The Book of Psalms, the 150 psalms of the Hebrew Bible, is recognized as the most famous collection of religious poetry. The psalms are traditionally associated with King David. While his authorship of all of them is unlikely – some psalms reflect events which occurred subsequent to David’s life in the tenth century B.C.E. – his connection to psalms remains very strong. David was thought to have encouraged psalm singers during the First Temple period; he is described in the Bible as a player of the lyre; he is identified as the "sweet singer of Israel."
Psalms have become a permanent part of our worship and are written in a wide variety of literary styles. Their length varies. Psalm 117, part of the Hallel prayers recited during the Pilgrimage Festivals, is a scant two verses. Psalm 119 is an acrostic which includes 176 verses. The twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet each begin eight verses. During traditional Jewish morning worship a specific psalm is associated with and read for each day of the week. Psalm 23, "The Lord Is My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want," is a standard part of funerals and memorial services.
The Hebrew name for Psalms is Tehillim. The root of the word means praise.
The psalms are a remarkable collection of poems in praise of God. They are poems which reflect the continuum of the human experience, from one person’s relationship with God to the relationship of an entire community with God. They contain thoughts of anguish, praise, doubt, thanksgiving, compassion and longing. The words are powerful and sincere and able to be spoken by all of us. Psalms are a vehicle which has allowed people to express a personal and profound relationship with their God.
As Psalmist-in-Residence at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue from 1996 to 2002, Debbie Perlman brought psalms into the consciousness of the community. The psalms she wrote are read and recited just as King David’s have been - to express joy and sorrow, gratitude and reflection. Her psalms set the mood for worship and provide moments for personal meditation. Ms. Perlman has brought King David’s psalms to life by bringing us new psalms. She reminds us that through psalms, God speaks to us today as easily as God spoke to our ancestors.
Hyma J. Levin
Director of Education Emerita
Beth Emet The Free Synagogue
52 - A Song for Morning
Several years ago, Rabbi Eleanor Smith, taught me the "Modeh Ani" prayer for awakening. I like the imagery of a soul restored after sleep. I think it is also a fitting image to use when awakening after surgery or in the moment after a fever breaks, when the pain finally eases, or the symptoms of chemotherapy abate. We are restored.
74 - Rosh Chodesh Adar
The Hebrew month of Adar begins on Wednesday, February 17. Adar is the almost-Spring month that contains the joyous holiday of Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jews of ancient Persia through the deeds of the heroine, Esther and her cousin, Mordechai. Esther’s story reminds us to have the courage to challenge fate, the faith to advocate for what is right. As we fight illness, we become like Esther, we put on her garment of strength and hope.
43 - A Song for Courage
Reaching out for wholeness is such a struggle. Coping with treatments and changed schedules, changed days and nights. How can we ever face this new life we did not choose? Reach out for help in your climb to wholeness; reach out for God’s hand.
124 - Tu B'Shevat
February 1, the 15th of Shevat, is the holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees. It is a time to plant and plan, to think about nourishing the earth as we nourish our hope for growth and change. An old story relates how at midnight on Tu B’Shevat, the trees reach out their branches and embrace. So should we reach out to embrace life, our own healing and the healing of others. Plant something on Tu B’Shevat; plant your own future.
53 - Rainbow Hallel for Sukkot
Sukkot is one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals. Our Pilgrimage these days must be spiritual. But we can still enjoy the serenity of sitting in a Sukkah - a fragile structure that evokes the booths built by the ancient Israelites so they could be close to their fields as they brought in the harvest.
54 - For My Daughter
My daughter, E.G., and I were talking about psalms the other day. A student at Lake Forest College, she is taking a course in Hebrew Bible with the distinguished Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Senior Scholar at North Shore Congregation Israel and editor of the beautiful Passover Haggadah published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Her assignment was to select and comment on her personal response to ten psalms. She was surprised at her reaction to many of the psalms. She commented in her paper: “Perhaps this is because of the book of psalms my mother wrote. I have always found great meaning and resonance in her writings.”
168 - Erev Rosh Hashanah
For the past three years, it’s been my honor, as Resident Psalmist at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, to compose new psalms for the High Holy Days. What a thrill to hear Rabbi Peter Knobel or Rabbi Eleanor Smith read my words to open worship those evenings. I am humbled as I listen; I am grateful to continue to reach such moments.
125 - In the Surgical Waiting Room
Surgery.
Major or minor…"just a biopsy"…what an exhausting time for the patient and for those who wait.