by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 1, 2024 | Psalms
In verse 5 of Psalm 137, the psalmist declares that he would lose his strength should he ever forget Jerusalem. Now, in verse 6, he says that he will lose the ability to express himself as well. In fulfillment of the sentiment of this verse, numerous Jewish customs...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 27, 2023 | Psalms
Psalm 137 is a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Israel. The psalmist responds to the sarcastic taunting of his captors who ask the exiled Jews to “sing a song of Zion.” (Psalms 137:3) After stating in the previous verse that he cannot bring...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 20, 2023 | Good and Evil, Psalms
In Psalms 125:2, Jerusalem is presented as a metaphor for the people of Israel, and the mountains that surround Jerusalem are a metaphor for God who protects His people. The previous verse in Psalm 125 uses similar imagery regarding those who put their trust in God....
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 27, 2023 | Faith, Psalms
King Solomon instructs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5). We find ourselves repeating that mantra in good times and, especially, in bad times. But what exactly does it mean to have trust in God? Are we supposed to believe that...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 23, 2023 | Gratitude, Psalms
In the autumn of 1621, a group of Pilgrims and Native Americans gathered to celebrate an event that would become a cornerstone of American tradition: the first Thanksgiving. Led by William Bradford, the Governor of the Plymouth Colony and leader of the Mayflower...
by Rabbi Elie Mischel | f 16, 2023 | Prayer, Psalms
Electrifying. It’s the only word I can think of to describe the 290,000 Jews and Christians who rallied together at the National Mall in Washington DC on Tuesday, the largest pro-Israel gathering in history. The Jewish people have awakened, and millions of good...
