The Power of Ashrei - Ashrei 13

סומך ה' לכל הנופלים וזוקף לכל הכפופים

Hashem supports all the fallen ones and straightens all the bent.

The word נופלים is written in present tense and not in past tense. Hashem supports those who ARE FALLING means that Hashem supports those who are in a downward spiral and falling time and again, as opposed to just supporting those who fell at one time.¹  Those in a downward spiral may give up hope and feel that they have no chance to return to Hashem. They may have previously committed to return to Hashem and failed time after time. Or they may have strayed so far that they do not believe it is possible to return. They have given up all hope. David HaMelech teaches us that Hashem is all-capable and can lift up everyone (לכל). An ordinary king can support many, but not everyone. However, Hashem can support and uplift EVERYONE,² regardless of how far or how often he or she is falling. 

This is true in both the spiritual world as described above and the physical world as well. Whether one is struggling with health, financial difficulties, or many other challenges in life, Hashem has the power to lift us from the lowest depths to the highest heights. There is nothing that is “difficult” for Hashem to do. Therefore, we should ask, beg, and cry to Hashem to help all those in need, certainly including ourselves. As mentioned in Ashrei 9, the brachah ofהשיבינו  is especially appropriate for one to daven for all those struggling and falling spiritually. The same is true of the brachah of רפאינו  for physical and mental health,ברך עלינו  for financial difficulties, and so on. The Gemara in B’rachos (10a) says that even if a sharp sword is already lying on the neck of a person, he should not refrain from asking Hashem for rachamim. 

In the brachah of השיבינו  we say והחזירנו בתשובה שלמה לפניך. The word והחזירנו means to cause us to return. The S’fas Emes³ explains that our primary role in t’shuvah is our strong desire to return. Success in t’shuvah is actually a gift from Hashem. We need to show Hashem (through tefilah, regret, admission, commitment for the future) that we want to return to Him badly and work hard. The ultimate success, like all else in life, comes from Hashem. Therefore, since nothing is beyond the capability of Hashem, one can strengthen oneself not to fall into despair and to always remain hopeful. One is never too far, and it is never too late. 

Those who are generally on a path of doing what is right but falter in particular transgressions are bent over (כפופים) as a result. They too may at some point struggle with the same issues for so many years that they give up hope on those sins. How many times can one commit, year after year, not to speak any more lashon ha’ra (as an example)? David HaMelech tells us that Hashem can straighten them (וזוקף) and will inspire them to do t’shuvah.⁴

^{1 בית אברהם לחנוכה עמוד ל״ו}

^{2 אבן עזרא תהלים קמ״ה:י״ד}

^{מכתב מבעל שפת אמת ר״ח אלול תרכ״ה 3}

^{תהלה לדוד תהלים קמ״ה:י"ד 4}