“Who will go up to the mountain of G-d, and who will stand in His holy place?” (T’hilim 24:3)
The Maggid of Koznitz shares a valuable insight, breaking down this verse into two distinct phases of spiritual growth. The initial challenge is akin to ascending a mountain to be close to Hashem, our Creator – a formidable task in itself. However, the greater test lies in maintaining that closeness and sustaining spiritual development over an extended period. This is particularly challenging due to our inherent nature of constant change – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The daily fluctuations in our moods, concentration levels, and overall experiences make it difficult to remain spiritually steadfast over time.
Parshas VaYeishev sheds light on the remarkable journey of Yosef, who not only successfully reached the spiritual summit but also demonstrated the ability to stay closely connected to Hashem. In a dream, Yosef envisioned himself and his brothers in a field, bundling grain. His sheaf not only stood tall but also commanded the respect of his brothers’ sheaves, which bowed to it. Rabbi Zvi Belovski interprets this dream as a powerful representation of Yosef’s status as a tzadik, someone who not only attains a spiritual high but remains unwavering in his connection to Hashem.
Building upon this wisdom, David HaMelech imparts the importance of cultivating a basic awareness of Hashem’s presence in our lives. As articulated in Psalms: “I have set Hashem before me always” (T’hilim 16:8): Consciously inviting Hashem into our daily existence becomes the cornerstone for initiating and nurturing a profound and enduring relationship with our Creator. By maintaining this awareness, we not only climb the spiritual mountain but also anchor ourselves securely in Hashem’s divine presence, weathering the inevitable changes that life brings.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Michael Rachamim ben Mazal
Yosef Yosi ben Simchah
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zissel
Chaim ben Adinah Eidel
Matan ben Devorah
Noam ben Adi
Moshe Shlomo ben Orah Sarah
Mazal bas Rivkah
Odelya bas Mahbubeh Yocheved
Zhenya bas Zoya
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Mitali Naomi bas Gilah Farcha
Zoya bas Rachel Raya
Rachel bas Leah
Mazal bas Rachel
Israeli Soldiers (Please recite Psalms 25, 26, 46, 83, 142.)
Avraham Yaakov ben Devorah
Binyamin Shlomo Yitzchak ben Rivkah Avivah
Shmuel ben Rachel
Avraham Yitzchak ben Chayah Sara
Aharon Yehudah ben Rivkah Zlata
Chaim Yair ben Miriam Devorah
Yitzchak ben Chanah Brachah
Levi Yitzchak ben Dinah Miriam
Meir Moshe ben Gittel
Yehoshua Elyakim Getzel ben Devorah
Naftali ben Devorah Sharon
Yisrael Mordechai ben Chanah Gittel
Shmayah ben Chanah Zelda
Avraham ben Ilanah Tovah
Yehudah Chaim ben Mina Chayah
Ohr Moshe ben Alizah
Elya Akiva ben Chavah Leah
Yisrael Yehudah ben Elisheva Rachel
Baruch Tzvi ben Shoshanah Raizel
Meir Simchah ben Adinah
Aharon Mordechai ben Kresel Baila
Avraham Mordechai ben Tiferes
Eliyahu ben Chayah Tamar
Yitzchak Issac ben Freida
Shlomo Zalman ben Tziporah Alitah
Netanel Meir ben Esther
Tuvia Nissim ben Yehudis
Yonah ben Tziporah
Yehudah Aharon ben Tziviah
Yehudah ben Nurit
Daniel ben Nurit
Roy ben Ronit
Amit ben Janet
Danny ben Chavah
Elya ben Merav
Dvir ben Granit
Avihu ben Anat
Yosef Chaim ben Yael
Chagai Naftali ben Esther Avigayil
Nesanel Moshe ben Yocheved
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.