Tehillim -- the precious companion of every Jew. Wherever you
go, you'll see this small sefer cupped in people's
hands, receiving their prayers and tears like a faithful
friend. While the familiar words and cadence of Dovid
Hamelech's verses give us comfort and hope, how much more
solace could we gain by truly identifying with the concepts
embedded in every word?
A new commentary on Tehillim has just appeared which
effectively applies the chizuk of Dovid Hamelech to
our modern-day lives. The first volume in this planned three-
volume set, covering psalms 1- 50, is the product of the warm
heart and expressive pen of Rabbi Yitzchok Reuven Rubin, Rav
of the South Manchester Synagogue and Chairman of the
Rabbinical Council of the Provinces (England) for nearly two
decades. American-born and raised, Rabbi Rubin was a close
talmid of the previous Bobover and Gerrer Rebbes
zt'l and is a powerful speaker, author (his first
book, A Rabbi's Journal, appeared in 2001) and weekly
columnist for The Jewish Tribune in England.
His new English-language commentary is appropriately titled,
Rhythm of the Heart, for in each essay, Rabbi Rubin
prods, cajoles and arouses each of us to contemplate the
meaning of Tehillim with a two-sided microscope -- one
focused on Dovid Hamelech's words, the other on the echoes of
our own hearts.
Rabbi Rubin's style is personal, passionate and heartwarming.
He speaks directly to each individual, taking in the panorama
of life's eternal challenges, the potential that lies in
every Yid and the deep wellsprings of hope that one taps
every time he turns to Hashem for support. Using the
contemporary world as his palette, he paints vivid word-
pictures of everyday life -- a wedding, a music lesson at
summer camp, a little boy frightened by imaginary monsters,
quirky news headlines -- and then parlays those experiences
into memorable lessons on emuna and ahavas
Hashem.
Rabbi Rubin has an uncanny ability to breathe new life into
the most familiar Tehillim and make them pulsate with fresh
meaning. In his essay on Tehillim 35, for example, he
explains that Dovid Hamelech often speaks about fending off
enemies.
"How does that apply to me?" wonders the average person. "I'm
not a soldier." As he analyzes each verse of this psalm,
Rabbi Rubin uncovers the real battle and the real enemy: the
yetzer hora that uses every type of weapon to stymie
our avodas Hashem.
The imagery of the battle continues in sync with the verses:
"When you are besieged by fears and insecurities, the only
shield is Hashem's love... The battles are many, the warriors
strong. However, with the sweet words of Dovid, we can
beseech Hashem with time- honored words of hope. As he so
lovingly ended this kapitel: And my tongue will tell of
Your righteousness, and all day long, Your praise. Just
saying these words brings courage and strength, with hope for
a victorious future."
Readers will also be inspired by Rabbi Rubin's gentle and
often self- deprecating humor. The author recounts his own
foibles and insecurities in light vignettes that pave the way
to more serious examinations of life's tests. At the same
time, he is unafraid to scrutinize life in all candor,
plucking the heartstrings until they cry over the pain of
lost opportunities, misguided values and the battle for
survival against enemies both physical and spiritual.
The words of Tehillim uplift us time and again. For it is
precisely when one is ready to yield to despair that the
clear message of Tehillim -- the assurance that Hashem will
answer us when we call -- rescues us from the abyss. Rabbi
Rubin's notes on Tehillim 40 express this point with
poignancy and grace:
"He raised me from the turbulent pit, from the quicksand.
He set my feet on a rock, firmly establishing my steps.
Even when we feel ourselves sinking in the quicksand of
disaster and trapped in the pits of hate, when we cry out to
Hashem, we find ourselves lifted onto a safer plane. Yidden,
remember one thing! We are children of holy ancestors who
lived through unspeakable terrors, yet they lived to stand on
solid ground. We walk in their footsteps today. The times are
calling us to tap into their wellsprings of courage."
Each psalm is printed in Hebrew after each essay, accompanied
by a new English translation drawn from the commentaries of
Rashi, Malbim and Radak. King David's words come alive in
this fluent translation, making this an all-in-one volume for
prayer, study and reflection.
As the darkness of spiritual malaise thickens around us,
Rhythm of the Heart beams a calm, steady glow of light
to guide us back to our Source of life and hope.
More than a fitting new addition to every Jewish library,
this new sefer is a fitting companion for every
English- speaking Jew.
