As we said in ืืื ืืืฆืจื,โ ืคืจืงืื ืงืื and ืงืื are one unit; there is no ืืืืืื separating them and in the Allepo Codex, they are in one paragraph. Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, in his essay on ืคืจืง ืงืื (personal communication; he says it will be on yutorah.org โsoonโ) points out that there is an internal structure: most of the psukim are in two-fold parallelism, but some have three phrases, and those three-phrase psukim serve to divide the unit into semi-indepent sections.
I will take that idea, and assume that the โextraโ phrase serves like the ืืืืืื's that separate the other ืคืจืงืื. It is the conclusion of the previous paragraph, and the introduction to the next one. In other words, the structure of ืคืจืงืื ืงืื and ืงืื is:
ืงืื:ืโฆืืืืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืฆืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืฆืจืื;ืืืช ืืขืงื ืืขื ืืขืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืชื ืืืืื ืืงืืฉื;ืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืืืชืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืื ืจืื ืืื ืก;ืืืจืื ืืกื ืืืืืจื
ืงืื:ื ืืืจืื ืจืงืื ืืืืืื;ืืืขืืช ืืื ื ืฆืืื
ืงืื:ื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืชื ืืก;ืืืจืื ืชืกื ืืืืืจื
ืงืื:ื ืืืจืื ืชืจืงืื ืืืืืื;ืืืขืืช ืืื ื ืฆืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืคื ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืจืฅ;ืืืคื ื ืืืึพื ืืขืงืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืคืื ืืฆืืจ ืืื ืืื;ืืืืืฉ ืืืขืื ื ืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื;
ืื ืืฉืื ืชื ืืืืืขื ืืกืื ืขื ืืืชืื
ืงืื:ื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืื;ืืื ื ื ืืืงืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืืงืื ื ืืฉืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืคืฅ ืขืฉืื
ืงืื:ื ืขืฆืืืื ืืกืฃ ืืืื;ืืขืฉื ืืื ืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืคื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจื;ืขืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืจืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืขื;ืืฃ ืืื ืืื ืืจืืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืฉืืืจืืืืื ืืื ืืืืื;
ืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืฉืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืืณ;ืขืืจื ืืืื ื ืืืื
ืงืื:ื ืืืช ืืืจื ืืืื ืืืณ;ืขืืจื ืืืื ื ืืืื
ืงืื:ืื ืืจืื ืืณ ืืืื ืืืณ;ืขืืจื ืืืื ื ืืืื
ืงืื:ืื ืืณ ืืืจื ื ืืืจื;
ืืืจื ืืช ืืืช ืืฉืจืื;ืืืจื ืืช ืืืช ืืืจืื
ืงืื:ืื ืืืจื ืืจืื ืืณืืงืื ืื ืขื ืืืืืืื
ืงืื:ืื ืืกืฃ ืืณ ืขืืืื;ืขืืืื ืืขื ืื ืืืื
ืงืื:ืื ืืจืืืื ืืชื ืืืณืขืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืจืฅื
ืงืื:ืื ืืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืืณ;ืืืืจืฅ ื ืชื ืืื ื ืืืื
ืงืื:ืื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืืื ืึพื;ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืืืืื
ืงืื:ืื ืืื ืื ื ื ืืจื ืึพืืืขืชื ืืขื ืขืืื;
ืืืืืืื
Weโve talked about the difference between ืืื and ืืืืื:โ ืืื is focused on ืืณ, and ืืืืื is focused on the human being. Our โืืืโ divides into two parts; the first is delineated with ืืืืืื and is all about ืืงืืดื: it starts with ืืืื ืขืืื ืืณ; ืืืื ืืช ืฉื ืืณ and ends with ืืืื ืืช ืืณ ืื ืืืื; ืฉืืืืื ืื ืืืืื. Even in these middle paragraphs, we donโt see any mention of exactly how ืืณ saved us, just glorifying Him for saving us. Those details are in the second part, ืืืื ืืืณ ืื ืืื.
ืืืืืื
While the paragraph starts with ืืฆืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืฆืจืื, it isnโt about ืืฆืืืช ืืฆืจืื at all. Itโs about the revelation of ืืณ's power at ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื. It is the illustration of what we said in the previous paragraph, ืขื ืืฉืืื ืืืืื.โ ืืฆืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืฆืจืื means after Israel left Egypt, when they were in a land of an ืขื ืืขื, a โpeople of alien tongueโ as Artscroll puts it. The Jews were a special people with a special mission.
ืืดืจ ืืืขืืจ ืืงืคืจ: ืืืืืช ืืจืืขื ืืืจืื ืืฆืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืฆืจืื. ืฉืื ืฉืื ื ืืช ืฉืื ืืื ืฉืื ื ืืช ืืฉืื ื ืืื ืืื ืคืจืืฆืื ืืขืจืืืช ืืื ืืืื ืืกืชืืจืื.
ืืื ื ืืฉ ืืงืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืฉืืืื ืืืดื ืืืงืดืจ ืืดื ืืืืืช ืืฆืจืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ื ืืช ืฉืืืชื ืืื ืืงืืื ืืชื ืชืืจื, ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืงืืื ืืืฆืืช ืืื ื ื ื ืืืคืจื ืฉืืืง ืืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืขืืื ืืดื ืขืดื ืืจืืื ืื ืืื ืืช ืื ืืื ืขื ืกืืื ืืืืืืืโฆืฉืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืื ื ืฉืืืืื ืืจืฆื ืฉืืืื ื ืืืจืื ืฉืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืืงืคืื ืฉืื ืืฉื ื ืืช ืฉืื ืืื ืืฉื ื ืืช ืืฉืื ื ืืืืขื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืืืื ืืฉืื ืฉืืฉืืื ืืืื ืช ืืืืืื ืืงืคืืื ืขื ืื, ืืื ืืืจ ืืชื ืชืืจื ืืื ืื ื ืืืืโฆืืื ืื ืฉื ืฆืืืื ื ืืชืจืืดื ืืฆืืชโฆืืืฃ ืฉืืกืชืืจ ืื ืืกืชืคืื ื ืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืจืืืืช ืืืืืืช.
The emphasis is on how ืื ื ืืฉืจืื were ืืฆืืืื ืื ืฉื; they kept their distinction if nothing else, as descendants of ืืืช ืืขืงื, in order to become ืงืืฉื and ืืืฉืืืชืื of ืืงืืดื. Note that this distinction between ืืฉืจืื and ืืืืื means that this line was written after they entered ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื and the nation split into two demographic parts, from at least the time of Shaul; the political split wouldnโt come until much later, but weโve talked about how they acted as separate nations. In ืื ื ืขืงืืื terms, ืืืืื had ืชืืจืช ืืฉืจืื while ืืฉืจืื had ืขื ืืฉืจืื and ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื. And in terms of our perek, ืืืืื was ืงืืฉื while ืืฉืจืื was ืืืฉืืืชืื. Thatโs not a bad thing; as long as they were united, they could complement each other and be the ืืจืืื that carries the presence of ืืณ in the world, to be witnesses to the power of ืืณ that will be described.
ื ืืขืชื ืื ืฉืืืข ืชืฉืืขื ืืงืื ืืฉืืจืชื ืืช ืืจืืชื ืืืืืชื ืื ืกืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืจืฅื ื ืืืชื ืชืืื ืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืื ืืืื ืงืืืฉ; ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืฉืจ ืชืืืจ ืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืืื
That role is bookended by two events that demonstrate ืืณ's control of nature: splitting ืื ืกืืฃ and splitting the ืืจืื. And at ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื itself, the earth itself shook, ืจืงืื ืืืืืื. Nothing about giving the Torah here; itโs all ืืื of ืืืืจืช ืืณ.
We see the experience of ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื, in the shaking of the earth itself, as a common theme in ืชื ืดื:
ืืืจ ืกืื ื ืขืฉื ืืื ืืคื ื ืืฉืจ ืืจื ืขืืื ืืณ ืืืฉ; ืืืขื ืขืฉื ื ืืขืฉื ืืืืฉื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื
ื ืืณ ืืฆืืชื
ืืฉืขืืจ ืืฆืขืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืจืฅ
ืจืขืฉื ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืคื; ืื ืขืืื ื ืืคื
ืืืื ื ืืจืื ื ืืื ืืคื ื ืืณ; ืื
ืกืื ื ืืคื ื ืืณ ืืืงื ืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืืึพื ืืชืืื ืืืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืืจ ืคืืจื ืกืื; ืืกื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืชืืืชื ืืืื ืืืจืฅืโฆื ืขืื ืืืืื ืืจืฅ ืจืื ืืืชืจ ืืืื ืืืชืคืฆืฆื ืืจืจื ืขื ืฉืื ืืืขืืช ืขืืื; ืืืืืืช ืขืืื ืืืโฆื ืจืืื ืืืืื ืืจืื ืืจื ืืื ืขืืจ; ื ืชื ืชืืื ืงืืื ืจืื ืืืืื ื ืฉืื
ืืืคื ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืจืฅ is ambiguous; itโs usually translated as an apostrophe to the earth: โBefore the Lord, tremble O earthโ, or the earthโs answer to the question of ืื ืืโฆืชืจืงืื ืืืืืื: โbefore the Lordโs Presence did I, the earth, trembleโ (Artscrollโs translation). But Rabbi Etshalom and Rabbi Sacks in his siddur take ืืืื as โbirthpangsโ and thus ืึฐืึนืึตื as โcreatorโ:
ืฆืึผืจ ืึฐืึธืึฐืึธ ืชึถึผืฉึดืื ืึทืชึดึผืฉึฐืืึทึผื ืึตึพื ืึฐืึนืึฐืึถืึธื
So ืืืคื ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืจืฅ is the answer as stated by the narrator: the mountains skipped โbefore the Lord, Creator of the earthโ. As weโve said many times before, in poetry, ambiguity is intentional. The message is that G-d both created the world and controls it, and the last demonstration of that is ืืืคืื ืืฆืืจ ืืื ืืื, turning the rock to water. That episode was the introduction to ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื:
ืื ื ื ืขืื ืืคื ืื ืฉื ืขื ืืฆืืจ ืืืจื ืืืืืช ืืฆืืจ ืืืฆืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืฉืชื ืืขื; ืืืขืฉ ืื ืืฉื ืืขืื ื ืืงื ื ืืฉืจืืื
But itโs more than that. ืืื ืืื ืืื ืชืืจื and the image of the water flowing from the rock is the image of a river flowing from ืืจ ืืณ, that takes us from ืืจ ืกืื ื, when ืืณ is revealed to ืื ื ืืฉืจืื, to the ืืืจืืช ืืืืื, when ืืณ will be revealed to the whole world.
ื ืึฐืึธืฆึธื ืึนืึถืจ ืึดืึผึตืึทืข ืึดืฉืึธื; ืึฐื ึตืฆึถืจ ืึดืฉึผืึธืจึธืฉืึธืื ืึดืคึฐืจึถืืโฆื ืึนื ืึธืจึตืขืึผ ืึฐืึนื ืึทืฉืึฐืึดืืชืึผ ืึผึฐืึธื ืึทืจ ืงึธืึฐืฉืึดื; ืึผึดื ืึธืึฐืึธื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึผึตืขึธื ืึถืช ืืณ ืึผึทืึผึทืึดื ืึทืึผึธื ืึฐืึทืกึผึดืืื
ื ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึผึทืึผืึนื ืึทืืึผื ืึตืฆึฐืืึผ ืึทืึดื ืึทืึผึดืื ืึดืืจืึผืฉืึธืึทึดื ืึถืฆึฐืึธื ืึถื ืึทืึผึธื ืึทืงึผึทืึฐืืึนื ึดื ืึฐืึถืฆึฐืึธื ืึถื ืึทืึผึธื ืึธืึทืึฒืจืึนื; ืึผึทืงึผึทืึดืฅ ืึผืึธืึนืจึถืฃ ืึดืึฐืึถืื ื ืึฐืึธืึธื ืืณ ืึฐืึถืึถืึฐ ืขึทื ืึผึธื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ; ืึผึทืึผืึนื ืึทืืึผื ืึดืึฐืึถื ืืณ ืึถืึธื ืึผืฉืึฐืืึน ืึถืึธืื
ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึทืึผืึนื ืึทืืึผื ืึดืึผึฐืคืึผ ืึถืึธืจึดืื ืขึธืกึดืืก ืึฐืึทืึผึฐืึธืขืึนืช ืชึผึตืึทืึฐื ึธื ืึธืึธื ืึฐืึธื ืึฒืคึดืืงึตื ืึฐืืึผืึธื ืึตืึฐืืึผ ืึธืึดื; ืึผืึทืขึฐืึธื ืึดืึผึตืืช ืืณ ืึตืฆึตื ืึฐืึดืฉืึฐืงึธื ืึถืช ื ึทืึทื ืึทืฉึผืึดืึผึดืืื
And this section ends (as I am reading it) with the anaphora of ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื; the purpose of all this is not to show how great we are, but to allow us to declare ืื ืืืณ ืืืงืื ื ืืืืืืื ืืฉืืช.
ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื
But ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื is also the introduction to the next section, which we skip when we say โhalf Hallelโ. The origin of this is in the gemara:
ืจื ืืืงืืข ืืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืงื ืงืจื ืืืืื ืืจืืฉ ืืจืื. ืกืืจ ืืืคืกืืงืื ืื. ืืืื ืืืื ืืงื ืืืืื ืืืืื, ืืืจ: ืฉืืข ืืื ื ืื ืื ืืืืชืืื ืืืืืื.
ืืืืืื ืืืืื: ืืืื ืื ื ืืืืืืื ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื ืื ืชืืื ืื ืืณ ืืืจื ื ืืืจื.
Rosh Chodesh was not part of the ืชืงื ื of saying ืืื:โ ื ึฐืึดืืึดืื ืฉืึถืึผึตืื ึตืืึถื ืชึผึดืืงึผึฐื ืึผ ืึธืึถื ืึฐืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื ืฉืึถืึผึฐืืึผ ืืึนืึฐืจึดืื ืืึนืชืึน ืขึทื ืึผืื ืคึผึถืจึถืง ืึผืคึถืจึถืง, and just reciting Hallel without just cause is a bad thing:
ืึทืงึผืึนืจึตื ืึทืึผึตื ืึผึฐืืื ืืึนื ืึฒืจึตื ืึถื ืึฐืึธืจึตืฃ ืึผืึฐืึทืึผึตืฃ.
(Weโll deal with this more when we discuss ืคืกืืงื ืืืืจื.)
But by leaving out parts, we make it clear that weโre not reciting โืืืโ as celebration of an overt miracle but just saying ืชืืืืื. The part we skip over is not so much a praise of ืืณ as a prayer, and a denigration of ืขืืืื ืืจื. It has a different flavor than the rest of ืืื, so it isnโt missed.
Whatโs interesting is that the full pasuk, ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื, ืื ืืฉืื ืชื ืืืื ืขื ืืกืื ืขื ืืืชื, is in second person. Itโs the only place in ืืื where the psalmist is apparently addressing ืืณ directly. The gemara explains that these two psukim are a quote:
ืชืดืจ: ืืื ืื ืื ืืืจื?
ืจืดื ืืืืจ: ืืฉื ืืืฉืจืื ืืืจืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืืื ืขื ืืื; ืื ืืืจื (ืชืืืื ืงืื:ื) โืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ืโ, ืืฉืืื ืจืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืืืจื ืืื (ืืฉืขืืื ืื:ืื) โืืืขื ื ืืืขื ื ืืขืฉืโ.
ืจืื ืืืืื ืืืืจ: ืืืืฉืข ืืืฉืจืื ืืืจืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืืื ืขืืืื ืืืื ืื ืขื; ืื ืืืจื โืื ืื ืโ ืืืฉืืื ืืืืณ.
ืจืื ืืืขืืจ ืืืืืขื ืืืืจ: ืืืืจื ืืืจืง ืืืจืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืื ืขืืืื ืกืืกืจื; ืื ืืืจื โืื ืื ืโ ืืจืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืฉืืื ืืืืืจืช ืืื โืืืขื ื ืืืขื ื ืืขืฉืโ.
ืจืณ ืืืขืืจ ืื ืขืืจืื ืืืืจ: ืืืงืื ืืกืืืขืชื ืืืจืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืื ืขืืืื ืกื ืืจืื; ืื ืืืจื โืื ืื ืโ ืืืฉืืื ืืืืณ.
ืจืื ืขืงืืื ืืืืจ: ืื ื ืื ืืืฉืื ืืขืืจืื ืืืจืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืื ืขืืืื ื ืืืืื ืฆืจ ืืจืฉืข; ืื ืืืจื โืื ืื ืโ ืืืฉืืื ืืืืณ.
ืจืื ืืืกื ืืืืืื ืืืืจ: ืืจืืื ืืืกืชืจ ืืืจืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืื ืขืืืื ืืื ืืจืฉืข; ืื ืืืจื โืื ืื ืโ ืืืฉืืื ืืืืณ.
In other words, in every generation, we ask ืืณ to save us, because He is identified with us: we are ืืืช ืืขืงื and He is ืืืึพื ืืขืงื. Not answering us would be a ืืืืื ืืณ:โ ืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืื: ืืื ื ื ืืืงืืื? Moshe made that argument first:
ืืื ืืืืจื ืืฆืจืื ืืืืจ ืืจืขื ืืืฆืืื ืืืจื ืืชื ืืืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืขื ืคื ื ืืืืื; ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืคื ืืื ืื ืขื ืืจืขื ืืขืืื
And the word ื ื in this context means โnowโ, not โpleaseโ: the nations say: โYour G-d may have done great things (see the previous paragraph) but what has He done lately?โ. But we donโt claim to deserve anything; ืืณ acts ืขื ืืกืื ืขื ืืืชื, a hendiadys for ืืณ's ืืกื ืฉื ืืืช.
ืืกื ืืืืช:โฆืืกื ืฉื ืืืช, ืฉืืื ื ืืฆืคื ืืชืฉืืื ืืืื.
The ืืืืื ืืณ is that the nations have gods also, and they pray to and praise those gods. But those gods are inert and unmoving; they cannot answer. If You do not answer, then You put Yourself in the same category: one of ืขืฆืืืื.
The sense of this section is that the psalmist is talking to his audience: you say ืืฉืื ืชื ืืืื ืขื ืืกืื ืขื ืืืชื; ืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืื, ืืื ื ื ืืืืืื. But donโt worry. ืืณ did miracles before, ืืฆืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืฆืจืื, and He will do so again, ืืฉืจืื, ืืื ืืืณ. Just donโt fall into the trap of looking to false gods for your salvation. They are ืขืฆืืื.
ืขืฆื meaning โidolโ is an interesting word. ืขืฆื means โsadnessโ in modern Hebrew, but in ืชื ืดื it has a subtly different connotation:
ืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืชืื ืืฉืื ืื ืฉื ื ืืืืช ืฉื ื; ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืงืจื ืืช ืฉืื ื ื ืืืืจ; ืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืขืฉื ื ืืืขืฆืืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืจืจื ืืณื
Artscroll translates ืขืฆืืื as โtoilโ:
And he called his son Noah, saying, โThis one will bring us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands, from the ground which Hashem had cursedโ.
Itโs a reference to the original curse of Adam:
ืื ืืืืื ืืืจ ืื ืฉืืขืช ืืงืื ืืฉืชื ืืชืืื ืื ืืขืฅ ืืฉืจ ืฆืืืชืื ืืืืจ ืื ืชืืื ืืื ื ืืจืืจื ืืืืื ืืขืืืจื ืืขืฆืืื ืชืืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืืืื
ืื ืืงืืฅ ืืืจืืจ ืชืฆืืื ืื; ืืืืืช ืืช ืขืฉื ืืฉืืื
ืื ืืืขืช ืืคืื ืชืืื ืืื ืขื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืืงืืช; ืื ืขืคืจ ืืชื ืืื ืขืคืจ ืชืฉืืื
And how technology would save them:
ืื ืื ืืื ื: ืื ื ืืื ื ืืช ืขืฆืืื ืืืื ื, ืขื ืฉืื ืื ื ื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืจืืฉื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืโฆ
The Midrash puts it more poetically:
ืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืขืฉืื ื: ืฉืื ืืื ืืืจืฉืื ืื ืื ืืืฆืืขืืชืืื.
The word ืขืฆืืื comes up in the curse of Chava as well:
ืื ืืืฉื ืืืจ ืืจืื ืืจืื ืขืฆืืื ื ืืืจื ื ืืขืฆื ืชืืื ืื ืื; ืืื ืืืฉื ืชืฉืืงืชื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืื
ืขืฆืืื ื: ืื ืฆืขืจ ืืืืื ืื ืื.
And ืขืฆื can mean โformedโ (which explicitly connects it to idols, ืืขืฉื ืืื ืืื):
ื ืึธืึถืืึธ ืขึดืฆึผึฐืืึผื ึดื ืึทืึผึทืขึฒืฉืืึผื ึดื; ืึทืึทื ืกึธืึดืื ืึทืชึผึฐืึทืึผึฐืขึตื ึดืื
ื ืึฐืึธืจ ื ึธื ืึผึดื ืึทืึนืึถืจ ืขึฒืฉืึดืืชึธื ึดื; ืึฐืึถื ืขึธืคึธืจ ืชึผึฐืฉืึดืืึตื ึดืื
Dr. Zornberg says that the two meanings of ืขืฆื are really the same. She notes that both curses of ืขืฆืืื, of ืฆืขืจ ืืืืื ืื ืื and of ืงืืฅ ืืืจืืจ ืชืฆืืื ืื, are curses that despite all their toil, the results are completely out of their hands:
Now Eve is initiated into a world in which this creative will meets inevitable frustration: parents raise children a projection of their own desires, only to discover that children develop desires of their own. Here, the planting may come to bear very little resemblance to the yield.
In both love and work, then, itzavon is the strange fruit of intentionality, of โsowing seedโ toward an imagined futureโฆFor Adam, a similar discontinuity will haunt his relations with the earth. The gap, the arbitrary response of the earth to his desire, expresses a radical irrationality in human experience. Creative aspiration acquires an ironic edge.
ืขืฆืืื is the ืขืฆื, the misery, of toil: when all your effort, all your hard work, comes to nothing.
And ืขืฆืืื is what G-d feels when His creation fails Him:
ื ืืืจื ืืณ ืื ืจืื ืจืขืช ืืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืื ืืฆืจ ืืืฉืืช ืืื ืจืง ืจืข ืื ืืืืื
ื ืืื ืื ืืณ ืื ืขืฉื ืืช ืืืื ืืืจืฅ; ืืืชืขืฆื ืื ืืืื
So that is what ืขืฆืืืื are: the products of sincere hard work; ืขืืืื ืขืืืื ืืจื are truly trying to serve the forces of nature. But it is ultimately futile because those forces cannot answer, they are deaf, dumb, blind and immobile.
And this paragraph ends with ืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ื, just as the description of ืขืฆืืืื started with ืคื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจื: the gods of other nations cannot speak, they cannot answer the prayers of those who call out to them.
ืื ืืืื ืืฆืืจืื ืืืืชื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืจ ืงืจืื ืืงืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืื ืฉืื ืื ืืื ืืจื ืื; ืืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืงืฅืโฆืื ืืืื ืืขืืจ ืืฆืืจืื ืืืชื ืืื ืขื ืืขืืืช ืืื ืื; ืืืื ืงืื ืืืื ืขื ื ืืืื ืงืฉืื
ืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ื
The way I am reading this, ืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ื is also the introduction to the next section, ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืฉืืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืื. I donโt think that is a prayer or a curse (โThose who make them should become like themโ, as Artscroll translates it) but a statement of fact. Those who trust in the unconcious forces in nature, who pray to them expecting to be answered, will be ืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ื: they are effectively silent; their prayers have no meaning. As Yirmiyahu says,
ืฉืืขื ื ื ืืืช ืขื ืกืื ืืืื ืื; ืขืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืขืื
The problem is that we are supposed to realize that we are created in the image of G-d. But human beings tend to get that backward:
Man made โgodโ in his own image. The eternal, the infinate, the unnameable was reduced to a mental idol that you had to believe in and worship as โmy godโ or โour godโ.
We, in a sense, create ourselves in the image of the gods that we create in our own image. The things we worship are a reflection of the things we value.
ืืฆืจืฃ ืืืกืฃ ืืืืจ ืืืื; ืืืืฉ ืืคื ืืืืืื
Thatโs usually translated as โ[the worth of] a person is measured by how others praise themโ:
ืืืชืืฉื ืืคื ืืืืื ืขืดื ืฉืืืจืืืช ืืืืืืช ืืืชื ืืืขืฉืื ืืืืืื.
But the Chida reads it as โby what they praiseโ:
ืืืฉ ืืคื ืืืืื: ืืคื ืืืื ืชื ืืชืคืืชื ืืืจืจ ื ืืฆืืฆื ืืงืืืฉื ืืืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืขืืืชืื.
ืืคืกืืง ืฉืื ืืฉ ืื ื ืขื ืื ืฉืฉืืื ืขืดื ืืืจื โืืฆืจืฃ ืืืกืฃ ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืคื ืืืืืโ. ืืืืืจ ืืคื ืื ืฉืืื ืืืื.
โA man can be judged according to his praiseโ doesnโt mean according to how he is praised but according to what he praises (โhis praiseโ). What a person speaks highly about (and badly about) tells us a lot about his or her value systemโฆSomeone who is always seeing the bad in all things Jewish cannot be said to be honoring the Torah even if he is quite observant in his outward behavior. At a point, his criticisms tell us more about himself than about the person or institution he is maligning.
I think ืืชืืื in ืขืฆืืื is the same idea. Our purpose in creation is imitatio dei:
ืืืจืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืฉืจืื, ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืจืื ืื:ื) โืืืืืช ืืืจืืืโ. ืื ืืืืื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืืฆืื ืื: ืื ืืื ื ืงืจื ืื ืื, ืืฃ ืืชื ืืื ืื ืื; ืื ืืื ื ืงืจื ืจืืื, ืืฃ ืืชื ืืื ืจืืื; ืื ืืื ื ืงืจื ืงืืืฉ, ืืฃ ืืชื ืืื ืงืืืฉ. ืืขื ืืจื ืื ืงืจืื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืืื, ืืจื ืืคืืื ืืจื ืืกื ืฆืืืง ืืืฉืจ ืชืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืง ืืืืืฆื ืืืโืืืืืืข ืฉืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืื, ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืขืฆืื ืืื ืืืืืืืืช ืืคื ืืืื.
And it is inevitable that ืืืืื ืืืืโฆืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืื. Be careful what you have faith in; it determines who you are. And so the psalmist exhorts us: ืืฉืจืื ืึผึฐืึทื ืืืณ; ืขืืจื ืืืื ื ืืื.โ ืึผึฐืึทื is in the ืฆืืื, a command. It is addressed to three groups: all of ืืฉืจืื, then the ืืืช ืืืจื, which Rav Moshe Feinstein points out doesnโt mean ืืืื ืื in the halachic sense, but โthose who are dedicated to serving ืืณโ. Even they are subject to the dangers of ืขืฆืืืื ืืกืฃ ืืืื.
ืงืืฉืืช ืืืจืฉืดื ืืืดื ืคืกืืื ืงืืดื: ืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืืฉืขืื ืื ืืื; ืืื ืืืจื โืืืจื ืืช ืืืช ืืืจืโ ืืื โืืืืจื ื ื ืืืช ืืืจืโ; ืื ืขืืืื ืื ื ืืชื ื ืืืืื ื ืืืืจื?โฆืืื ืขื ืืขืื ืืื ืืืืืจืืช ืืื ืื ืืืืืืื ืืฃ ืงืืดื ืืคืืจืฉ: ืขื ืฉืื ืืืงื ืืืฉืื ืขืืืื ืืืืืจืืช ืืฉืืืงื ืืืฉืื ืขืืืื ืืืื ืืโฆืืื ืฉืื ืืืจื ืืืฉืื ืื ืืื โืืืจื ืืช ืืืื ืืโ ืืื โืืืืจื ื ื ืืืื ืืโ.
And the final group is ืืจืื ืืณ, expanding the focus to the entire world:
ืืจืื: ืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืฉื ืืื ืขื ืืขื.
And we end with the assurance that our ืืชืืื will not be in vain: ืืณ ืืืจื ื ืืืจื: G-d, who pays attention to us and judges us (the implication of ืืืจืื with respect to ืืงืืดื; see the Rosh Hashana davening), will bless us.
ืืณ ืืืจื ื ืืืจื
The next section is all about that reassurance; ืืณ ืืืจื ื ืืืจื is the title. The same groups who are urged to have ืืชืืืโโืืืช ืืฉืจืื,โ ืืืช ืืืจื and ืืจืื ืืณโwill be blessed, and all of them: ืืงืื ืื ืขื ืืืืืื is a merism for โeveryoneโ.
ืืกืฃ ืืณ ืขืืืื expresses what โืืจืืโ means: to increase (a ืืจืืื is a spring).
ืืืกืฃ: ืื ื ืคืืจืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืจืื, ืื ืืื ืชืืกืคืช. ืืืืคื ืืงืืื, ืืื ืืกืจืื.
ืืืขื ืื ืื ืืืช ืืจืื, ืืื ื ืืฉืื ืชืืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืฉืฉืืื ืืคื ืืืืืโฆืืื ืืืืช ืื ืืจืื ืคืืจืืฉื ืืฉืื ืชืืกืคืช ืืจืืืื ืืืขื ืื ืงื ื ื ืืช ืืจืืชื ืืืณ. ืืืจื ืืช ืืืื. ืืืจื ืคืจื ืืื ื ืืืืณ. ืืืจืื ืืืืฆื ืืืงืจื.
So that becomes our ืืื: the introduction said, โืจื ืขื ืื ืืืื ืืณ; ืขื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืโ and now we declare that ืืณ has the power and the will to continuously give to those who trust in Him, who is ืขืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืจืฅ.
But that ืืจืื comes with responsibility: ืืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืืณ; ืืืืจืฅ ื ืชื ืืื ื ืืื. We are here, on the ืืจืฅ, with a purpose. In terms of Hallel, that purpose is less doing ืืฆืืืช and more carrying the ืฉืืื ื in the world, by declaring His greatness in public. Those who have ืืชืืื in ืขืฆืืื are silent, ืืจืื ืืืื; the psalmist said ืคื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจืโฆืืืืื ืืืื ืขืฉืืื. They are like ืืืชืื, who are ืื ืืืืื ืึพื. But we are different, ืื ืื ื ื ืืจื ืึพื.โ ืืจืื here is harder to translate; how can a human being bless G-d in the sense of giving something? The Avudraham explains that โblessingโ ืืณ means acknowledging Him as the source of blessing:
ืืืจืื ืืื ื ืืฉืื ืคืขืื, ืืื ืืื ืจืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืขืฆืื ืืื ืืงืืจ ืืืจืืืช ืืืื ื ืืงืืื ืืืืจืื.
And so we return to the beginning: ืคืจืง ืงืื exhorted us ืืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืืจื ืืขืชื ืืขื ืขืืื and now we declare that we will do so, ืืื ืื ื ื ืืจื ืึพื ืืขืชื ืืขื ืขืืื.