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28

July 26 • 2018

I

Parshat V’etchanan:
Deuteronomy 3:23-
7:11; Isaiah 40:1-26.

n this week’s Torah portion, we
find Moses’ personal prayer,
petitioning God for entry into
the Land of Israel. Moses prayed to
God countless times — but which
prayer book did he use?
In a synagogue today, you can
find all sorts of prayers in the sid-
free expression to simply tell God
dur. There are different ones for
what’s happening. There is no limit
the weekdays, Shabbat or holi-
to how much one can say.
days. But what was there
On the contrary, the more
to pray from before the
said the better.
structured siddur was
So, how can we integrate
composed?
this important book into
King David compiled
our daily routine? The Baal
the book of Tehillim
Shem Tov, the founder of the
(Psalms) as the first offi-
Chassidic movement, intro-
cial prayer book. He pub-
duced the custom that every
lished it with the intent
Jew should say the chapter
Rabbi Schneor
that these prayers be for
Greenberg
of Tehillim corresponding
all times and occasions.
to his year of life. A 30-year-
Yet not all the psalms
old would say Chapter 31,
were composed by King
for the year of life he is cur-
David. Some were com-
rently living. Furthermore,
posed by Adam, Shem,
Abraham, Jacob, Moses and others. the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M.M.
Schneerson of blessed memory,
The Midrash tells us that for the
suggested to many people that it’s
entirety of the 20 years that Jacob
a good thing to pray for their chil-
lived by Laban, he didn’t sleep a
dren and loved ones as well recite
wink. Rather, he was continuously
daily the chapter that corresponds
reciting psalms.
For more than 1,000 years, before to their age.
Therefore, each day I recite my
the siddur of today was compiled,
chapter, my wife’s chapter and
the Tehillim served as our prayer
each one of my children’s chapters.
book. When the men of the great
After all, it’s a way to give them a
assembly worked to compile the
siddur, they did not intend for it to spiritual kiss. •
take the place of Tehillim. Rather, it
was intended as a companion, pro- Rabbi Schneor Greenberg is rabbi of the
Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce,
viding prayers for specific times
and occasions. They set prayers for rabbi@jewishcommerce.org.
morning and night, Shabbat and
holidays, bedtime, travel and grace CONVERSATIONS
after meals.
Yet, what if one would like to
What do you do when you want
offer a spontaneous prayer, to ask
to offer a spontaneous prayer? Is
for or give thanks for something
there ever too much to include in a
personal or to pray for some-
prayer? Would you turn to Tehillim
one’s health? Whenever one feels
when you aren’t sure what to say?
the desire for further prayer, he
Did you know King David did not
turns back to the original prayer
write all the Psalms?
book, Tehillim, which allows for