Opening Your Heart with Psalm 27: A Spiritual Practice for the Jewish New Year

by Debra J. Robbins, David Stern (Foreword)

This volume is a compelling invitation to meditate on the deeper meaning of the fourteen verses of Psalm 27. During the month of Elul and the High Holy Day and Festival season, we reflect on our relationships, choices, beliefs, and practices, considering where to make repairs, adjustments, and atonement. Opening Your Heart with Psalm 27 provides gentle guidance through this journey of reflection, offering heartfelt insight, profound translation, and an invaluable framework for meaningfully participating in this annual spiritual practice.

Genres: Judaism

178 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2019

Reviews

[Joanne Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for those who want to read Psalm 27 in depth. Reading Psalm 27 is a spiritual practice many Jews engage in when getting ready for the High Holy Days. This year I read it as part of a group that committed to reading it for the 28 days of Elul and through the High Holy Days. It is a short book that can be read in one sitting. We were encouraged to read it many times as we read Psalm 27 and we were also encouraged to do the exercises in the book. I especially enjoyed the suggestions for study and meditation. While the book specifically focuses on Psalm 27 because of its relationship to the Jewish New Year, the meditations and spiritual exercises would be appropriate to use when building a spiritual practice around any of the Psalms.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. After automatically reading this psalm during Elul for many years, I was grateful for the opportunity to slow down and explore Psalm 27 verse by verse, and even word by word. Working my way through this book has enabled me to reconnect with the practice of reciting the Psalm, and I hope to continue the process each year. Especially powerful was following through on the journalling each day. Making this my daily spiritual practice put my head and heart in alignment for the Days of Awe.

[Shira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book mostly through the app, which was life-changing for me. It helped me develop a routine in ways I have never been able to do. I took off a star just because I don't know that the book itself would have reached me in the same way as the app's routine did. It's beautiful and personal and poetic, and I think the way to consume it is as part of this fairly regimented routine. I didn't like all the journaling prompts, like sometimes I'd see the reflection and it was absolutely amazing and profound, and then I'd flip to the journaling / meditation prompt and it was much more mundane and not totally connected. But this is really a nitpick, because as I said, the book / routine / app was life changing.

[K C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't follow her instructions and maybe it would have been more meaningful if I had. Some of the dates were tied to specific events that occurred while she was writing, so some of the timelessness of the psalm was lost on those days. However, there were enough days when I was moved by her observations and writing that I felt it was a worthwhile exercise, even if all I did was read and not write, and I will use the book again during Elul and Tishrei.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comforting read to prepare for the High Holy Days

[Margaret Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just five minutes. Sit with this psalm for just five minutes. For the seven weeks. Beginning with Rosh Hodesh Elul through Simchat Torah. This book will help put the chaggim in perspective and increase your own spirituality. On appropriate Friday night and Saturday mornings I read a selected poem after reading the psalm with my congregation. At home I read one every day then sat with it. I found myself quoting them, thinking about them, dreaming about them. Breathtaking. Masterful. Kol hakavod. (I only wish the book had shown up with I ordered it and not just at Yom Kippur! Next year, the full set! I also wish that the cantor's musical rendition works with the hard copy. However the music and the sheet music can be found here: https://www.ccarpress.org/shopping_pr...
Wait for Adonai. Chazak v'emetz. Now I, too, can return to the land of the living.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book during Elul this year! It was a great guide to reflecting during this season. The guide was easy to understand, the book was easy to use, and I really enjoyed the readings and the prompts. I recommend using it with accompaniment from the app (of the same name) for your phone. Some great musical selections there to listen to as you use the book or app. This will be an annual tradition for me.