''Pesukei dezimra'' (; Rabbinic Hebrew: ''pasuqẽ hazzǝmiroṯ'' "Verses of songs"), or ''zemirot'' as they are called by the

Spanish and Portuguese Jews Spanish and Portuguese Jews, also called Western Sephardim, Iberian Jews, or Peninsular Jews, are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardic Jews who are largely descended from Jews who lived as New Christians in the Iberian Peninsula during the fe ...

, are a group of prayers that may be recited during

Shacharit ''Shacharit'' ( ''šaḥăriṯ''), or ''Shacharis'' in Ashkenazi Hebrew, is the morning '' tefillah'' (prayer) of Judaism, one of the three daily prayers. Different traditions identify different primary components of ''Shacharit''. E ...

(the morning set of prayers in

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

). They consist of various blessings,

psalms The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament. The book is an anthology of B ...

, and sequences of other Biblical verses. Historically, reciting pesuqe dezimra in morning prayer was only practiced by the especially pious. Throughout Jewish history, their recitation has become widespread among the various rites of Jewish prayer. The goal of ''pesukei dezimra'' is for the individual to recite praises of

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

before making the requests featured later in Shacharit and the day.

Origin

The first source for ''pesuke dezimra'' is in the

Babylonian Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the centerpiece of Jewi ...

, where it is described as non-obligatory (performed by some people but not others): Later commentaries explain what ''pesuke dezimra'' consists of:

Rashi Shlomo Yitzchaki (; ; ; 13 July 1105) was a French rabbi who authored comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible. He is commonly known by the List of rabbis known by acronyms, Rabbinic acronym Rashi (). Born in Troyes, Rashi stud ...

said it means

148 and 150,

Saadia Gaon Saʿadia ben Yosef Gaon (892–942) was a prominent rabbi, Geonim, gaon, Jews, Jewish philosopher, and exegesis, exegete who was active in the Abbasid Caliphate. Saadia is the first important rabbinic figure to write extensively in Judeo-Arabic ...

said it means psalms 147, 148, 149, 150, while Menachem HaMeiri (d. 1375) and

Maimonides Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (, ) and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (), was a Sephardic rabbi and Jewish philosophy, philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah schola ...

in '' Mishneh Torah'', Hilchot Tefilah 7:12 said it meant all of psalms 145-150. Nowadays, it is customary for ''pesuke dezimra'' to include psalms 145-150 as well as several other psalms, recitations, and blessings before Barukh she'amar and after Yishtabach as ''pesuke dezimra''. Elsewhere, the Talmud states that a person should praise God and only afterwards begin prayer. Opinions differ as to which praise is referred to: the first three blessings of the

Amidah The ''Amidah'' (, ''Tefilat HaAmidah'', 'The Standing Prayer'), also called the ''Shemoneh Esreh'' ( 'eighteen'), is the central prayer of Jewish liturgy. Observant Jews recite the ''Amidah'' during each of the three services prayed on week ...

, the Shema blessings, or to ''pesukei dezimra''. For a long time, these prayers remained optional. Eventually, ''pesukei dezimra'' were incorporated into all standard Jewish prayer services. Maimonides taught that prayer should be recited in an upbeat mood, slowly, and wholeheartedly, and that rushing through them (as many who recite them daily do) defeats their purpose. Rashi commented on Talmud Berakhot 4b:16 that the prayer that Jews are required to say thrice daily to be assured a place in the

World to Come The world to come, age to come, heaven on Earth, and the Kingdom of God are eschatology, eschatological phrases reflecting the belief that the World (theology), current world or Dispensation (period), current age is flawed or cursed and will be r ...

is Psalm 145. Rashi considered that singing of three psalms 145, 148, 150 in the morning is required of Jewish personal prayer (not communal). Maimonides considered the same, and that communal prayer begins just starting from the Kaddish and Shema.

Order

Ashkenazi

Psalm 30 Psalm 30 is the 30th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will extol thee, O ; for thou hast lifted me up". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Tanakh, Hebrew Bible and a book of the ...

(an addition in the 18th century, adopted in the Eastern Ashkenazic rite, but not in the Western Ashkenazic rite or by those who follow the practices of the Vilna Gaon) * Barukh she'amar * Songs of thanksgiving * Psalm 100 (omitted on

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...

, Yom Tov, Erev Yom Kippur, Erev Passover, and Chol HaMoed Passover) * The following psalms are recited on

and Yom Tov only, and - in the Eastern Ashkenazic rite - also on Hoshana Rabbah: 19, 34, 90, 91, 135, 136, 33, 92, and 93 * Yehi kevod * Hallel (pesukei dezimra) ( Ashrei and psalms 145-150) * Baruch HaShem Le'Olam * Vayivarech David * Atah Hu Adonai L'Vadecha * Song of the Sea * Nishmat (

and

Jewish holidays Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or ''Yamim Tovim'' (, or singular , in transliterated Hebrew []), are holidays observed by Jews throughout the Hebrew calendar.This article focuses on practices of mainstream Rabbinic Judaism. ...

only) * Shochen Ad (Shabbat and Yom Tov only) * Yishtabach

Sephardi/Mizrahi

* Songs of thanksgiving *Psalm 30 * The following psalms are recited on

, and Yom Tov only: 19, 33, 90, 91, 98 * On Yom Tov, the psalm for each holiday is recited: On Passover,

107 107 may refer to: *107 (number), the number *AD 107, a year in the 2nd century AD *107 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC *107 (New Jersey bus) *107 Camilla, a main-belt asteroid *Peugeot 107, a city car See also

*10/7 (disambiguation) *Bohrium, ...

; On

Shavuot (, from ), or (, in some Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi usage), is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday, one of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan; in the 21st century, it may ...

, 68; on

Sukkot Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, is a Torah-commanded Jewish holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelite ...

, 42 and 43; on Shemini Atzeret, 12 * The following psalms are recited on Shabbat, and Yom Tov only: 121, 122, 123, 124, 135, 136, * Barukh she'amar * 92 and 93 (recited on

, and Yom Tov only) * Psalm 100 (recited on Erev Yom Kippur and Erev Passover, omitted on Shabbat and Yom Tov) * Yehi Kivod * Hallel (pesukei dezimra) (Ashrei and psalms 145-150) * Baruch HaShem Le'Olam * Vayivarech David * Ata Hu Hashem L'Vadecha * Az Yashir * Nishmat (Shabbat and Yom Tov only) * Shav'at Aniyim (Shabbat and Yom Tov only) * Yishtabach

Italian rite

*Hashem Melekh * Psalm 100 and Psalm 136 are recited only on the Sabbath and festivals. * Psalm 93 is recited at this point on weekdays only. * Songs of thanksgiving (Only the first half, from Chronicles is recited at this point. The second half or selected verses recited in other rites is not recited at this point.) * Psalm 19. Psalm 97 is recited on Festivals and Hoshanah Rabbah, but not on weekdays of the Sabbath. Psalm 99 is recited every day. *A collection of verses, parallel to the "second half" of the Songs of thanksgiving in other rites *In the late minhag, a Mourner's Kaddish is recited on weekdays only. *On the Sabbath and Festivals Psalm 135 is added. * Barukh she'amar * On the Sabbath and Festivals, Psalm 92, Psalm 93 and the last verse of Psalm 91 are added. * Hallel (pesukei dezimra) (Ashrei and psalms 145-150) * Baruch HaShem Le'Olam * Vayivarech David. * Az Yashir (On Tisha Be-av, the Song of the Sea and "Kol beru'e ma'alah" are omitted, and the service continues with Yishtabach) * A piyyut "Kol beru'e ma'alah" by Solomon ibn Gabirol * On the Sabbath and Festivals, Psalm 34 is added. * On special Sabbaths and some Festivals, a piyyut is recited before Nishmat. * On the Sabbath and Festivals, Nishmat is recited. The version recited on Festivals is slightly longer than the version recited on the Sabbath. * Matzil Ani (Sabbath and Festivals only) * Yishtabach

Origin

During the temple service during the days of the temple, a series of thanksgiving prayers were recited. These have since become incorporated into daily prayer.

Placement in service

While Nusach Ashkenaz recites Hodu Barukh she'amar, Sephardi custom recites it beforehand. Some explain that the Ashkenazic practice is based the current world being called the ''World of Yezirah'', a world that is not repaired. Therefore one that does not receive light from itself. In contrast, the Sephardic practice is to recite these prayers are recited before Barukh She'amar because the prayers receive '' tikkun'' from '' assiah'', as they follow Kaddish. Others explain that Nusach Ashkenaz recites the after Barukh She'amar because Barukh She'amar serves as an opening to the praises of God, whereas the Sephardic practice recites it after because Hodu is from Chronicles (rather than Psalms) and Barukh She'amar says that we recite the "Songs of David". Psalm 100 is recited after Barukh She'amar in all rites.

Prayers included

The songs of thanksgiving are:

Hodu

''Hodu Lashem Kir'u Bishmo'', or "''Hodu''" (from ). This is the longer one of the thanksgiving prayers. According to tradition, it was first recited by

David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

after he recovered the ark from the

Philistines Philistines (; LXX: ; ) were ancient people who lived on the south coast of Canaan during the Iron Age in a confederation of city-states generally referred to as Philistia. There is compelling evidence to suggest that the Philistines origi ...

. Following this event, it became a standard prayer.

Psalm 100

Psalm 100 is the shorter prayer. The psalm thanks God for all the daily miracles that happen to us in total oblivion, as we are routinely in danger without even knowing it. Psalm 100 is omitted by

Ashkenazi Jews Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium CE. They traditionally speak Yiddish, a language ...

, the eves of Yom Kippur and Passover, and the Chol HaMoed (intermediate days) of Passover. On Shabbat and Yom Tov, it is omitted because offering Thanksgiving is voluntary, and therefore is not done on days with Shabbat-like restrictions. On the Eve of Passover, it is omitted because during the temple service, one may not be able to finish eating the offering, which was chametz, before the time in which it was forbidden to eat chametz. On Passover, it is omitted because of its chametz content. On the Eve of Yom Kippur, it is omitted because one may not be able to finish the contents before the fast sets in.

Sephardim Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendan ...

still recite it on the Eves of Yom Kippur and Passover, and segment of them still recites it on Shabbat and Yom Tov. In the Italian rite, this Psalm is recited only on Shabbat and Yom Tov, and it is omitted during the week.

Shabbat/Yom Tov additions

On Shabbat and holidays of biblical origin (and in the Eastern Ashkenazic rite, also on Hoshana Rabba), various

are added between ''Hodu'' and ''Yehi Khevod''. No one has to rush off to work these days, allowing extra time for praise. Ashkenazi Judaism includes the following psalms in the following order: 19, 33, 34, 90, 91, 135, 136, 92, and 93. Sephardic Judaism includes the following psalms in the following order: 103, 19, 33, 90, 91, 98, 121, 122, 123, 124, 135, 136, 92, and 93. On

and

, '' Nishmat'' is inserted between the Song of the sea and the closing blessing; according to many, it is in fact an expanded version of the concluding blessing. Following Nishmat, in the Ashkenazic rite, Shokhen Ad is inserted. On Shabbat, the

hazzan A ''hazzan'' (; , lit. Hazan) or ''chazzan'' (, plural ; ; ) is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who leads the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this prayer leader is often referred to as a cantor, a term al ...

for Shacharit begins recitation of Shochein Ad (technically speaking, it is not necessary to have a hazzan for Pesukei Dezimra at all). On the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, there are a variety of customs: According to the Eastern Ashkenazic rite, the hazzan begins the service on the previous verse known as ''Hakel B'tzatzumot'' on each of the Pilgrimage Festivals, signifying miracles God performed associated with these three holidays. According to the Western Ashkenazic rite, the hazzan begins ''ha-gibur la-nezach'' on Passover, ''Hakel B'tzatzumot'' on Shavuot and ''ha-gadol bi-khvot shemecha'' on Sukkot. On the High Holy Days, the hazzan begins on the word ''hamelekh'' () within that verse, as during these days, an emphasis is placed on recognition of God as King. It is also described in the '' Book of Life'' that loudly chanting the word ''Hamelekh'' has the effect of driving away accusers from the throne of judgement. Additionally, the letter is dropped off the word , alluding to the fact that ''now'' God is sitting on the throne.A guide to Jewish religious practice By Isaac Klein, page 185. Note that the hey appears like the rest of the year in all manuscripts and was dropped later, see Daniel Goldschmidt, Rosh Hashanah Machzor
page 43

Recitation by women

There is an argument in

Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Torah, Written and Oral Torah, Oral, as literally revelation, revealed by God in Ju ...

as to whether women are required or even permitted to recite the blessings of pesuke dezimra, given that it is considered by some to be a time-bound commandment. The opinions either require women to recite it completely, prohibit the recitation of Barukh She'amar and Yishtabach among women, or allow but do not require its recitation. Ashkenazi Judaism considers ''pesuke dezimra'' to be an obligation because it is not time-bound and can be recited at any time of day. Opinions in Sephardic Judaism are divided. Some opinions allow women to recite ''pesukei dezimra'' without its accompanying blessings.

Notes

References

External links

Pesukei D'Zmira
explainer video at BimBam.com
Pesukei d’Zimrah
HaRav Eliezer Melamed {{Jewish prayers Aramaic words and phrases Aramaic words and phrases in Jewish prayers and blessings Shacharit