Thanksgiving

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1. Mizmor 28

   Perspective Through the Eyes of the Psalmist

   Rabbi Avi Baumol

   Mizmor 28 begins with a cry to God to listen, a request and gratitude to God for listening. The request in this Mizmor is unique because David does not ask for God to defeat his enemies but to save him from being pulled in by wicked people who are less obvious enemies.

2. Tehillim 107 - Yom Haatzmaut

   Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

   In Israel, Yom Ha'zikaron [Memorial Day] and Yom Ha'Atzmaut [Independence Day] are separated by a mere split second. It is precisely this proximity that gives extra meaning to both days. Our awareness that the dedication of those who fell made our independence possible gives us the strength to cope with the sorrow of Yom Ha'Zikaron. At the same time, our awareness of that terrible price, encourages not only to appreciate our joy on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, but also to strive to channel our independence in the proper direction.

        This contrast between sorrow and joy at a time of redemption is reflected in Tehillim 107.  It is the custom in Israel to recite that perek before davening Maariv on Yom Ha’Atzmaut.  The following shiur will analyze the internal structure of Tehillim 107, and will explain why it was chosen to be read on this day.

3. Yehudit, Yehuda and Leah

   Rabbi David Silverberg

4. The Thanksgiving Offering

   Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

   Is the thanksgiving offering obligatory, or is it a free-will offering? Is a person who was ill and then recovered, or who was delivered from some other trouble, obligated to bring a thanksgiving offering? Or, does this person decide on his own initiative to volunteer a thanksgiving offering, so as to express the gratitude that he feels towards God?

   By focusing on the thanksgiving offering and the halahkic details that pertain to it, we can understand that the Torah wants to educate people to acknowledge God's goodness and to pay attention to those things for which he must thank God.

5. A Psalm for Independence Day

   Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

   The first Chief Rabbis of the State of Israel, Rav Herzog and Rav Uziel, along with several other important rabbinical figures, selected chapter 107 of Tehillim for recitation on Yom Ha-atzmaut (Israel Independence Day). This prophetic psalm is composed with a view towards the future (“God’s redeemed shall declare…”); it is indeed well suited to the day, as it speaks of the ingathering of the exiles, to which we are witness in our generation and of which Yom Ha-atzmaut is the principal symbol.

   We examine this exciting psalm in detail.

    

   Translated by Kaeren Fish

6. The Meaning of Shavuot and its Unique Offering

   Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

   While Pesach and Shavuot are linked by the counting of the Omer, they differ radically in their relationship to chametz and matza: on Pesach chametz is forbidden and matza is compulsory, while on Shavuot we offer two loaves of chametz.  How are we to understand this?  A proper explanation of the significance of chametz and matza, analyzing the various sources that appear in the Torah, shows that these are all details of a complete, unified system.