Lo Lanu: The Third Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

One of the highlights and most debated points regarding the celebration of Yom haAtzmaut is the recitation of Hallel (Tehillim 113-118). In this, the third shiur in this series, we explore the recurring polemic against idolatry in Tanakh along with the background to "skipped Hallel". We then study the text of the third chapter with an eye towards the four goals in any study of Tehillim - (1) the meaning of the words (2) the poetic structure of the psalm (3) the message of the psalm and (4) its place at that point in the liturgy, along with one added consideration - why this chapter is one of the two that is partially skipped - and why it is the first half that is deliberately elided on some days. This shiur was given on our 75th יום העצמאות.

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