Tehilim Perek 87

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing Tehilim, Chapter 87.

This is a song written by the sons of Korach. When referring to the mountains, it means Yerushalyim, but specifically Har Hamoriyah, the Temple Mount, the focal point of Eretz Yisroel.

The essential message in this prayer is God’s [and our] love for Israel.

Dovid opens the song by stating that Hashem loves Tzion more than any place on earth.

The Radak explains, from verse 4 until the end, that the perek is written as if Dovid is speaking. Thinking of other nations doesn’t necessarily bring to mind the names of their great leaders, but the thought of Tzion automatically conjures up images of its great people and leaders throughout history.

Eretz Yisrael has long been the focal point of the hearts and minds of elevated and happy people.

The Radak explains that people who have God at the center of their lives will be inspired to sing and play music to Him due to their love for Him.

Verse 2 says:

אֹהֵב יְהוָה שַׁעֲרֵי צִיּוֹן מִכֹּל מִשְׁכְּנוֹת יַעֲקֹב׃

Hashem loves the gates of Zion, His foundation on the holy mountains, more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

The Gemarah in Brachos 8A explains that Hashem loves the places that are filled with halacha more than any of the shuls or batei medrash.

Certainly, halacha is studied in shuls and batei medrash, so what does it mean that Hashem loves places that are filled with halacha more?

The Noam Elimelech, Meor Einayim, and many other Chassidic seforim explain that a Tzaddik is called Tzion. As “tzion” literally means a marker or sign, the Tzaddik shows that God exists in this world. He is the one who is able to help arouse people’s souls and bring them back to teshuva.

Tzaddkim have a unique way of bringing the Torah down even to the lowest Jew, making it practical for each specific person. Tzaddikim constantly “reinvent” the Torah, opening up new gates and allowing every Jew to come close to Hashem.

Therefore, when it says that Hashem loves the shearim that excel with halacha more than any of the shuls or batei medrash, it means that Hashem loves the Tzaddikim who teach people halacha, how to conduct ourselves in life and come close to Hashem no matter where we may find ourselves.

May we merit connecting ourselves to the true Tzaddikim who will bring us all to Eretz Yisrael, and greet Mashiach on Hashem’s holy mountains. Then the cast aside nation will come singing and dancing to Hashem.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.