Poetry and Prayer

Jews Christians, and many others have long turned to the biblical Book of Psalms in moments of joy and sorrow. In this daily podcast, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik guides listeners through all 150 chapters, exploring their poetry, meaning, and enduring place in the life of faith.

David's Song and Stanley Spyler

In Psalm 18 David seeks to inspire his listeners throughout Jewish history. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 18 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 18 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 18 in Hebrew and English. "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-19
11:13

The Bedtime Psalm

David's psalm can be seen as a description of his confronting fears in the midst of the night. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 17 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 17 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 17 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 17 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 generously sponsored by Luna and Jonathan Zemmol and family.

12-18
10:21

Psalm 16: Truman's Torah and the Right Hand of David

The rabbis see a reference to a royal Torah scroll in this psalm of gratitude. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 16 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 16 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 16 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 16 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 generously sponsored by Luna and Jonathan Zemmol and Family.

12-17
06:53

Psalm 15: A Funeral Psalm About Life

A psalm said at a funeral teaches us a great deal about life. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 15 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 15 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 15 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 15 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 generously sponsored by Luna and Jonathan Zemmol and Family.

12-16
06:01

Psalm 14: The Fool Named Fool and the Wise King's Psalm

David's psalm about "the fool" may be linked to a man he knew. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 14 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 14 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 14 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 14 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read I Samuel 25. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-15
07:53

Psalm 13: A Psalm of Anguish and Joy

Psalm 13 is a small psalm whose expressions are understood to be capturing the span of Jewish history. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 13 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 13 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 13 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 13 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-14
06:39

Psalm 12: The Danger of Duplicity and the Silver Speech of the Divine

David asks us to ponder how language is used and how different God's speech is from that among humanity. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 12 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 12 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 12 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 12 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-12
07:07

Psalm 11: A Mountain, a Bird, and the Nature of Faith

In reading Psalm 11, we ponder how two poems provide meaningful metaphors for faith. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 11 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 11 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 11 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 11 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Sonnet 116: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds" by William Shakespeare. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-11
06:27

Psalm 10: Athens, Jerusalem, and Injustice

Psalm 10 offers insights into the difference between the Greek and Jewish views of justice. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 10 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 10 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 10 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 10 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-10
10:49

Psalm 9: David, the Psalms, and the Existence of Evil

In Psalm 9, David seems to reflect on his most famous battle encounter—and on the existence of evil in the world. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 9 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 9 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 9 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 9 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-09
11:15

Psalm 8: Majesty and Humility in the Psalms

Psalm 8 perfectly expresses what Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik described as the "majesty and humility" at the heart of the human condition. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 8 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 8 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 8 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 8 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Alone in the Cosmos" by Rabbi Soloveichik. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-08
08:01

Psalm 7: David, Saul, and the Psalms

Psalm 7 finds David grappling with the fact that Saul, the anointed of God, threatens his life. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 7 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 7 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 7 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 7 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read I Samuel 24: 5-7. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-07
10:07

Psalm 6: Tachanun and the Intimate Encounter with the Almighty

Psalm 6 is often recited in a posture of prostration, allowing for a more intimate interaction with God. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 6 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 6 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 6 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-05
11:01

Psalm 5: To Be Like Bees

Psalm 5 teaches that God-given joy is the honey at the heart of this world. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 5 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 5 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 5 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-04
11:39

Psalm 4: For the Conductor

Psalm 4 reveals the power of music in healing the soul. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 4 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 4 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 4 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "A Death-Defying Orchestra" by Rabbi Soloveichik. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

12-03
09:55

Psalm 3: For the Sake of the Sacred City

Psalm 3 finds David at the lowest point of his career, but his focus remains on his people. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 3 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 3 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 3 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 generously sponsored by Warren and Susan Stern.

12-02
10:15

Psalm 2: Jerusalem, DC

Psalm 2 speaks to the enduring nature of Jerusalem as the City of David. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalms 2 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalms 2 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalms 2 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "Marco Rubio in the City of David" by Rabbi Soloveichik. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetry & Prayer" is generously sponsored by Warren and Susan Stern.

12-01
11:47

Psalm 1: Psalms in a Gulag and on a Gameshow

Psalms is a book in which God is praised. Why then does it begin with praise for man? Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalms 1 in English.  Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalms 1 in Hebrew.  Click here to read Psalms 1 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read "The Unexpected Psalm of Thanksgiving" by Rabbi Soloveichik.  — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetry & Prayer" is generously sponsored by Warren and Susan Stern.

11-28
12:49

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