Rabbi’s Update 5/2/2025

Dear Friends:

Next Thursday night I will begin an Adult Education class on the Book of Psalms. The Sefaria website describes the Book of Psalms as “an anthology of 150 poems attributed to King David and to others. It includes songs of praise to God, laments of communal or personal tragedy, and expressions of anger, despair, hope, and gratitude. Psalms are prevalent throughout Jewish liturgy and commonly recited as an independent form of prayer. They are often sung or chanted.” You may be familiar with many of the Psalms that appear in the prayerbook, such as Psalms 113 through 118 which make up the Hallel chanted on certain holidays and Rosh Chodesh. Many others are completely unknown to most of us since they do not appear in our liturgy.

I’m calling the class  “Echoes of the Spirit: Exploring the Psalms' Wisdom.” This study of Psalms invites you on a meaningful journey into the heart of the Book of Psalms, uncovering its profound spiritual insights that continue to resonate across millennia. This class delves beyond the surface of familiar verses, exploring the rich tapestry of human emotion and the unwavering thread of connection to the Divine woven throughout these ancient poems and prayers. Together, we will examine the Psalms' diverse expressions of joy, sorrow, gratitude, and lament, discovering how these sacred texts articulate the full spectrum of the human spiritual experience. Through insightful discussions, textual analysis, and developing your own insights, you will gain a deeper understanding of the Psalms' enduring wisdom and their capacity to nourish your own spiritual life.

This exploration is both important and deeply worthwhile because the Psalms offer a timeless language for the soul's yearning for connection and meaning. In a world often characterized by noise and distraction, the Psalms provide a sanctuary of reflection and a powerful tool for cultivating inner peace. By engaging with the honesty and vulnerability expressed within these sacred writings, you will find a mirror for your own spiritual journey, discovering that the challenges and triumphs you face are part of a shared human experience before God. This class will empower you to integrate the wisdom of the Psalms into your daily life, enriching your prayer practice, deepening your understanding of Jewish spirituality, and fostering a more profound and personal relationship with the sacred.

“Echoes of the Spirit” will meet biweekly, on the second and fourth Thursday of each calendar month. It will alternate with our continuing class on Pirkei Avot, “Wisdom from our Sages,” which will now meet on the first and third Thursdays. Please note that you do not have to participate in the Pirkei Avot class to be in the Psalms class, and vice-versa.

If you are interested or curious about the Psalms, they can be found on the free Sefaria website at this link.

As a reminder, I am having drop-in hours on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 4 at the shul. For my drop-in hours, you do not need to make an appointment -- that would negate the whole point of drop-in hours -- but I’d urge you to check and make sure I am there regardless as sometimes there are unavoidable pastoral or other emergencies which might take me away from the building.

As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment; if you want to speak with me it’s best to make an appointment rather than assuming I will be there when you stop by. 

Additionally, if you know of a Kehilat Shalom congregant or another member of our Jewish community who could use a phone call, please let me know.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Charles L. Arian