Weekly Tefilah Focus

Yagati b’anchasi as’cheh b’chol lailah mitasi, b’dim’asi arsi amseh.

I am worn out by my sighing (about my illness); every night I cause my bed to float from crying, with my tears I melt my couch.

About eight years ago, a ben Torah, whom I admire greatly, mentioned to me that he never says Tachanun. When I asked him why, he candidly responded that it is a very sanctified and “scary” tefilah, and since he has no kavanah, he is afraid of being punished severely. In fact, the Magen Avraham (siman 131 s”k 5) quotes the Zohar HaKadosh who writes that the punishment is very severe for one who does not have kavanah when reciting Tachanun. My guess is that he had learned this Zohar and therefore refrained from ever saying Tachanun. (Note: I am not qualified to pasken halachic questions, though I believe this action was not correct. Anyone who would ever consider this idea must ask his rav.)

Ki ein ba’maves zichrecha, bish’ol mi yodeh lach

(Besides, what would be gained by my death) for I will not mention You in death, (and) in the grave who can thank You (but if You heal me, I will thank You). [T’hilim 6:6]

NEW YORK NEWS

 Jeremy Rosenberg, a supervising detective involved in the prosecution of Donald Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, has been suspended for his contact with Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer. Rosenberg, who investigates financial crimes for Bragg, had his gun removed due to his interactions with Cohen. The suspension is being reviewed by Bragg’s office to assess compliance with internal protocols and to examine how Rosenberg shared communications about Cohen. Cohen’s attorney stated that their interactions were professional and focused on Cohen’s personal security. Critics have viewed the suspension as a politically motivated move by Bragg, who has been criticized as being soft on crime. Rosenberg also assisted in the prosecution of Steve Bannon and worked on investigations related to cryptocurrency and drug dealing on the dark web. Bragg had previously indicted Trump for an alleged hush payment.

In last week’s segment, we briefly discussed the importance and power of “N’filas Apayim” (falling on our face), better known to us as Tachanun.

In the last segment, we described how T’hilim, and this perek in particular, can be understood on three levels: David HaMelech writing about his own life, writing for klal Yisrael, and writing so that each individual could see himself in the p’sukim of T’hilim. This week and next week, we will see how pasuk 5 specifically can be understood on all three levels.