Musar untuk Mazmur 16:5

[And, in truth, just as we find that the Holy One Blessed be He sanctified the tribe of Levi and exhorted Israel not to forsake it, as it is written (Devarim 16:19): "Take heed unto yourself lest you forsake the Levite all of your days upon your land," so, it is, likewise, the will of the Blessed L-rd that we support men who separate themselves from the affairs of the world in order to serve the L-rd. For this is certainly not inferior to supporting the Levite in this regard. As Rambam writes (Hilchoth Shemitah Veyovel, Chapter 13 Halachah 12 and 13): "Why did the Levite not merit inheritance in Eretz Yisrael and in its spoils with his brothers? For he was singled out to serve the L-rd, to minister unto Him and to teach His just ways and righteous judgments to the people, as it is written (Devarim 33:10): 'They shall teach Your judgments to Jacob and Your Torah to Israel.' Therefore, they were separated from the ways of the world. They do not wage war, as do the rest of Israel, they do not inherit, and they do not merit things for themselves with the strength of their bodies, but they are "the army of the L-rd," as it is written (Ibid. 11): 'The L-rd bless his [Levi's] strength.' And the Holy One Blessed be He bequeaths [things] on them, as it is written (Numbers 18:20): 'I am your [Levi's] portion and your inheritance.' And [this applies] not only to the tribe of Levi alone, but to every man of all those who enter the world, whose spirit moves him, and who understands of himself to be separate, to stand before the L-rd, to minister unto Him and to serve Him, to know the L-rd and to walk justly, as G-d made him. And he divests himself of the many "accountings" that men seek, he is sanctified as "holy of holies," and the L-rd becomes his portion and his inheritance for ever and ever. And He bequeaths to him in this world what suffices him, as He did to the Cohanim and the Levites. As David, may peace be upon him said (Psalms 16:5): 'The L-rd is the portion of my inheritance.'" Until here, his (Rambam's) beautiful language.]

When the priests say, "May He bless you," each and every one in the congregation quietly says: Look down from Your holy abode, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the soil You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers (Deuteronomy 26:15). And when they say, "the Lord," the congregation says: The Lord, the Lord, mighty, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in love and truth (Exodus 32:6). And when they say, "and may He guard you," the congregation says: Guard me like the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings (Psalms 17:8). And when they say, "May [the Lord] shine" the congregation says: O Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me (Psalms 30:3). And when they say, "to you," the congregation says: To You, O Lord, do I lift my soul (Psalms 25:1). And when they say, "and give you grace" the congregation says: Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge (Psalms 57:2). And when they say, "May He lift," the congregation says: He shall lift [bear] a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalms 24:5). And when they say, "the Lord," the congregation says: The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup, You maintain my lot (Psalms 16:5). And when they say, "His face," the congregation says: Yet turn Your face to the prayer of Your servant and Your people, Israel (see I Kings 8:28). And when they say, "to you," the congregation says: To You did I lift my eyes (Psalms 123:1). And when they say, "and give," the congregation says: give [put] my tears into Your flask, into Your record (Psalms 56:9). And when they say, "to you," the congregation says: To You, Lord is greatness, might, splendor, triumph, and majesty; yes, all that is in heaven and on earth (I Chronicles 29:11). And when they say, "peace," the congregation says: Great peace to the lovers of Your Torah and may there be no stumbling block in their way (Psalms 119:165).