Tehillim 111 – How Sons Depend on Their Mother

Tehillim 111 – How Sons Depend on Their Mother

“Reishit Chochmah – Yirat Ha-Shem, seichel tov lechol oseihem” – (the beginning of wisdom is reverence for G-d; all who practice it have good understanding); If you have ever seen a family with more than three generations of Torah scholars, whose descendants no longer study Torah, do not say that the words of the sages are meaningless. They explained the verse: “My words shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring” (Isaiah 59:21) as follows: If three generations engage in Torah, the generations that follow will always study Torah. If the next generation does not study Torah, it means that these people chose unsuitable spouses. The sages said: “Most sons resemble their mother’s brothers.” If a wife’s brothers do not set aside time to study Torah, her children will not study it either. The rule of three generations applies both to those who revere G-d and to the pious, as it is written: “And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). If, in a particular family, the members of the fourth generation cease to be G-d-fearing or pious, one can confidently say that people in this family married unsuitable partners—for example, those who came from families not known for reverence of G-d or piety. That is why their descendants turned out the same way. Therefore, one should pray to G-d every day for oneself and for one’s descendants, so as to merit a wife from a G-d-fearing family in which Torah is studied and acts of kindness are performed. This is also what is meant by: “And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The words יראת “yirat” (reverence for G-d), תורה – “Torah” (Torah), and גמילות חסדים – “gemilut chasadim” (acts of kindness) all have the same gematria: 611, because reverence for G-d is equal in significance to Torah study and acts of kindness. It is said of it: “The beginning of wisdom is reverence for G-d; all who practice it have good understanding.” (Tehillim 111:10) It does not say, “among all who study,” but rather, “among all who practice.” It is written: “If only they would always have such a fear of Me in their hearts.” (Deuteronomy 5:26) And it is also written: “What does G-d require of you? Only to revere Him.” (Deuteronomy 10:12) In other words, reverence for G-d comes before everything else. Reverence for G-d, love of the Creator, and following His ways constitute “good understanding among all who practice it.” (Rabbi Judah He-Hasid, “Sefer Chasidim,” 156)