Hi everyone, welcome to NachDaily covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’re going to be discussing Mishlei, perek 7. In this perek, Shlomo Hamelech again urges us to keep the mitzvos and follow wisdom by keeping the Torah, engraving its words on the “luach libecha - tablets of our hearts.” As passuk 4 says, “Emor l’chochma achosi at, u’moda l’bina tikra - Say to wisdom, ‘You’re my sister,’ and call understanding a friend.” The Metsudos explains that you should be as familiar wi...
Mar 18, 2019•4 min
This perek opens up with Shlomo Hamelech again speaking to “my son,” which can be understood as the inner child inside all of us which is interested in learning and absorbing new ideas. Often, as we get older, we become stuck in our ways and are not open to new ideas which would give birth to new attitudes and a change in perspective. Shlomo advises us not to take on commitments and pledges that we can't handle. Overextending ourselves beyond our capabilities will cause us to feel trapped, and b...
Mar 14, 2019•4 min
Hello everyone. Welcome to NachDaily covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’re discussing Mishlei, perek daled, which contains 35 pessukim. The perek primary discusses the value of acquiring wisdom and gaining insight, pointing out that when a person stops valuing wisdom, life heads in the wrong direction. We shouldn’t devalue our own common sense, because that can lead us in the wrong direction, away from Hashem. Again, as if he’s speaking to a child, Shlomo urges us to seek t...
Mar 14, 2019•4 min
Mishlei Perek 3 Hello everyone. Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at time. Today we’re discussing Mishlei, perek gimmel. While most of Mishlei is about working on our character traits, this perek opens with the idea of” tikkun divrey hasechel, fixing our minds and purifying our thoughts.” This is really the essence of wisdom. When we let go of our personal agendas, fully recognizing the true Source of the power of the mind, we rid ourselves of contaminated thoughts and a...
Mar 14, 2019•4 min
I hope that everyone is doing well today. Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at time. Today we’re discussing Mishlei, perek beis. The chapter opens with Shlomo speaking as if to his child, whom he urges to accept his words and take his advice. You should seek wisdom as you would for silver and hidden treasures. Your search for understanding will bring you to know and fear God. Shlomo explains that Hashem is the One who grants wisdom, but you must first seek it out. The wi...
Mar 14, 2019•3 min
I hope that everyone is doing well today. Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at time. Today we’re starting Mishlei, perek aleph. Before we begin, it should be noted that there are many Hebrew words for wisdom and understanding. I’m hoping that through these classes the subtle meanings of these words will be explained. At times I will clarify what these words signify, but often I will be using words like “wisdom” and “understanding” in a more general and broad sense. The p...
Mar 14, 2019•4 min
Hi everybody. Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’ll be discussing Mishlei, perek 5, containing 23 pessukim. In this perek, Shlomo Hamelech primarily warns us to stay away from the Isha Zarah, Foreign Woman. He enumerates the destruction that engaging in conduct with this promiscuous and dangerous woman will bring upon you. As it says in passuk gimmel, “ki nofes titofna sifsay zarah, v’chalak m’shemen chikah - for the lips of the female stranger drip ho...
Mar 13, 2019•4 min
Tehilim Perek 150 Hello everybody, this is an exciting day. We are going to finish Sefer Tehilim! Baruch Hashem we’ve done close to 200 classes just on Tehilim, including the mini-series that we did on the secrets of the Aleph Beis. Whether you’re a casual reader or listener, or you listen regularly every day, you can join in our happiness. We’ve been connecting to Dovid Hamelech and the world of Tefilah every day through this series. As Dovid himself says, “Tefilah l’Kel Chayai, Praying to God ...
Feb 24, 2019•4 min
Tehilim Perek 149 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim Chapter 149. We continue in the Pesukei D’zimra as we wind down with the last two chapters in Tehilim. This chapter was said about the final redemption. Every single member of the Jewish nation is loved by Hashem. Yes, Hashem loves you! The author urges everyone, “Shiru l’Hashem shir chadosh – Sing a new song to God.” It’s not going to be enough to keep on singing the old songs. Am Yisrael is going to have to come up with ...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 148 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim Chapter 148. We continue in the Pesukey D’zimra as we wind down with the last few chapters. In this perek the author specifies the various parts of the creation that praise God, beginning with the heavens, then moving on down to the angels and stars. From the highest of the spiritual worlds to the lowest, they are all called upon to praise Hashem. The perek then specifies the specific areas of the physical creation that pr...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 147 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 147, continuing the Pesukei D’zimra chapters. We are now winding down with the last few chapters in Tehilim. The Shai Lemora explains that this chapter really flows from the previous one, which ended by describing how the world will ultimately accept the kingship of God forever. This perek relates how pleasant it is to actually sing to God, as at the time of the final redemption, mankind will be drawn to sing His p...
Feb 24, 2019•4 min
Tehilim Perek 146 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 146. We say this perek every morning as part of the Pesukei D’zimra, Chapters of Song. The Gemarah in Pessachim 117A explains that halleiluyhu means halleluhu b’hillulim harbeh, praise Hashem with many praises. The Gemara elucidates that since the Tehilim were said in conjunction with the 10 types of music, halleiluyah incorporates all the ten types. The previous perek praised Hashem for all the goodness ...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 145 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 145. This is a very famous perek known as the Ashrei prayer. The Radak explains that from this perek until the end of Tehilim is all considered one unit of Tehilim. These perakim all are considered one prayer. Except for this one, Dovid began and ended them all with the word Halleluyah to magnify Hashem’s praise. The Gemarah in Brachos 4B says that anyone who says this prayer 3 times daily is promised a s...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 144 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 144. Dovid wrote this prayer at a time of peace for himself and the nation. It was written either at the end of the civil war which took place in Shmuel Beis perek 3, or at the end of the rebellion of his son Avshalom and the confrontation with Sheva Ben Bikhri. These were quiet and harmonious times for Am Yisrael. Dovid begins by thanking Hashem for his military victories. He goes on to speak about man’s...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 143 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 143. As in the previous chapter, Dovid wrote this when hiding in the cave from Shaul. It continues the theme of being surrounded on all sides by his enemies and asking God to pull him out from the abyss. Dovid opens by asking Hashem to answer his prayer by not judging him in the moment. Dovid painfully recaps how his enemies want to crush his soul, leaving him dead. Despite his struggles, Dovid recalls the “days of...
Feb 24, 2019•2 min
Tehilim Perek 142 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 142. This perek corresponds to what happened with Dovid in Shmuel Aleph, perek 24, when he had a close encounter with Shaul while hiding in a cave. Dovid had heard Shaul entering the cave, and quickly scurried deeper into its depths so as not to be found. Shaul unknowingly spent the night in the same cave as Dovid. The very next morning, Dovid, having escaped death once again, made it known that he had almost been ...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 141 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 141. As in the previous chapter, Dovid wrote this perek while escaping from Shaul. Dovid understood that lashon hara, slander, was what caused Shaul’s outrage, which in return caused unnecessary bloodshed. Dovid asks to be saved from being harmed by others, from speaking slander himself, and not to be influenced by evil ways. Dovid davens for his prayer to be as desirable as korbanos in front of Hashem, asking for ...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 140 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 140. Dovid said this chapter while hiding from Shaul in the town of Ziph. It specifically refers to Doeg Hadomi, who slandered Dovid to Shaul. The perek expresses Dovid’s loneliness as a fugitive. The situation would have been difficult on its own. The fact Dovid was already the king anointed by Shmuel Hanavi certainly made it much more so. For more information, check out Shmuel Aleph, perakim 22 and 23. All NachDa...
Feb 24, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 139 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 139. In this perek, Dovid reminds us that Hashem has complete knowledge of everything on earth, including our location at all times, our thoughts, our laying down and rising up, and every word we think or speak. Obviously, such knowledge is way beyond human comprehension. Hashem’s presence is to be found everywhere. The lowest depths and the highest heavens, even darkness, cannot hide us from God. Dovid goes on to ...
Jan 13, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 138 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 138. This is a very famous chapter. By way of introduction, we all need to live with the awareness that God is with us. Those who call out to Him more often can feel the comfort of their trust in Him. In this chapter, Dovid thanks Hashem from the bottom of his heart, expressing his gratitude that his tefilos were heard. Realizing that his prayers were actually answered, he felt even greater encouragement to keep on...
Jan 13, 2019•2 min
Tehilim Perek 137 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim perek 137, a very famous chapter. The Gemarah in Gittin 57B explains that Hashem gave Dovid Divine insight to foresee the destruction of the first Temple when Am Yisrael was at the rivers of Bavel, and the second, when Edom tried to uproot the earth of the Beis Hamikdash. This chapter is the lament and dirge of the Leviim after they were exiled. The author recalls sitting by the rivers of Babylon, weeping and remembering T...
Jan 13, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 136 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 13. This is the second chapter of the “Hallel Hagadol.” All of the verses end with “ki l’olam chasdo, His kindness is forever.” The Gemarah in Pessachim 118:a says that the 26 pessukim in this perek correspond to the 26 generations from the creation of the world until the receiving of the Torah. Up until Kabbalas HaTorah, Hashem sustained the world through His chessed. Although only the Jewish nation rece...
Jan 13, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 135 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 135, beginning the last 15 chapters of the Sefer. The Yerushalmi in Pessachim 5:7 tells us that the next two chapters are known as “Hallel Hagadol, the Great Hallel’” They are said at the end of the Pesach Seder after the shorter Hallel known as the “Hallel Hamitzri, Egyptian Hallel,” consisting of perakim 113 through 118. Although the Halachah requires us to only say the next chapter at the end of the Se...
Jan 13, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 134 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 134, the last of the 15 Shir Hama’alos chapters. These chapters were sung on each step as the Kohanim ascended the 15 steps of the women’s section to enter into the Beis Hamkidash. This perek corresponds to the last of the steps. The Kohanim ascended the steps near the end of the night and awaited the “alos hashachar, the first morning rays,” when the sun begins to illuminate the ground. At this moment th...
Jan 13, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 133 Hello everybody, today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 132 in the Shir Hama’alos chapters. One of the more well known perakim, it contains only 3 pessukim. Two “brothers” sitting together is compared to fine oil being poured on the beard of Aharon, who is mentioned instead of Dovid because Aharon was anointed at the erecting of the Mishkan many years before Dovid was born. In addition, Aharon was anointed in public while Dovid was anointed privately. The last verse in ...
Jan 13, 2019•3 min
Tehilim Perek 132 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 132 in the Shir Hama’alos chapters. The perek corresponds to what happened with Dovid at the end of Sefer Shmuel. In order to stop a plague, Gad Hanavi instructed Dovid to purchase Har Hamoriyah from a man named Aravna Hayivusi. After the purchase, Dovid built an altar and brought korbonos, sacrifices, to Hashem. The plague stopped, and the people were saved. Although not mentioned at the end of Sefer Shm...
Dec 23, 2018•4 min
Tehilim Perek 131 Hello everybody, today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 131 in the Shir Ha’amalos chapters. This is the second to shortest chapter with only 3 pessukim. The previous perek related that Hashem listens to one who is humble and sincere, who calls out from the depths. Here, Dovid reflects upon his own personality. Always humble, he relied on God with great sincerity, like a child who is solely dependent on his mother. Even in adulthood, he relied on God with the innocence o...
Dec 23, 2018•3 min
Tehilim Perek 130 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll continue in the Shir Hama’alos chapters with Tehilim chapter 130, considered to be among the more famous perakim. These chapters were written to give us hope, to understand that God hasn’t abandoned us despite what we may have done in our lives. He listens to each and every single one of our prayers. Ultimately, God will redeem, and indeed has already begun to redeem, our nation from exile. It is appropriate here to mention the last o...
Dec 23, 2018•3 min
Tehilim Perek 129 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll continue in the Shir Ha’amalos with Tehilim chapter 129. This psalm can be read on both a national level, speaking about Am Yisrael, and on individual level, speaking about our personal pain. As most Meforshim learn that it is referring to Am Yisrael as a whole, we will continue in that vein. The perek relates that God has protected the Jewish people throughout our history. Indeed, the Radak adds that this is a song of thanksgiving fo...
Dec 23, 2018•3 min
Tehilim Perek 128 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be continuing the Shir Hama’alos chapters with Tehilim, Chapter 128. The Malbim explains that there are essentially two parts to this chapter. The first speaks about the individual benefits a person with “yiras Shamayim, fear of God,” will receive. The second part is about the national blessings and benefits our nation will receive when we have proper yiras Shamayim. The perek tells us that those with yiras Shamayim are happy, and wil...
Dec 23, 2018•3 min
