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| Psalm 26: Connected to the Klal |
In this chapter, the psalmist expresses his confidence that
his path is genuine and pure. The psalm concludes,
Why does he speak of a single leg? Would it not be better to
have both feet planted firmly on the ground?
Spiritual Legs
Just as we have two physical legs to walk, so too, we have
two spiritual 'legs' that enable us to advance spiritually.
The first 'leg' is the merit of our good deeds. And the
second 'leg' is our connection to the klal, the community
or the nation. Together, these two 'legs' allow us to
maintain our ethical balance and progress spiritually.
Which leg is more crucial? True growth, of course, requires
one to be accomplished both in good deeds and in one's
connection to the klal. But if we need to chose, which
quality is more important?
Torah On One Leg
This question was posed to Hillel some two thousand years
ago. A potential convert challenged the first-century
scholar to teach him the entire Torah while standing "on one
leg." Once again, we find ourselves confronted with the
metaphor of a single leg.
The gentile was not just trying to be irksome. He wanted to
know: what is the single most fundamental quality of the
Torah? Hillel responded, "What is hateful to you, do not do
to your neighbor" (Shabbat 31a). In other words, the Torah
is based on proper interpersonal relations; it is upheld by
one's connection to society. By being part of the klal,
one is rooted within the framework of a faith-community.
Out of modesty, King David spoke of a single leg: "My leg
stands on a straight path." He did not claim complete
mastery in good works. Only one of my spiritual legs is
complete, David declared, and that is my connection to the
klal. With all my heart, I cleave to the nation; I have
unbounded love for each and every Jew. My second leg, my
reserve of good deeds, may be deficient, but since my first
leg is sturdy, I am able to stand firmly in the straight
path. Now we can also understand the connection to the
second half of the verse, which describes the spiritual
benefit of belonging to a community: "I will bless God in
assemblies."
This idea seems to be a major theme of the chapter. The
psalmist's confidence in his path is based on avoiding the
negative influences of "dishonest men" and "gatherings of
evildoers." He chose instead to take inspiration from "the
dwelling of Your house and the residence of Your glory," and
merited to publicly "bless God in assemblies."
(adapted from Midbar Shur p. 73)
Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison
"øÇâÀìÄé òÈîÀãÈä áÀîÄéùÑåÉø, áÌÀîÇ÷ÀäÅìÄéí àÂáÈøÅêÀ ä'.
(úäéìéí: ë"å:é"á)
"My leg stands on a straight path; I will bless God in
assemblies." (Ps. 26:12)