(Picture by J. Bollinger)There is a minhag instituted by the Baal Shem Tov to recite Tehillim 107 every Erev Shabbos. Knowing that this chapter details the four categories of people whose lives were saved from death, a person may ask what connection do we have to the person released from imprisonment, the person who overcame a terrible sickness, the person who survived a journey through the desert, or the person who survey a voyage at sea.
While it is very possible that we have not experienced any of these miraculous salivations the past week, there is one miracle we often fail to consider - that Hashem gave us another seven days of life.
Each Friday afternoon before saying Tehillim 107, I take a few moments to recall all the blessings of the past week and to reflect on the steps I have taken in my avodas Hashem.
I thank Hashem for the past seven days and then hope that I see the next seven.
מִי-חָכָם וְיִשְׁמָר-אֵלֶּה; וְיִתְבּוֹנְנוּ, חַסְדֵי יְהוָה
He who is wise will keep these in mind, and they will contemplate Hashem's kind deeds.
Its inspiring to see how you prepare youself and reflect before and after teffilah. I could learn a thing or two.
ReplyDeleteGood Shabbos.
Thank you for your comment. I also like to think about the fact that this was most certainly the minhag of the Degel Machaneh Ephraim who would have done what his grandfather did.
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