27

Every year as אלול (Elul, the last month of the year on the Jewish calendar) approaches, my mind turns to לדוד, L’Dovid, Pslam 27, which is read twice a day for seven weeks beginning with the start of Elul. I have always found that there is something in it which speaks to me on a deep level, but often find that defining that connection is elusive. This year I saw a powerful insight into the meaning of this chapter in a work called Kan Tzipor, a Kabbalistic commentary on Tehillim (Psalms) written by Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Brandwein, also known as the Alter Strettener Rebbe. This is not the place for a full biography, but he is reputed to have been the first Chassidic Rebbe in the United States and my maternal great-grandfather attended his shul. The only reason I purchased it a decade or so ago was because of that connection, as it is a very esoteric Kabbalistic work which, more often than not, goes right over my head.

One line at the beginning of his commentary on L’Dovid opened my eyes to a paradigm of understanding the chapter, as well as its connection to the month of Elul.

First some introductory words to explain some Kabbalistic ideas. Kabbalah teaches that there are 10 sefiros spiritual forces which are the spiritual sub-atomic particles which form existence. The arena in which we live is known as Malchus (literally monarchy) and is therefore symbolized often by Dovid HaMelech (King David). Malchus, in and of itself, has nothing. It is the receptacle of all of the higher spiritual forces, which are primarily actualized in the arena of Malchus. Those spiritual forces come directly from a higher cluster of sefiros known as Z’air Anpin (Z”A) or Tiferes (a cluster of sefiros is known as a Partzuf). The Tetragrammaton, four letter name of Hashem ( יקוק), is used to symbolize Z”A.

To sum things up, לדוד, To Dovid, the introductory words of this Psalm, refer to Malchus, our spiritual realm, and י-ק-ו-ה symbolizes the place from which spiritual forces are bestowed to Malchus.

Kabbalistic works are replete with metaphors describing the relationship between Malchus and Z”A as akin to the relationship between two people. In a relationship between two people, you get what you give. כמים הפנים אל פנים כן לב האדם אל אדם. Malchus receives spiritual powers from Z”A commensurate with the desire expressed by Malchus to receive those forces.

The Kan Tzipor therefore renders this verse as saying:

L’Dovid - To David - לדוד, Malchus is speaking to

Hashem י-קו-ה - Z”A Source of all my spiritual forces

My light and my salvation - אורי וישעי- It is my light, the light of desire to connect that I express to you, that result in my receiving anything from you. I am the instigator, and therefore the one responsible, for all of it.

The connection to the month of Elul was instantly understandable. This is the time to begin repairing our relationship with God and this chapter teaches us how to do so.