* Ten classes on the theme of Psalms in Jewish prayer, formal and informal
* Ten classes on Psalms as Meditations on God and Humanity
Collection Image:
"David Composing the Psalms," Paris Psalter, 10th century
By anonymous - Paris psalter (BnF MS Grec 139), folio 1v, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=807679.
Psalm 107 with its four powerful depictions of God's saving acts is a source for the Hagomel blessing recited on Shabbat. This class emphasizes the practice of expressing gratitude/thanks/Todah.
Psalm 51 explores the consciousness of guilt and desire for forgiveness and personal transformation. It is echoed in the poem "Bilvavi" (In My Heart I will Build a Tabernacle).
Does it make a difference how we invoke God? How do we express a desire to get close to God? How do we experience times when it feels that God is not available?
Psalms 1 and 2 are an introduction (or two introductions) to the Book of Psalms. What values do they present? What context do they provide for the book of Psalms as a whole? How do they guide the reader into the book?
Jewish liturgy includes a special collection of psalms for holidays and Chanukah (Hallel, Psalms 113-118). In this class we will explore passages which help set the tone for Hallel as a whole: Psalms 114 and 115. Depending on how one looks at this psalms, they are either a single unit, two units, or three units.
Jewish liturgy uses specific psalms to express certain themes on particular days such as psalms for each of the days of the week and a special collection of psalms recited on holidays (Hallel). This class focuses on Psalm 24, the psalm for Sunday, and Psalm 114, part of Hallel.
Psalms: Entering the Biblical Book of Prayer. Session 1 featuring psalms for any day: Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd" - the psalm par excellence; Pesukei deZimra/daily psalms--Psalm 147 "It is good to chant hymns to our God."