Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

Pinchas son of Elazar the son of Aharon th Priest has turned My wrath... by jealously making My rights valid amongst them..." (25,11)

The portions beginning and ending with Ashrei entail the initials for "Those who love G-d detest evil" and by detesting evil a person merits to be saved from terrible damage that can come about from the thoughts of the wicked.

"Fortunate is the man who has not gone with the advice of the wicked."

Our Sages ob'm ask - Why did David Hamelech begin the Book of Psalms specifically with the word Fortunate- אשרי - as it says - "Fortunate- אשרי is the man who has not gone with the advice of the wicked." Our Sages ob'm said, "For any portion that was beloved to David he began with Ashrei and ended with Ashrei as it says - Fortunate- אשרי are those who take refuge in Him."

 We must understand - why did David Hamelech love the word Ashrei so much?

 The holy Rabbi Pinchas Friedman said - The initials of the word אשרי stand for אוהבי ה' שנאו רע - "Those who love G-d detest evil."Since this idea of detesting evil is very propitious and wonderful for being saved from the thoughts of the wicked, the portions that David Hamelech love were those that began and ended with Ashrei.

 SHABBAT SHALOM!!