Page 39 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Recommended Reading

A PSALM

FOR THE DAY

OF OUR INDEPENDENCE

RABBI YOEL BIN-NUN

n Yom HaAtzma’ut, we recite people who are not believers. There fifth of Iyar, 1948, the psalmist’s vision
Psalm 107, as instituted by the are righteous people with true virtues, was fulfilled: for the very first time, ships
O first Chief Rabbinate of the people of righteous inner character, were officially admitted to the docks of
State of Israel. Its inclusion, I believe, who indeed do not meditate upon G-d’s Haifa, ships filled with survivors of the
captures the intentions of the psalmist, kindness. The special individuals the Holocaust and refugees from all over the
who wrote this hymn as a song of praise psalm is referring to, the “upright,” are world. This is the vision of Psalm 107,
to celebrate the independence of the the ones who do praise G-d for His and this is the opening of the evening
Jewish people and their return to their goodness, even when everyone else is prayers for Yom HaAtzma’ut, the day
own land... complaining. that commemorates the renewal of the
independence of the Jewish state in the
In all my years at Yeshivat Mercaz Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda was one of these Land of Israel.
HaRav, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen “upright” people. On the eve of the
Kook, zt”l, would open his Yom Six-Day War, he gave a famous speech The full article appears in the Koren
HaAtzma’ut sermon with the two about how his soul was torn as he heard Krengel World Mizrachi Edition Yom
concluding verses of this psalm: the announcement of the UN partition HaAtzma’ut Mahzor, with the Maidenbaum
plan in 1947: a Jewish state would & Rothenberg essay collection. See
The upright see and rejoice, but the mouth be founded, but only on part of the www.korenpub.com for details
of all wrongdoers is stopped. Whoever is Land of Israel…Although he had not
wise, let him lay these things to heart, And prayed for a state that divided the land,
reflect on the loving-kindness of the Lord. he understood that this was a divine
decision, and rejoiced with all his being.
I only understood their full significance
when I began to study the psalm. Rabbi While some upright individuals can see
Tzvi Yehuda would question: Why the kind hand of G-d and rejoice, others
does the psalmist refer to those who see only despair. Despair is as old as
meditate on G-d’s kindness as “the Zionism, as old as the Jewish people.
upright” (םי ִ ר ָ ׁשְי) and not “the righteous” It is the shadow of faith. Despair can
(םי ִ קי ִ ּ ד ַ צ)? His answer was based on the be read in the poetry of Bialik and the
famous passage from the Talmud, which writings of Brenner; in Rahel Bluwstein
interprets the verse in Zechariah as mournful lyrics during the famine
referring to the righteous in the World to of 1927 and in the ominous, fearful
Come: reports that preceded the Six-Day War.
It is no easy task to meditate upon G-d’s
Why is it written: “Who has despised the kindness.
day of small things”? What causes the
tables of the righteous to be despoiled in the Psalm 107, a song of the ingathering of
World to Come? The smallness [of faith] exiles, is also wrought with difficulties
which was in them, for they did not trust in and pain. It does not depict a rapid
the Holy One, blessed be He. (Sota 48b) overnight redemption, but rather a
process similar to the Exodus from Books authored by speakers participating
Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda would marvel at Egypt, which unfolded over 480 years in Mizrachi’s Israel360 program are now
this verse: How can the Talmud refer until the Temple was finally built. 20% off at www.korenpub.com. Use
to people who do not trust in G-d as Nowadays, we are not experiencing a promo code MIZRACHI and get an extra
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