From Rosh Chodesh Elul through Shmini Atzeret we recite Psalm 27 L’David Hashem Ori… The psalm alludes to Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

The sentence that alludes to Sukkot is sentence 5: “For in the day of evil he shall hide me in his Sukkah, He will conceal me in the concealment of his tent…” The idea that is expressed here is God’s protection and shelter of the Jewish people. Both ‘sukkah’ and ‘ohel’, tent, are used over and over in the Tanach as places that God protects and where God dwells.

As we prepare to celebrate Sukkot and as we spend the last week of the season reading Psalm 27, Let’s take a moment to appreciate God’s protection of the Jewish people.

From the Hamas prison we now see on a videotape released today that with Hashem’s protection Gilad Shalit appears to be in good health. The Jewish heart in all of us, after seeing this video, wishes we could reach into the TV screen and pull Gilad out of the evil and darkness. With the continued protection of Hashem, we pray that Gilad Shalit will be released soon.

Let’s make an effort to have special kavana when we say the words in sentences 12 and 14: “Deliver me not over to the will of my enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me who breathe “Hamas”, violence…Hope to Hashem, strengthen yourself and He will give you courage and hope to Hashem”.