DELIBERATELY DIVERSE | by Frances Sorrow Do you know a mizmor?
“Deliberately Diverse” represents the viewpoints and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never entirely agree on anything but welcome the opportunity to share and appreciate diverse opinions in our beloved community.
Do you know a mizmor? Chances are, you do, if you are an American adult. Why? Most American funerals include Psalm 23, which is a mizmor.
Mizmor is Hebrew for “melody of praise,” which English translators rendered a “psalm.”
We Jews have a long tradition of reading psalms every morning, with prescribed psalms for each day of every month. In addition to praising the Eternal One, it is a useful tool for meditation.
While there are many beautiful sources for meditation media from a broad spectrum of religious persuasions, using the psalms as a source has a particularly Judeo-Christian focus.
As time goes by, the repetitive monthly psalm cycle makes meditation easier for many people.
In the Jewish tradition, there is a scheduled cycle so that all 150 are covered every month. While the recitations were planned for the Hebrew calendar, many find it easier to use the secular calendar.
If you do want to follow ancient tradition, it’s fairly easy.
Day 1 always starts at the new moon. This is also a way of honoring God’s creation by becoming conscious of the phases of the moon.
The cycle results in reading about five psalms a day. However, since the length of the psalms varies, rabbis worked out a cycle that balances the reading.
For example, on the first day, the tradition is to cover psalms one through nine, while half of Psalm 119 is recited on the 25th and 26th days of the month.
There is another tradition that appeals to many: That is to meditate on one psalm each day.
For some, it is one favorite psalm, while others cover the 150 psalms in succession so that all are covered at least twice a year.
Whether using the Jewish cycle, another cycle or the same psalm, there are a few psalms the tradition calls the healing psalms.
These are read or recited whenever healing is needed. These are psalms 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 106, 139 and 150.
One thing many of us forget — the Levites sang these in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. If you want to experience what this was like, just search online for psalms sung in Hebrew. There are many from which to choose.
Sorrow is a longtime Taylor resident.
