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My People's Prayer Book Vol 3
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01 December 1999

This stunning work, an empowering entryway to the spiritual revival of our times, enables all of us to claim our connection to the heritage of the traditional Jewish prayer book. It helps rejuvenate Jewish worship in today's world, and makes its power accessible to all.
This third volume of the series explores the rich content and meaning of the P'sukei D'zimrah, the morning psalms that serve as the introduction to the larger prayer service. The P'sukei D’zimrah sets the tone and prepares the way for the daily transition from secular routine to the sacred act of communal prayer; Vol. 3 helps us to appreciate this "prayer before the prayer" as a profoundly moving spiritual experience in its own right.
Vol. 3—P’sukei D’zimrah (Morning Psalms) features the authentic Hebrew text with a new translation designed to let people know exactly what the prayers say. Introductions tell the reader what to look for in the prayer service, as well as how to truly use the commentaries, to search for—and find—meaning in the prayer book. Commentaries from some of today’s most eminent scholars and teachers from all movements of Judaism examine P’sukei D’zimrah from the perspectives of ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as feminist, halakhic, Talmudic, linguistic, biblical, Chasidic, mystical and historical perspectives.
Even those not yet familiar with the prayer book can appreciate the spiritual richness of P’sukei D’zimrah. My People’s Prayer Book enables all worshipers, of any denomination, to encounter their own connection to 3,000 years of Jewish experience with the world and with God.
Contributors:
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD • Dr. Marc Zvi Brettler • Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, PhD • Dr. David Ellenson • Rabbi Lawrence Kushner • Ellen Frankel • Judith Hauptman • Joel M. Hoffman• Rabbi Daniel Landes • Rabbi Nehemia Polen • Rabbi Reuven Kimelman, PhD
About My People's Prayer Book
Introduction To The Liturgy: Why The P’sukei D’zimrah?
Lawrence A. Hoffman
Prayer in the Bible and the Use of the Bible in Later Jewish Prayer
Marc Brettler
The Twofold Halakhic Status of P’sukei D’zimrah
Daniel Landes
P’sukei D’zimrah and the Problem of Length in Modern Prayer Books
David Ellenson
Ashre: Psalm 145 and Its Rhetorical Structure
Reuven Kimelman
Introduction to the Commentaries: How to Look for Meaning in the Prayers
Lawrence A. Hoffman
The Liturgy
1. Opening Blessing: Barukh She’amar
("Blessed Is the One by Whose Speech…")
2. Biblical Interlude I: Medieval Additions
A. 1 Chronicles 16:8–36
B. Mixture of Psalm Verses
C. Psalm 100
D. Mixture of Biblical Verses
3. The Daily Hallel (Hallel Sheb’khol Yom): Psalms 145–150
A. Psalm 145 (Ashre)
B. Psalm 146
C. Psalm 147
D. Psalm 148
E. Psalm 149
F. Psalm 150
4. Biblical Interlude Ii: Medieval Additions
A. Mixture of Psalm Verses
B. 1 Chronicles 29:10–13
C. Nehemiah 9:6–11
D. Shirat Hayam (“Song Of The Sea” [Exodus 14:30–15:18])
5. Closing Blessing: Yishtabach
(“The Blessing Of Song” [Birkat Hashir])
About the Commentators
List of Abbreviations
Glossary