). There, too, “I was brought low, and He saved me.”“From the straits” (Ps. 118), and also there, “I will not die, for I will live” etc. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Ps 24), and also there, “Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord” [Ps. 24:3] etc. “Wait at my right hand” (Ps. 110), “The Lord will answer you in the day of trouble” (Ps. 20:1). “For the waters have penetrated unto the soul” (Ps. 69:2), and also there, “Save me, O God, for the waters have penetrated unto the soul.” Also there, “”For God will give salvation to Zion and build the cities of Judah; they shall dwell there and shall take possession of it once more.”“The wilderness and the parched land shall be glad, ” etc. (Isa. 35: 1). Also there, “Then the ransomed of the Lord will return, and come to Zion with glad song” (Isa 35:10) etc. “I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy” (Zach. 8:2); and also there, “For as the seed of peace,” (Zach. 8:12) etc. “Even mount Zion, the uttermost parts of the north” (Ps. 48:3). “Lord, in Thy strength” (Ps. 21:2), and also there, “He asked life of you; you gave it to him. You gave him length of days” (Ps. 21:5). Also according to the Holy Ari regarding the Mashiach ben Yosef in the prayer: “The throne of David” and according to the Gaon in ! Tikunei Zohar Chadash. “When God returns, etc., we will be like dreamers” (Ps. 126:1). “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger” (Ps. 6:2). “Stir up jubilation to God of our strength” (Ps. 81:2) “He placed it as testimony in Yosef” (Ps. 87:6), “In distress you called out, and I rescued you” (Ps. 81:8). “His tabernacle in Shalem” (Ps. 76:3), also there: “He broke the flames of the bow” (Ps. 87:4), etc. “In you, O Lord, have I put my trust” (Ps. 31:2). “Because of all my oppressors, I have become a disgrace” (Ps: 31: 12). “I will exalt You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up from the depths” (Ps. 30:2). “Those redeemed by the Lord will say it” (Ps. 107:2). “That He might send them His word and heal them” (Ps. 107:20). “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Ps. 27:1). “Though a camp should encamp round about me (Ps. 27:3) etc., to look upon the goodness of the Lord” (Ps. 27:13), etc.

With all of this, you will not be able to refrain from turning to Him in your heart and in your inner being, with a pure heart and a perfect faith, and you will cling to love of Him, and trust on His compassion, His great grace and His mercy. You will not associate love of Him with love of anyone else. And He will not observe you and see in you fear of something else besides Him. You will never find Him absent in your thoughts, and He will never depart from being opposite your eyes. Your companionship will be in solitude, and He will dwell with you in the deserts. A place full of people will seem in your eyes as if it is not full (that their matters will not frighten you - shinui nusach), and a place empty of them will seem as if it's not empty. You will not feel lonely when they are gone nor worry in their absence You will always be rejoicing with your G-d, delighting to be with your Creator, seeking His favor, and longing for His visitation, as written: "The righteous will rejoice with G-d and take refuge in Him" (Tehilim 64:11), and the prophet said: "Yet, I will rejoice in the L-ord; I will jubilate in the G-d of my salvation" (Chavakuk 3:18), and David said: "G-d is my light and salvation, from who shall I fear" (Tehilim 27:1), and the rest of the Psalm.