The Talmud (P’sachim 117a) states that there are ten types of songs/expressions in the Book of Psalms: 1) conducting (nitzuach), 2) melody (nigun), 3) musical accompaniment (mizmor), 4) song (shir), 5) praise (hallel), 6) prayer (t’filah), 7) blessing (brachah), 8) thanksgiving (hodaah), 9) praises (ashrei), and 10) “Praise G-d” (Hallelukah).
Each chapter in the book of T’hilim begins with a headline that tells us something about the purpose of the psalm. The most recurrent headline, LaM’natzei’ach heads 55 out of a total of 150 psalms. A m’natzei’ach is a conductor, and the verb l’natzei’ach means to be victorious. A conductor prevails in creating harmony among the different instruments in the orchestra. A victor prevails over his enemies.
The Talmud explains that the “conductor” is referring to Hashem – our ultimate M’natzei’ach. Our lives are discordant, and Hashem can bring peace to all the different pieces. The word “LaM’natzei’ach” also emphasizes that Gd orchestrates the world eternally (la’netzach).
In this world, we really don’t understand why certain things happen. That’s the gift of emunah, the knowledge that Hashem is in charge and in control. When we have “emunah baShem” (faith in Hashem), we believe that Hashem is the Conductor of this world, and that He does love us infinitely and only wants the best for us. It allows us to be vulnerable to Hashem and say, “Look, if You really are up there and You really are running this show, help me help myself, help me trust You.” Hashem wants us to be in a relationship with Him. He wants us to turn to Him. Hashem’s love for us is unconditional, and not dependent on anything.
Look back and thank Hashem; look forward and trust Hashem.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Yisrael ben Raizel Shoshanah Miriam
Eliyahu ben Rachel
Robert ben Mazal
Yosef Yehudah ben Devorah
David ben Maya
Yosef Meir ben Malkah Charna
Amir ben Azar Avivah
Binyamin Nesanel ben Brachah Tovah
Eliyahu ben Zoya
Eliyahu ben Sophie
Lavi Rafael ben Olga
Moshe Reuven ben Sima Taybela
Yitzchak ben Rachel Shifrah
Shalom Reuven ben Shima
Shia Hersh ben Surel
Baruch Bendit ben Chanah Gitel
Chai Yitzchak ben Esther Rivkah
Moshe Reuven ben Sima Taybela
Leah bas Michal
Chayah Esther bas Barba
Esther bas Rachel
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Tziporah bas Fruma
Behnaz Chayah bas Yafah
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.