We often think of the liturgy for the Yamim Noraim as static words confined to the pages of the machzor. However, these prayers draw from the rich tapestry of the Tanakh.
In the first part of this two-part series, we’ll explore the biblical inspiration that breathes life into Psalm 27, sometimes called “L’David Hashem.” Many have the practice of adding this psalm to their daily prayers during Elul and Tishrei. This psalm-prayer has intriguing intertextual parallels with the passages in Tanakh that describe a city of refuge, a connection that holds rich significance if we read the psalm as a meditation on guilt and responsibility.
In part two, we’ll explore the passages from the book of Nehemiah that become climactic phrases used in Selichot, the prayer added during Elul and on Yom Kippur. Understanding the desperation and hope that characterized Nehemiah’s time period yields add meaning to the recitation of these prayers.
Adina Blaustein lives in Beachwood, Ohio, and is the Content Team Director at Aleph Beta. She also serves Green Road Synagogue as the Yoetzet Halacha. She has lectured widely, including for Case Western Reserve’s Siegel College and the OU Nach Yomi program. She holds a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Bible from Yeshiva University, an M.A. in English Education from Brooklyn College, and was certified as a Yoetzet Halacha from Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center’s U.S. Yoatzot Halacha Fellows Program. In 2018, Adina won the Kohelet Prize for her innovative approach to Tanach education. Adina is currently writing a book about haftorot as part of the Sefaria Word-by-Word fellowship.
