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Tehillim Tools: Sha’arei HaYashar 9:15



The 9th of Iyar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Chaim Friedlander of Liska (1840-1904). Born in Klienverdan, Hungary, he was a sixth generation descendant of the Maharsha, as well as a descendent the Maharal miPrague, the Taz, the Bach, the Shelah Hakodesh, and the Baal Smichos Chachamim. He married the third daughter of the first Liska Rebbe, Rav Tzvi Hersh, the Ach Pri Tevuah. He was chosen to be Rav of Erdobenye, then Dayan in Liska. When his father-in-law was niftar in 1874, Rav Chaim succeeded him. Liska is located in the hills of the Tokay region of Hungary. In 1904, Rav Chaim tragically choked on a piece of fish. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Tzvi Hersh, the Baal Shaarei Hayasher (a sefer on Tehillim). He and most of his family perished during the Holocauset. His son, Rav Yosef Friedlander, author of Tzvi V’Chammid, resurrected the Liska court and transplanted it in Boro Park. He was niftar in 1971 and was succeeded by his son, Rav Tzvi Hersh Friedlander, author of Chamudei Tzvi.

 

“That I may tell of all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion; that I may rejoice in Your deliverance (Psalms 9:15).”

King David begins with, “tell all Your praises,” followed by, “rejoice in Your deliverance,” even though we would expect the deliverance to precede the praises.

He is teaching us that the time to sing is before deliverance; before the miracle. Our confident singing of God’s praises, convinced that the miracle will come, is what earns us the deliverance! (Sha’arei HaYashar: Tehillim)

This is how we sing God’s praises in the second blessing of the Amidah, “Gevurot,” or, “Empowerment.” “God lifts the fallen,” so we are confident that He will lift those around us who have fallen. We sing, “God is the healer of the ill,” so we know that God will heal people who are sick. These are phrases of Shirah that bring us the merit to experience miracles and deliverance.

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