O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise.
This is a time of challenge across the world. Over and over we hear the phrase "social distancing", asking us to stay physically apart. This is a time when we desperately need community. We must know that we are all in this together. We are here to support one another, to help one another, to love one another. Our tradition is filled with times and places of great challenge. We have overcome them all. We have come out stronger, with new ideas, new opportunities.
From Avot d'Rabbi Natan 11a:
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai once was walking with his disciple Rabbi Yehoshua near Yerushalayim after the destruction of the Temple. Rabbi Yehoshua looked at the Temple ruins and said: “Alas for us! The place which atoned for the sins of the people Yisrael through the ritual of animal sacrifice lies in ruins!”
Then Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai spoke to him these words of comfort: “Be not grieved, my son. There is another way now of gaining atonement even though the Temple is destroyed. We must now gain atonement through gemilut hasadim, acts of lovingkindness, for it is written: For I desire hesed (lovingkindness), not sacrifice. (Hosea 6:6)
מודֶה [מודָה] אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ:
Modeh ani l'fanecha melech chai v'kayam. Shehechezarta bi nishmati b'chemla, rabah emunatecha
I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.
How Jews see the book of Psalms:
- It is the soul of religion that speaks in the psalms, accent of trust, joy, wonder, worship, doubt, fear and questioning
- The daily food of the Jew
- Sprang from the soul of the Jews based on experience and needs
General questions:
- How do the Psalms differ in wording and message from our traditional liturgy or from other Biblical texts?
- What role do they have and how do they fit into the service?
(א) שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶל־ה' בַּצָּרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י קָ֝רָ֗אתִי וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִי׃ (ב) ה' הַצִּ֣ילָה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִשְּׂפַת־שֶׁ֑קֶר מִלָּשׁ֥וֹן רְמִיָּֽה׃ (ג) מַה־יִּתֵּ֣ן לְ֭ךָ וּמַה־יֹּסִ֥יף לָ֗ךְ לָשׁ֥וֹן רְמִיָּֽה׃ (ד) חִצֵּ֣י גִבּ֣וֹר שְׁנוּנִ֑ים עִ֝֗ם גַּחֲלֵ֥י רְתָמִֽים׃ (ה) אֽוֹיָה־לִ֭י כִּי־גַ֣רְתִּי מֶ֑שֶׁךְ שָׁ֝כַ֗נְתִּי עִֽם־אָהֳלֵ֥י קֵדָֽר׃ (ו) רַ֭בַּת שָֽׁכְנָה־לָּ֣הּ נַפְשִׁ֑י עִ֝֗ם שׂוֹנֵ֥א שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (ז) אֲֽנִי־שָׁ֭לוֹם וְכִ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר הֵ֝֗מָּה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
(1) A song of ascents. In my distress I called to the LORD and He answered me. (2) O LORD, save me from treacherous lips, from a deceitful tongue! (3) What can you profit, what can you gain, O deceitful tongue? (4) A warrior’s sharp arrows, with hot coals of broom-wood. (5) Woe is me, that I live with Meshech, that I dwell among the clans of Kedar. (6) Too long have I dwelt with those who hate peace. (7) I am all peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Questions/Commentaries
- What is the message of the psalmist?
- Have you ever felt the way the speaker does?
- What emotions are conveyed by the language?
- What do you think could have happened to inspire these words?
Duties of the Heart, Sixth Treatise on Submission 6:9
- Likewise, when one habituates his tongue to speak good, it will become part of his nature, as written "He who does not habituate/slander with his tongue" (Tehilim 15:3), and it says regarding the opposite of this "Your tongue devises mischief, [as a sharpened razor, working deceit], You love all devouring words" (Tehilim 52:4)
Who is the person that desires life, and loves each day, that sees good in all things? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. -- Psalm 34:13-15
אֱלהַי1 נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהורָה הִיא
Elohai n'shama shenata'ta bi t'hora hi
O my God, the soul which thou gavest me is pure.
אֵלֶיךָ ה' אֶקְרָא2 וְאֶל אדושם אֶתְחַנָּן...שְׁמַע ה' וְחָנֵּנִי ה' הֱיֵה עזֵר לִי:
Eilecha Hashem Ekra, v'el Hashem Etchanan (x2),
Sh'ma Hashem v'choneni, Hashem heyeh ozer li.
To you, God, I call, and to God I will plead. Hear, O God, and have mercy on me, be a a help to me!
אַשְׁרֵי3 יושְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ. עוד יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה:
Ashrei yoshvei veitecha od yehalelucha selah.
A song of praise. Of David. I will extol You, my God and king, and bless Your name forever and ever.
(א) הַלְלוּיָהּ.4 הַלְלוּ אֶת ה' מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. הַלְלוּהוּ בַּמְּרומִים: הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל מַלְאָכָיו.
הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל צְבָאָיו: הַלְלוּהוּ שֶׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ.
הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל כּוכְבֵי אור: הַלְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם. וְהַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל הַשָּׁמָיִם:
יְהַלְלוּ אֶת שֵׁם ה'. כִּי הוּא צִוָּה וְנִבְרָאוּ: וַיַּעֲמִידֵם לָעַד לְעולָם. חָק נָתַן וְלא יַעֲבור:
Haleluya. Halelu et adonai min hashamayim, haleluhu bameromim. Haleluhu kol melachav, haleluhu kol tzeva'av. Haleluhu shemesh veyareach, haleluhu kol kochvei or. Haleluhu sheme hashamayim ve hamayim asher me'al hashamayim. Yihallelu et shem adonai ki hu tziva venivraoo. Vya'amidem la'ad leolam chok natan velo ya'avor. |
Hallelujah.
Praise ye the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Praise ye Him, all His angels; praise ye Him, all His hosts. Praise ye Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars of light. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD; for He commanded, and they were created. The one who has also established them forever and ever; God has made a decree which shall not be transgressed. --Psalm 148:1-6
עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ5 וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה
Ozi v’zimrat Yah vay’hi li lishuah. |
The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation. --Psalm 118:14, Exodus 15:2
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם, יוצֵר או וּבורֵא חשֶׁךְ. עֹשֶׂה שָׁלום וּבורֵא אֶת הַכּל.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha olam, yotzeir or uvorei choshech, oseh shalom uvorei et hakol.
אֵל מֶלֶךְ נֶאֱמָן:
שְׁמַע יִשרָאֵל ה' אֱלקֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד: בלחש: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוד מַלְכוּתו לְעולָם וָעֶד:
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלקֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאדֶךָ: וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּום עַל לְבָבֶךָ: וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ: וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאות עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטטָפת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ: וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזֻזות בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
El Melech Ne'eman
Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echoed. Barukh sheim k'vod malkhuto l'olam va'ed. V'ahav'ta eit Adonai Elohekha b'khol l'vav'kha uv'khol naf'sh'kha uv'khol m'odekha. V'hayu had'varim ha'eileh asher anokhi m'tzav'kha hayom al l'vavekha. V'shinan'tam l'vanekha v'dibar'ta bam b'shiv't'kha b'veitekha uv'lekh't'kha vaderekh uv'shakh'b'kha uv'kumekha Uk'shar'tam l'ot al yadekha v'hayu l'totafot bein einekha. Ukh'tav'tam al m'zuzot beitekha uvish'arekha. |
Hear oh Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Blessed be His name, whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.And thou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all that you have... And these words, which. I command you this day, shall be upon thy heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you read down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. And you shalt write them upon the doorposts of your house, and upon your gates. --Deuteronomy 6: 5-9
Mi shebeirach10 avoteinu M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu
May the source of strength, Who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing, And let us say, Amen.
Mi shebeirach imoteinu, M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah, the renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,
And let us say, Amen
א מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד13 ה' רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר: ב בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַֽהֲלֵֽנִי: ג נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ: ד גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֢יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי: ה תַּֽ֘עֲרֹ֚ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּ֘וֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה: ו אַ֤ךְ ט֣וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י וְשַׁבְתִּ֖י בְּבֵית־ה' לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים:
Mizmor le'Dovid, Hashem ro-i lo echsar. Binot desheh yarbitzeini, al mei menuchot yenahaleini. Nafshi yeshovev yancheini bemagalei tzedek lema'an shemo. Gam ki elech be'gei tzalmavet, lo ira ra ki atah imadi, shivtechah u'mishantechah hemah yenachamuni. Ta'aroch lefanai shulchan neged tzor'rai dishanta vashemen roshi, kosi rivaya. Ach tov va'chesed yirdifuni kol yemei chayai ve'shavti be'veit Hashem l'orech yamim.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 For God causes me to lie down in green pastures. God leads me beside still waters. 3 God restores my soul. God leads me in paths of righteousness for the sake of your Holy name. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [קהל: אמן]בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [קהל: בריך הוא:]לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di-v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba’agala
uvizman kariv, v’im’ru: “amen.”
Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.
Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei
d’kud’sha, b’rich hu, l’eila min-kol-birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata
v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru: “amen.”
Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’chayim aleinu
v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru: “amen.”
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu
v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru: “amen.”
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