I was just learning the gemorah in Brochos that says why there is no "Nun" in ashrei. The gemorah answers because the word "Nefeilah" starts with a "Nun". Aren't there many words that start with a”Nun" both positive and negative? Why do we assume that "Nun" represents "Nefeilah"?
Ashrei
Started by
YReiner
, May 27 2011 11:48 AM
1 reply to this topic
#2
Rabbi Shapiro
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Posted 29 May 2011 - 02:22 PM
Well the point was not that Nun stands for Nefilah per se but that a prophecy was made with the letter Nun which stands for Nefilah. Now let's assume that Nun was used for positive prophesies as well, still, since Nun also represents Nefilah, it would be improper for us to use a letter that includes a Nevuah of Nefila in our Tefilah, even if it is not used for Nefila exclusively. Because, as the Rishonim say there, when we praise Hashem it is not appropriate at the same time to speak about Nefilah - אשרי המלך שמקלסין אותו בביתו מה לו לאב שהגלה את בניו לבין אומות העולם.
I have my own answer as to why Nun is excluded as opposed to many other of the letters that are also used for negative prophecies, as well as why only in Ashrei we are concerned about the Nun as opposed to all the other prayers that also praise Hashem.
There is a Posuk in Mishle: אשרי אדם מפחד תמיד ומקשה לבו יפול ברע".
We see from this Posuk that the detriment "Nefilah" is the exact converse of the benefit of "Ashrei". Therefore, it is only in Ashrei that we have a problem, and only with Nefilah.
I have my own answer as to why Nun is excluded as opposed to many other of the letters that are also used for negative prophecies, as well as why only in Ashrei we are concerned about the Nun as opposed to all the other prayers that also praise Hashem.
There is a Posuk in Mishle: אשרי אדם מפחד תמיד ומקשה לבו יפול ברע".
We see from this Posuk that the detriment "Nefilah" is the exact converse of the benefit of "Ashrei". Therefore, it is only in Ashrei that we have a problem, and only with Nefilah.
