Author: Rabbi David Krishef

Psalm 48

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“They were stunned, they were terrified, they panicked.” (48:6)

In my day, driver’s training taught that if the car goes into a skid, we take our foot off the brake and pump the brakes gently, steering in the direction into the skid. I needed to unlearn this behavior when I bought a car with anti-lock brakes and learn instead to steadily keep my foot on the brake. The goal of driver’s training is to prepare us to make split-second decisions correctly so we won’t panic and freeze. There is no way to prepare for every unexpected event, but we can remember to breathe and calmly think our way out of the situation.

Psalm 47

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“All peoples, clap hands.” (47:2)

There is no better boost to your enjoyment of music than clapping hands to the beat (except if you are at the symphony listening to classical music). Sway, move your arms and legs, and dance. Let your body vibrate in tune with the music. During prayer, as well, let yourself transcend the intellectual experience of reading words on a page. At appropriate moments, sing along with the cantor and encourage your soul to vibrate to the tune of gratitude, thanksgiving, and dedicating yourself to God’s mitzvot (commands). Some prayers intend to move God to action. More often, prayer intends to transform the pray-er.

Psalm 46

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“Nations rage, kingdoms topple.” (46:7)

Anger is not a good emotion for a leader. Anger clouds the mind and perverts judgement. Angry people make poor decisions, leading to poor outcomes. Anger is a volcano – showy, frightening, and generally destructive. Volcanic anger led to the annihilation of Pompeii, Minoa, and Montserrat. It led to Mount St. Helens, which exacted a toll of over $1 billion in damage to industry, massive environmental damage, and 57 human lives. A good leader knows how to calm rage before it reaches destructive proportions.

Psalm 45

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“My tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.” (45:2)

To be a mesmerizing public speaker may be an art, but Dale Carnegie taught that anyone can learn to be an effective speaker. A scribe does not become expert without practice, and neither does a speaker. By listening to great speakers one can learn to use language well, and by listening to great comedians one can learn to use the rhythm of speech to good effect. But the secret to being effective is to speak from your own experience, to share your own story. Those who speak with sincere conviction, focusing on the lesson they want the listener to learn, will be compelling speakers.

Psalm 44

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“Our ancestors have told us the deeds You performed in their time.” (44:2)

The sacred texts in our religious traditions are stories that have come to us from our ancestors. Archeology can confirm that there was a King David and draw maps of the city of David, but we can only learn the character of David, both good and bad, from Biblical stories. The Bible, even the Torah, is not as much a book of law (although it contains long passages of law) as it is a book of stories. We learn a set of values from the accounts of Biblical characters, God included, filtered through centuries of Israelite and Jewish life.