Image by onBeing via Flickr
The Book of Psalms is called T’hilim in Hebrew.
We recite Psalm 27 every day during the the first 50 days of the 60-day spiritual journey through the months of Elul and Tishrei. Starting one month before Rosh haShanah and continuing daily through Sukkot and Simhat Torah, Jews around the world repeat the comforting words of the psalmist:
“Gd is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:2)
When you put it this way, our worries and problems suddenly seem smaller and less consequential, don’t you think? I guess that’s the point.
There’s a beautiful waltz tune that was composed for the Hebrew lines of the following quote, whose meaning is already beautiful. I’ve been teaching this one throughout the 60-day journey, every chance I get:
“One thing I asked of Gd, that shall I seek: That I dwell in the house of Gd all the days of my life; to behold the sweetness of Gd and to contemplate in His sanctuary.” (Ps. 27:4)
One line of Psalm 27 that always startles is the tenth verse:
“Though my father and mother have forsaken me, Gd will gather me in.” (Ps. 27:10)
Yep, that’s really what it says. Maybe they really did forsake one. Or maybe one simply grew up and moved away.
The final words of the psalm are comforting to many:
“Hope to Gd. Strengthen yourself and be encouraged, and hope to Gd.”
Learn Hebrew with Natasha Shabat 