ימין ושמאל תפרצי
Yamin u’semol tifratzi For you shall spread out to the right and to the left.
In the previous stanzas, the prayers were of a deep yearning to return to the Land and the Sanctuary. Now that the negative impediments that prevented our return are gone, we focus on the positive. Similar to the pasuk (Tehillim 34:15), Sur mei’ra va’asei tov; “Turn from evil and do good,” is the idea to seek wholeness and go after it. Once the evil impediments have been flushed out and abrogated, we look forward to positive rebuilding. As we spread to the right as nations return to the Land, our physical strength will be awakened. We will fill the Land and spread beyond its limits. Our acts of kindness are represented by the yemin, right side, the side associated with generosity, expansion and love. The left side -- representing gevurah, strength, self-control and counter-balance -- serves as a counterbalance to the right side. The ideal, kindness tempered with discipline, is the way we spread forward. We must always demonstrate discipline and balance; otherwise, the physical growth will be uncontrolled. As we flourish in numbers, our spiritual, moral and ethical values will resonate and positively influence the nations of the world.
