Our Sages teach us (see Talmud Bavli, Bava Basra 14b) that King David wrote the Psalms (T’hilim) based on his own experiences, along with the contributions of other great Jewish figures. While the Book of T’hilim was composed mainly by King David, the Gemara (Bava Basra 14b) enumerates ten authors who composed psalms other than King David.
The Gemara speaks of these men as “Asarah Z’keinim,” ten great scholars, endowed with profound wisdom and prophetic insight, which enabled them to compose such a sacred text. Psalm 139 was attributed to Adam HaRishon. Another psalm was composed by King Malki-tzedek. Psalm 89 is attributed to Avraham Avinu. There are 11 hymns composed by Moshe Rabbeinu. There are several chants composed by the Leviim who officiated as singers in the Beis HaMikdash.
For centuries, Jews have turned to T’hilim to give voice to their deepest feelings, both in times of great trouble and in times of great happiness. T’hilim can unlock our hearts and draw us up towards their exalted greatness.
The Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, says: “If you only knew the power that lies in the verses of T’hilim and their effect in the celestial heights, you would recite them all the time. Know that the chapters of T’hilim break through all barriers and soar aloft from level to level, unimpeded. They intercede before the Master of the Universe and secure their effect with kindness and mercy.”
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Zhenya ben Zoya
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zissel
Malkiel ben Soraya
Yosef ben Alicia
Yaakov Chaim ben Mazal
Shmuel ben Ita Ettel
Zoya bas Rachel Raya
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Mitali Naomi bas Gilah Farcha
Rachel bas Leah
Israeli Soldiers (Please recite Psalms 25, 26, 46, 83, 142.)
Avraham Yaakov ben Devorah
Binyamin Shlomo Yitzchak ben Rivkah Avivah
Shmuel ben Rachel
Avraham Yitzchak ben Chayah Sara
Aharon Yehudah ben Rivkah Zlata
Chaim Yair ben Miriam Devorah
Yitzchak ben Chanah Brachah
Levi Yitzchak ben Dinah Miriam
Meir Moshe ben Gittel
Yehoshua Elyakim Getzel ben Devorah
Naftali ben Devorah Sharon
Yisrael Mordechai ben Chanah Gittel
Shmayah ben Chanah Zelda
Avraham ben Ilanah Tovah
Yehudah Chaim ben Mina Chayah
Ohr Moshe ben Alizah
Elya Akiva ben Chavah Leah
Yisrael Yehudah ben Elisheva Rachel
Baruch Tzvi ben Shoshanah Raizel
Meir Simchah ben Adinah
Aharon Mordechai ben Kresel Baila
Avraham Mordechai ben Tiferes
Eliyahu ben Chayah Tamar
Yitzchak Issac ben Freida
Shlomo Zalman ben Tziporah Alitah
Netanel Meir ben Esther
Tuvia Nissim ben Yehudis
Yonah ben Tziporah
Yehudah Aharon ben Tziviah
Yehudah ben Nurit
Daniel ben Nurit
Roy ben Ronit
Amit ben Janet
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
