Tehilim Perek 135

Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 135, beginning the last 15 chapters of the Sefer.

The Yerushalmi in Pessachim 5:7 tells us that the next two chapters are known as “Hallel Hagadol, the Great Hallel’” They are said at the end of the Pesach Seder after the shorter Hallel known as the “Hallel Hamitzri, Egyptian Hallel,” consisting of perakim 113 through 118. Although the Halachah requires us to only say the next chapter at the end of the Seder, Chazal instituted saying these two perakim together on Shabbos and Yom Tov during the pesukei di’zimra, the daily songs of praise in the morning prayers.

The Sforno says that this chapter will be sung during the times of the final Redemption, during the period of the returning of the exiles. At that time, all of Am Yisrael will reunite as one body in our homeland, Eretz Yisrael.

At that time God’s full name will be pronounced. Evil will be eradicated from the world, and God’s sovereignty will be complete.

We are now happily bearing witness to the beginning of the Messianic era, as Jews from the four corners of the earth return to Eretz Yisrael to settle the land and rebuild the ancient ruins.

This perek relates the joy and happiness we will feel when standing in the courtyard of the house of Hashem. We will recognize Hashem’s control of the destiny of our nation, and that He was behind the scenes in every detail of our lives.

The miracles for the Jews in Mitzrayim weren’t only for them to see the hand of God. The miracles were equally important for the Egyptians to see and recognize the omnipotence of the Creator.

This stresses the universalist nature of the Torah. God is not only for Am Yisrael; Hashem desires everyone on earth to recognize Him.

Ultimately, mankind will see that the things to which they formerly ascribed meaning were worthless. They have mouths but can’t speak, ears but can’t hear, eyes but can’t see, and have ears but can’t hear. The only thing in which people will find meaning and true value is connecting to God.

Verse 5 says:

כִּ֤י אֲנִ֣י יָ֭דַעְתִּי כִּי־גָד֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה וַ֝אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מִכָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃

For I know God is great, that our God is greater than all gods.

Rebbe Nachman explains in Sichos Haran that Dovid was saying “ki ani yadati, I know,” I specifically know how great Hashem is. My relationship with Him needs to be so deep, so real and vibrant, that only I know the truth of it.

Nevertheless, my relationship with God is ever changing, and therefore cannot be expressed in words. I couldn’t even express it properly to myself, as it subtly changes from moment to moment

May we merit a true, deep, and meaningful relationship with God, one that’s alive! We cannot copy anyone else’s relationship. Then we can say, like Dovid Hamelech, “Ani yadati ki gadol Hashem, I know how great and big is God.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.