Mizmor Letoda: Secrets Of Psalm 100 Gratitude Prayer | מזמור לתודה

(א) מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה: הָרִיעוּ לַיהוָה, כָּל-הָאָרֶץ.

(ב) עִבְדוּ אֶת-יְהוָה בְּשִׂמְחָה; בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו, בִּרְנָנָה.

(ג) דְּעוּ כִּי יְהוָה, הוּא אֱלֹהִים: הוּא-עָשָׂנוּ, וְלוֹ אֲנַחְנוּ עַמּוֹ, וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ.

(ד) בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו, בְּתוֹדָה--חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה; הוֹדוּ-לוֹ, בָּרְכוּ שְׁמוֹ.

(ה) כִּי-טוֹב יְהוָה, לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ; וְעַד-דֹּר וָדֹר, אֱמוּנָתוֹ.

(1)Mizmor Letoda: Hariu Ladonai, Kol Haaretz.

(2) Ivdu Et Adonai Besimcha; Bou Lefanav, Birnana.

(3) Deu Ki Adonai, Hu Elohim: Hu Asanu, Velo Anachnu Amo, Vetzon Marito.

(4) Bou Shearav, Betoda--Chatzerotav Bitehila; Hodu Lo, Barechu Shemo.

(5) Ki Tov Adonai, Leolam Chasdo; Vead Dor Vador, Emunato.

The Concept of Thank You

1. Thanksgiving To Hashem

Mizmor Letoda Is The 100th Psalm In The Book Of Psalms. During The Time Of The Holy Temple, It Was Recited During The Offering Of The Thanksgiving Sacrifice, And Its Entire Essence Is Focused On Giving Thanks To Hashem. In This Chapter, There Is A Call To The Entire World To Serve The Blessed Hashem, To Cheer For Him, To Praise His Name, And To Offer Him Thanksgiving Sacrifices.

To Recognize The Goodness Of The Holy One, Blessed Be He, For Both The Revealed Miracles And Those Not Visible To Us. To Reflect – Not Only In Times Of Trouble, But Every Single Day – On The Many Kindnesses That The Holy One, Blessed Be He, Performs For Us And To Remember At All Times To Thank Him For Them. When A Miracle Occurs For A Large Public, Some Customarily Recite This Psalm During The Opening Of The Holy Ark.

2. All Psalms Will Be Nullified In The Future - Except For Mizmor Letoda

In The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah Tzav 9), It Is Stated That In The Future To Come, All Prayers Will Be Nullified Except For Mizmor Letoda. And Thus It Is Ruled In Halacha: "Mizmor Letoda Should Be Said With Melody, For All Songs Are Destined To Be Nullified Except For Mizmor Letoda" (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 51:8).

And Why Specifically Mizmor Letoda? The Abudarham Explains, "Because Prayers Will Be Nullified Since They Will Not Need To Ask For Worldly Needs, For All Days Will Be In Great Goodness, And They Will Have Nothing But Praise And Thanksgiving To The Blessed Hashem" (Tikkun HaTefillot Ve'inyanehem).

3. Who Wrote The Psalm?

Mizmor Letoda Is Attributed To Moses Our Teacher: "Rabbi Tanchuma In The Name Of Resh Lakish: At The Hour When The Holy One, Blessed Be He, Said To Moses 'And He Shall Confess Over It' Etc., He Began And Said Mizmor Letoda" (Jerusalem Talmud, Shevuot 1:8).

And Thus Rashi Of Blessed Memory Wrote: "Mizmor Letoda Was Instituted By Moses Our Teacher, For It Is Among The Psalms Said By Him, Since All The Psalms In The Book Of Psalms Written After 'A Prayer Of Moses The Man Of God' Where It Is Not Mentioned That David Said Them, Know That Moses Said Them..." (Siddur Rashi, Siman 417).

However, In The Book Of HaRokeach It Is Written: "Mizmor Letoda, This Psalm Was Founded By David For The Thanksgiving Offerings He Would Bring, Since He Traveled In Dangerous Places And Forests And Would Bring Thanksgiving Offerings For This, And Thank The Holy One, Blessed Be He, For His Many Miracles."

An in-depth look at the 100th perek of Tehillim, Mizmor LeTodah

4. When Is Mizmor Letoda Not Recited?

The Sephardim Customarily Recite Mizmor Letoda Before "Baruch She'amar," Because The Psalm Is Part Of The Sacrificial Order Recited Earlier. "And We Say It At The End Because It Is Superior To All Sacrifices, And In The Future All Sacrifices Are Destined To Be Nullified While The Thanksgiving Sacrifice Will Exist Forever; Therefore, One Should Say 'Mizmor Letoda' With Melody And Song" (Seder HaYom, Morning Prayer, Page 10b).

In Contrast, Ashkenazim Recite It After "Ashira Lashem," Since The Psalm Is A Thanksgiving To Hashem Who Bestows Kindnesses Upon Us, And Indeed Miracles Are Performed For Us Every Day – Therefore, This Psalm Should Follow 'Ashira Lashem'. However, There Are Certain Times When Mizmor Letoda Is Not Recited: On Shabbat - Mizmor Letoda Is Recited For The Thanksgiving Sacrifice, And Since The Thanksgiving Sacrifice Does Not Supersede Shabbat Because It Is An Individual Offering, It Is Skipped On Shabbat (From Siddur Rashi).

On The Eve Of Passover And Chol HaMoed Passover – "Mizmor Letoda Is Not Recited On The Eve Of Passover Nor On Chol HaMoed Of Passover, As No Thanksgiving Offering Is Brought On Passover Because Of The Leaven (Chametz) Included In It" (Minhagei Maharil, Laws Of Prayer). Eve Of Yom Kippur – "Mizmor Letoda Is Not Recited On The Eve Of Yom Kippur, As They Would Not Be Able To Eat It At Night Due To The Fast" (Levush, Siman 604:2).

5. Segula For An Easy Birth

Chapter 100 Is A Wonderful Segula For An Easy Birth. It Is Recommended For A Woman In Labor To Recite It During Labor Pains, With Joy And Immense Intention – To Thank Hashem For His Wonders And His Miracles With Us Every Single Day.

"Our Sages Instituted Reciting Psalm 100 Every Day, Which Is Mizmor Letoda, And The Intention Is That A Person Must Give Thanks Every Single Day And Bring A Thanksgiving Offering, For Even The One To Whom A Miracle Happens Does Not Recognize The Miracle That The Holy One, Blessed Be He, Performs For Him.

And By Reciting This Psalm, His Heart's Intention Should Be As If He Is Bringing A Thanksgiving Offering, Just As Was The Custom Of The Ancients Of Blessed Memory, That In Every Matter And Event That Happened To Them, They Would Give Praise And Thanksgiving And Immediately Recognize That It Was The Providence Of The Blessed Creator, And It Was Always Bound In Their Hearts Never To Forget The Providence Of The Holy One, Blessed Be He." (Kav HaYashar, Chapter 18