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Rabbi Chaim Walkin BOOK-01 1 ןיקלאוו םייח ברה
Sefer Da’at Chaim םייח תעד רפס

Introduction to the translation of Sefer Da’at Chaim

Introduction to the translation

of Sefer Da’at Chaim

ןוילע ךמשל רמזלו 'הל תודוהל בוט
It is good to praise Hashem and Sing His
Exalted Name (Tehilim 92:1)
Regarding the translation title – MAZAL ELUL
Song is the sound of our soul’s attachment to Hashem. Think! We are In his Shabbat derasha at the start of chodesh Elul 5762,
in Hashem’s presence every day our lives, close to the Shechinah, and Chacham Asher Hatchuel (the Av Beit Din of the Brooklyn
the response of our soul to that personal relationship with our Creator Syrian community) began by saying it was no accident Chazal
is an overwhelming emotion that reflects outwardly in joyful Song. chose the Betulah as that month’s mazal. That choice of
Song is the way of thanking Hashem for being alive. The lyrics of mazal is a paradigm for the approaching month of Selichot, for
Song are the words of Torah we learn, and the melody of Song is the preparation towards the Yamin Nora’im and for life in general.
Mussar absorbed into our essence. The symbolism is a Chatan yearning to be with his bride, as he
approaches life with gladness and optimism, responsibility and
Song embodies our gratitude to Hashem; it is the natural outcome of trepidation. That concept of the mazal of Elul is an approach to
gratitude for the great good He constantly does for us. Song is our life in all of man’s endeavors. It concisely depicts the framework
soul’s outpouring of love and affection for Hashem, emerging from the of this translation.
deepest part of our Neshamah and infusing life into it. Song elevates
our spirit, transforming us to become the whole person Hashem
created us to be, to serve Him in joy and happiness.

ךדוא םלועל יקולא 'ה ,םודי אלו דובכ ךרמזי ןעמל

In order that my soul will sing to You and not
1
be silent, Hashem my G-d forever I will thank
you (Tehilim 30:13)

Thank you, Hashem, for guiding us into the translation of sefer Da’at
Chaim, for giving us strength and the ability to learn it and internalize

1. The literal translation of דובכ is ‘glory.’ Rabbi Yehudah Levovitz explains

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