Tehillim is the Book of Psalms. If you are beginning to read, you need not open a long list immediately. Choose one Psalm, explore its meaning and see how Hebrew and transliteration are arranged on the page. This route shows where to find the magazine’s texts and how to return to them.
Choose one of two routes
Our All Tehillim section contains 150 Psalms. Choose a number when you already know it or need a particular text. The Tehillim by day of the month section has 30 reading collections for the days of the Jewish month. This is another navigation route, rather than another 30 separate Psalms.
Begin with one clear page
- Open Tehillim, Psalm 121 or Psalm 23, for example. The number helps you find the same text next time.
- Look through the Russian introduction and translation. Notice where the Psalm itself begins and where commentary appears: they are different parts of the publication.
- Find the Hebrew text and transliteration in Cyrillic letters. Transliteration helps a reader follow pronunciation; translation helps explain meaning and serves a different purpose.
- To become familiar with the layout, compare one verse in all three forms. If you lose your place, return to the verse number and continue slowly.
- Use the Save button if you want to return to the publication. The text-size buttons help you choose a comfortable reading size.
A small first reading exercise
Set aside a quiet moment, open Psalm 121 and look at its introduction. Find the first verse in translation, then compare it with the other text blocks. Your next goal can be modest: understand one line and return to the full Psalm later. A teacher can help with questions about prayer practice and your tradition.
Common questions
Why is Russian commentary shown alongside Hebrew?
The publication combines the original, a translation and transliteration. These are three ways of approaching one text, rather than three different Psalms. These archive publications have Russian commentary and translation.
Which day should I select in the monthly collection?
Check the day of the Jewish month rather than automatically using the civil calendar’s date. Hebcal explains the monthly Tehillim reading cycle; if you follow a particular practice, compare it with your community’s calendar.
For more context, open our What is Tehillim? page and the main Tehillim section.