Poetry and Prayer

The miraculous endurance of the Jewish people is the subject of Psalm 124. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 124 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 124 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 124 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Mark Twain and the Jews" by Cynthia Ozick. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is ge...

Psalm 123 is a striking contrast to Psalm 122, teaching us about the different emotions reflected in the psalms in their entirety. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 123 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 123 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 123 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generousl...

Psalm 122 gives us David's vision of Jerusalem. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 122 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 122 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 122 in Hebrew and English. Click here to view "Paratroopers at the Western Wall" by David Rubinger. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsore...

Some modern commentators persuasively argue that this famous psalm is originally about a journey. Supplemental Materials : ​ Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 121 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 121 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 121 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana K...

Psalm 120 introduces the "Songs of Ascent" and has a seemingly jarring conclusion. Supplemental Materials : ​ Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 120 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 120 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 120 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

Psalm 119 concludes with a surprising ending. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:153-176 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:153-176 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119:153-176 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

The psalm describes in an intriguing way how one can be near to God in this world. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:136-152 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:136-152 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119:136-152 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and...

A beautiful phrase about the luminous nature of the word of God could have a dual meaning. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:121-136 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:121-136 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119:121-136 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by I...

The psalms describe the Torah as belonging to God, yet Jewish liturgy depicts the Torah as being given. How are these representations to be reconciled? Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:113-120 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:113-120 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119:113-120 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A D...

A fascinating verse describes how the Torah guides everyday life. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:81-112 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:81-112 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119:81-112 in Hebrew and English. Click here to watch Rabbi Soloveichik's video on Lincoln from his "Faith and Film" series. — "Poetry & Prayer: A...

A story of a Jew from early America relates to a term for certain commandments in our psalm. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:49-80 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:49-80 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119:49-80 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan...

The distinct names for certain commandments teach us about the larger symphony that is a life inspired by the Torah. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119, Verses 33-48, in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119, Verses 33-48, in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 119, Verses 33-48, in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey T...

The first section of the longest psalm reflects the complexity of the Torah and the way that study sustains Jews throughout the generations. Supplemental Materials :  ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:1-32 in English.  Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 119:1-32 in Hebrew.  Click here to read Psalm 119:1-32 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Thro...

The psalm speaks of a "rejected" stone. Who is it? Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 118 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 118 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 118 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetry & Prayer" is gen...

The complexity of the eschatological vision of the Hebrew Bible is contained in this short psalm. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 117 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 117 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 117 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read Menachem Begin's Nobel Peace Prize speech. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Thr...

A verse said by many Jews as they prepare for the end of the Sabbath is found in our psalm. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 116 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 116 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 116 in Hebrew and English. Click here to watch Rabbi Soloveichik's video on Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's painting "The Conclusion of the...

Henry V references the opening phrase of our psalm, though not in the most famous section of the play. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 115 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 115 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 115 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read the St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V by William Shakespeare. — "Poetry &...

Psalm 114 contains a word linked to a contemporary story of Jewish heroism, bravery, and faith. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 114 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 114 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 114 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Agam Berger, the Hostage Who Kept the Sabbath" by Rabbi Soloveichik. — "Poetry & Pr...

The beginning of wisdom, according to our psalm, is found in something other than reason. Supplemental Materials : ​Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 111 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 111 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 111 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

A psalm said to mark miracles concludes with a description of the restoration of Zion. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 113 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 113 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 113 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

A psalm about the importance of memory is an apt one to study on Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 112 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 112 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 112 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzan...

A reference to an early king of Jerusalem is seemingly the heart of this psalm. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 110 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 110 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 110 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to the "Jerusalem 365" episode about Melchizedek. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the P...

The danger of words wielded to achieve malicious ends is the subject of the psalm. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 109 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 109 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 109 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Confronting Evil" by Yair Rahat. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is gener...

A Talmudic story about David's "alarm clock" is linked to this psalm. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 108 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 108 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 108 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetr...

A psalm of thanksgiving is linked to the Pilgrim story. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 107 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 107 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 107 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Thanksgiving: A Jewish Holiday After All" by Dr. Moshe Sokolow. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is g...