- The Book of Psalms (Tehilim) contains 150 psalms/chapters. It is the first book in Writings (Kethuvim). Tehilim translates literally as "songs of praise." Psalms were sung as part of the service in ancient times and continue to be read/recited/sung today (e.g., during Friday night Shabbat service, Hallel, on Rosh Chodesh).
- Psalms tend to fall into 1 of 3 general categories: psalms praising God, psalms asking God for help, and psalms thanking God. These categories suggest a relationship between God and humans. Psalm 1 introduces the Book of Psalms and can be seen as orienting us to what is to come in the rest of the Book.
Read Psalm 1 carefully a few times with your partner. For now, stay in the "noticing" space and don't yet go to interpretations.
* What do you notice about the text?
* What questions do you have?
* What is the text trying to say?
(א) אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּעֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב׃
(ב) כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃
(ג) וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨וֹ ׀ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתּ֗וֹ וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ׃
(ד) לֹא־כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃
(ה) עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ לֹא־יָקֻ֣מוּ רְ֭שָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים בַּעֲדַ֥ת צַדִּיקִֽים׃
(ו) כִּֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה דֶּ֣רֶךְ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְדֶ֖רֶךְ רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃
(1) Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
and has not stood in the path of sinners,
and has not sat in the seat of scoffers.
(2) rather, the teaching [Torah] of the LORD is his delight, and he studies that teaching day and night.
(3) He is like a tree [re]planted beside streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, whose foliage never fades,
and whatever it produces thrives.
(4) Not so the wicked; rather, they are like chaff that wind blows away.
(5) Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment, nor will sinners, in the assembly of the righteous.
(6) For the LORD cherishes the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Now, consider interpretations of the text. Read the connecting texts below (connections are highlighted) and/or watch the video.
* How do these texts/video add to, detract from, or alter you initial ideas?
* What defines happiness? What is the role of Torah/Jewish learning in finding happiness? How does your definition of happiness align or diverge from the text's definition?
* How does this text speak to you about happiness, teaching and learning?
Color - Symbol - Image
We will be sharing our thinking on Google Slides. Please
(Psalms 1:3) "And he shall be like a tree replanted by streams of water." The disciples of R. Yanai said, "[It says] 'a tree replanted' and not 'a tree planted' [to teach us that] anyone that only learns Torah from one teacher will never see any blessing."
(ג) ועלהו לא יבול . אפילו הפסולת שבו לצורך היא שיחתן של תלמידי חכמים לצורך היא וצריכה לימוד :
(3) "His leaf will not decay" - even the least of it is useful. And discussion by the students of the wise is useful and worthy of study.