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P’sukei D’Zimrah 6, Ashrei
Before we begin this week, I still have not heard from many or you from my exercise 2 weeks ago. (Hint, I asked you to, for a week, write down one thing that you were grateful for each day.)
Inasmuch as it is often one of the first prayers we learn in Hebrew school, Ashrei is probably somewhat familiar to many of us. Since we are on LBI, the home to many ornithological species, now is as good a time as any to make an important clarification. “Ashrei” is a prayer. It is not to be confused with “Osprey”, which is a bird of prey.
Back to our Shabbat message: According to the Talmud, Ashrei is so important that if you recite it the prescribed 3 times a day (Twice in the morning service and once in the afternoon service), you will be assured a place in the world to come.
Why is it so important? According to My People’s Prayerbook, vol. 3, (p. 118):
The reason…is that this psalm is an alphabetic acrostic and that it celebrates the providential sustenance of God: “You open your hand, and satisfy every living being” (Ps. 145:16). The Alphabetic order would ensure that it would be easy to remember; the central verse expresses our hope that God at least provide for our basic needs, without which we could hardly have the luxury to anticipate that our spiritual needs be met….
Rather than list the entire Psalm, I am providing my 3 favorite verses:
דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶֽיךָ יַגִּֽידוּ:
One generation lauds Your works to another,
acclaiming your mighty deeds.
(This expresses the importance of our grandparents and parents to us and the concomitant importance of us to our children and grandchildren. The possibilities for positive influence are never-ending.)
סוֹמֵךְ יְהֹוָה לְכָל־הַנֹּפְ֒לִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל־הַכְּ֒פוּפִים
Adonai supports all who stumble,
and uplifts all who are bowed down.
(God is modeling how we should be. We should be supporters of those who need us.)
קָרוֹב יְהֹוָה לְכָל־קֹרְ֒אָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻֽהוּ בֶאֱמֶת:
God is near to all who call,
To all who call to God in truth.
(Yes, God will respond when we call. But we need to come to God with integrity and honesty.)
What are your favorite verses of Ashrei? Look at the prayer and let me know. Click here for the full text of the Ashrei: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/complete-text-of-ashrei/
And, please, respond better than you did on the last assignment! (it’s called throwing the Rabbi a bone.)
Pray Ashrei, Ashrei pray.
Happily, dwell in the prayer,
said three times a day.
More on Ashrei next week.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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