The Power of Psalms: The Most Emotional Book in Jewish History

Welcome to Torah Unboxed. My name is Rabbi Mendel Winner and today we are going to be reviewing the Tehillim or otherwise known as the Book of Psalms. Why is Tehillim so popular? You see, these songs tell our own story. They validate the full range of human emotions. We recognize our struggles in the text. We succeed and we fail. We are afraid and we are joyous. We are content and we are anxious. Whatever is expressed in this book relates to all Jewish people at all times. To understand the Psalms, you've got to learn about the author, King David or Dovid Hamelech. Though some chapters were authored by other individuals, the entire Tehillim is attributed to King David because he collected them all and was known as the sweet singer of Israel, the one who would wake up at midnight and lovingly sing Tehillim to his creator. King David is famously known for defeating the giant Goliath the enemy of the Jews, as well as many other armies who sought to defeat us. But what truly made him righteous wasn't just his courage, it was his absolute faith in God, his selflessness, and his willingness to repent after his mistakes that he made. King David was also a tremendous Torah scholar and a true Jewish leader. Throughout the Tehillim, King David prays for Moshiach. In fact, Moshiach will be a descendant of King David. Maimonides described Moshiach as someone immersed in Torah like David, his ancestor. King David was known for his tremendous joy in serving Hashem. And when Maimonides wants to show what it means to rejoice with a mitzvah, who does he bring as an example? King David. Tehillim is divided into five books, each with a central theme. Book 1 focuses on praises to Hashem for his miracles. Book 2, Psalms of Prayer. Book 3, Thanksgiving for Hashem's kindness. Book 4, Psalms of Confession and Repentance. And Book 5 talks about Moshiach and Redemption. Tehillim is also a major part of our daily prayer, and many chapters are included in the Siddur. Many parts of Tehillim were originally composed as songs that would later be sung by the Levites in the Holy Temple. We too say them sometimes as prayer and sometimes just to thank Hashem. Now let's talk about the power of Tehillim. Saying Tehillim can move the heavens and bring miracles, healing, protection, success, and blessing. The words are so holy that just reciting them carries immense power even without understanding. The third Chabad Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek said, if we only knew the effect that reciting Tehillim has in the highest of realms, you would spend every possible moment saying Tehillim. Now because Tehillim is also part of Torah, it actually holds a double power, combining prayer and Torah study. That's why it's important not only to say Tehillim but also to learn its meaning. And this power is further amplified, like the Rebbe said, by giving Tzedakah when you say Tehillim. Some of the editions we'll be reviewing today will help you focus more on the study component. Tehillim should be said daily, as part of the Chitas daily study program, as it's divided into a monthly cycle. You should also recite your personal chapter, the one corresponding to the year that you're in. So for example, a 13 year old will say chapter 14. You can also say the chapters of loved ones, like spouses, children, parents, and grandparents. Chassidim also say the chapter of the Rebbe. In the Chabad community, the entire Tehillim is said on Shabbos Mevorchim, the Shabbos before the new month. And during the month of Elul and the high holidays, extra Tehillim is recited. The first Tehillim we'll be reviewing today is this Kehos English Tehillim. This is a great basic Tehillim with a literal translation. You've got Hebrew on one side, English on the other. Each chapter has an English translation of the ancient intro of the chapters of Tehillim. In the back, there's a selection of letters from the Friediker Rebbe, that's the 6th Chabad Rebbe, on the power and importance of saying Tehillim. This Tehillim also comes in a linear edition with Hebrew and English line by line. We now have the Artscroll transliterated Tehillim. This one has the original Hebrew spelled out in English letters. So even if you don't read Hebrew fluently, you can still say the Tehillim in its original language. At the bottom of the page, there are short inspiring footnotes that add meaning and enhance your Tehillim experience. We now have the Weiss Edition Tehillim. This is more of a modern relatable Tehillim. It uses a simpler translation and blends together bold-faced text for the literal translation and lighter font for basic explanation. At the bottom of the page, you'll find short, inspiring insights drawn from a wide range of sources. These add context and meaning to the prayers, offering great food for thought and meditation. In the back of the book, there's a collection of inspiring stories about the power of Tehillim. We now have the Gutnick Tehillim. This edition gives you the original Hebrew text alongside a literal English translation. On the side of the page, there's a short description summarizing the theme of the chapter. You then have the classic questions section. This section explores fundamental questions, and answers based on the primary commentators, which gives you insights and background to help you understand the chapter that you're saying. You then have Toras Menachem based on the vast teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Here, a phrase from the Tehillim is quoted and then expounded upon, offering deep inspiration and real life lessons that bring the Psalm to life. Next up is the Kehos Tehillim with extensive commentary. This edition begins with a wonderful introduction to Tehillim, including background on King David's life and the story behind the Book of Tehillim This translation is mostly literal, with short interpolations added to enhance readability. You'll also find brief summaries on each chapter on the side of the page. But the real excitement begins at the bottom of the page, where you have a smorgasbord of commentary. Here the reader can explore Pshat, which is the straightforward meaning of the verses and the historical background, or delve into snippets of Talmud, Medresh, Kabbalah, Chassidus, offering a rich, all-encompassing understanding of each chapter from many different perspectives There is also a section called Psalms in Practice, which highlight various Halachos and customs that are rooted in Tehillim. In the back, there's a useful index for easy reference so you can quickly find the psalms or topics you're looking for. We now have the Tzivos Hashem Children's Tehillim, This Tehillim is great for children trying to say the daily Tehillim. It's divided and color coded for the days of the month Each day begins with a beautiful colored page. You then have an intro, a Sicha, a talk of the Rebbe about that day and that day's Tehillim. Each psalm is introduced with the original introduction from the Hebrew translated in a child-friendly English translation. It only has the Hebrew text. However, it has some more difficult words translated into English. There's also a section with Chassidus ideas on that day's Tehillim. Another cool feature of this Tehillim is it has days in Chabad where the children can learn more about the special days in the Chabad calendar. To summarize, we have the Kehos Basic English Translation, a linear version of the same one. We have the transliterated Artscroll Tehillim. We have a more modern, relatable Weiss edition Tehillim. We have the Kol Menachem Gutnick Tehillim, focuses on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. We have this extensive commentary Kehos Tehillim, drawn from a wide range of sources and lots of Chassidus and Kabbalah. And we have our Tzivos Hashem Children's Tehillim color coded and beautifully engaging for children.