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Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:50:58 -0800
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THE DAFYOMI DISCUSSION LIST
brought to you by Kollel Iyun Hadaf of Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
d...@dafyomi.co.il
[REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE TO DISCUSS THE DAF WITH THE KOLLEL]
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Subject: Mizmor l'David for Se'udah Shelishis
Doug Rabin <doug_ra...@yahoo.com> asked:
Wondered why do some people sing Mizmor Ledavid 3 times at Shalosh Seudos. Do
you have a mekor?
Doug Rabin, Clifton NJ
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The Kollel replies:
(a) Let us first determine if there is a source for saying it even once!
Saying Mizmor l'David (Tehilim 23) by the Shabbos meal appears to come from the
Arizal (Sha'ar ha'Kavanos), who advises that it should be recited by *all
three* Shabbos meals. According to Talmidei ha'Ari (cited by Bnei Yisaschar,
Ma'amarei ha'Shabasos 8:20), it should be said during meals even on weekdays
(as a Segulah/prayer for Parnasah).
Although it seems that not every Tzadik said it during every one of the Shabbos
meals, the Bnei Yisaschar (ibid. 8:17) writes that "it is a known custom of
Tzadikim [over the generations]" to say it for Se'udah Shelishis, "and in some
places it is recited three times" during Se'udah Shelishis.
This leaves us with the following questions: 1. Why should this Mizmor be said
during the Shabbos meals, and especially during Se'udah Shelishis, more than by
weekday meals, and 2. Why do some say it three times during Se'udah Shelishis.
(b) Here is what I found regarding the first question:
1. Rav Tzadok (Pri Tzadik, Terumah #11) explains as follows. On Shabbos, one
may feel that he is losing out a day of work and that his Parnasah will suffer
as a result(see Meilah 17a). To renounce that attitude we say "Hashem Ro'i Lo
Echsar" - I am not afraid that I will lose out, because Hashem will certainly
tend to all of my needs. He will not let me "lose out" by keeping His Mitzvos.
We emphasize this during Se'udah Shelishis, as we are about to return to our
"days of work." This is to remind ourselves that even when we labor, it is not
our efforts that feed us but Hashem's blessing.
2. The Bnei Yisaschar (ibid. 8:17) brings from the writings of Rav Shimshon
Ostropolier that this Mizmor alludes to the means by which the Tzadikim raise
the souls of the wicked out of Gehinom.
Since those in Gehinom "have off" on Shabbos (Mordechai in Arvei Pesachim,
Zohar 3:94b), they certainly visit the Tzadikim and beg to be lifted from their
fate. That is why the Tzadikim say this Mizmor during the Shabbos meals - and
especially during Se'udah Shelishis, when the wicked are about to be returned
to Gehinom.
3. The Bnei Yisaschar (ibid. 8: 19) suggests another reason for why we say this
Mizmor during Se'udah Shelishis. According to many Midrashim and Rishonim,
Moshe Rabeinu was Niftar on Shabbos afternoon (see Shulchan Aruch OC 292:2).
Moshe is called "Ra'ayah Mehemna" - the trusted shepherd. That is why we say on
Shabbos afternoon, during Se'udah Shelishis, "Hashem Ro'i Lo Echsar." We mean
to say, even though Moshe, our "Ro'eh," was Niftar, we do not fear the loss,
because we know that Hashem is our eternal Shepherd.
(b) As for why some say the Mizmor three times during Se'udah Shelishis:
1. My guess is that the custom to recite it three times during Se'udah
Shelishis was to make up for the other two Se'udos during which it was not
said. (My father in law, Manostrichtsher Rebbe, who says it all three meals,
indeed says it only once Se'udah Shelishis.)
2. The Bnei Yisascher (ibid. 8:20) gives a brilliant explanation for saying the
Mizmor three times (once each meal, or thrice during Se'udah Shelishis).
The Arizal said that this Mizmor is related to Parnasah, since it has 57
("Zan") words, and 227 (="Berachah") letters.
The Bnei Yisaschar adds that Berachah is especially appropriate for Shabbos,
since it is the third day in a row during which Hashem gave a Berachah. On the
fifth day He blessed the fish, on the sixth - man, and on the seventh the
Shabbat itself was blessed. That makes Shabbos "triply blessed" (i.e. it
collects all of the blessings that were given on the consecutive days leading
up to it). Since it is a day of three "Berachah"s, we say three Mizmor l'Davids
(each of which has Berachah=227 letters).
He adds that this is also why we eat fish on Shabbos. Dagim (fish) were the
recipients of the first Berachah, and we want to reap the Berachos from "fish"
until "Shabbos." And the letters of Dagim also add up to 227.
Best wishes,
Mordecai Kornfeld
Kollel Iyun Hadaf
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