by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 1, 2024 | Psalms
In verse 5 of Psalm 137, the psalmist declares that he would lose his strength should he ever forget Jerusalem. Now, in verse 6, he says that he will lose the ability to express himself as well. In fulfillment of the sentiment of this verse, numerous Jewish customs...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 27, 2023 | Psalms
Psalm 137 is a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Israel. The psalmist responds to the sarcastic taunting of his captors who ask the exiled Jews to “sing a song of Zion.” (Psalms 137:3) After stating in the previous verse that he cannot bring...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 20, 2023 | Good and Evil, Psalms
In Psalms 125:2, Jerusalem is presented as a metaphor for the people of Israel, and the mountains that surround Jerusalem are a metaphor for God who protects His people. The previous verse in Psalm 125 uses similar imagery regarding those who put their trust in God....
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 18, 2023 | Humility, Micah
In this verse, Micah teaches us the basic requirements of what God demands from each and every one of us; justice, kindness, and humility. If we read carefully, we can see a number of interesting word choices in this verse which contain important lessons about these...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 17, 2023 | God, Isaiah, Redemption
In this prophecy, Isaiah foretells that in the future, when Israel is restored to the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem, there will be a mass movement among the nations to come to Jerusalem to worship the God of Israel at the site of the Holy Temple. This prophecy has...
