Days after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, George Abraham had the idea to have members of Magen David Sephardic Congregation read prayers continuously.
Now, hundreds worldwide have joined in this “ancient chorus” of reciting from the Book of Psalms to pray for the hostages in Gaza, according to Abraham, a board member of MDSC and the Tehillim coordinator.
“It has been an unbelievable, unbelievable tradition that started,” Abraham said.
Sept. 5 marked 100 weeks of continuous Tehillim, “read with unwavering devotion since Oct. 7.”
When Abraham brought the idea of the Tehillim reading to Rabbi Henry Soussan of MDSC, he said the rabbi loved the idea.
“He came up with the idea of figuring out a way to finish reading the book once a day,” Abraham said of Soussan. “It was his idea of 10 chapters per person times 15 volunteers [per day], so that is how we started.”
Ninety-one volunteers read every week, and they’ve completed more than 9,270 readings. Since Oct. 7, the group has completed the Book of Psalms 603 times, excluding Shabbat and some religious holidays.
“Drawing inspiration from the longstanding Jewish tradition of turning to prayer during times of crisis, this project taps into the practice of finding solace and strength through the recitation of Tehillim,” Soussan said in a message to Washington Jewish Week. “For me, it has become a daily reminder of how the members of Magen David and others have come together to pray for our people’s success.”
“Psalms is always a great book in the Bible for reflection, for strength, for grace,” Abraham said. “When people die, [their loved ones] read Psalms. You read Psalms for almost anything in life, so some people look at Psalms as some magic potion that’s the answer to everything, but you get that [answer] in that it helps build you up as an individual.”
Originally, Abraham’s idea began within MDSC, then it expanded to other synagogues and beyond. Readers live all across the world — Israel, India, England, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Dubai — as well as North Bethesda.
“We’ve had a very mixed age group, from youngsters to someone in their 80s,” Abraham said.
Abraham estimated that 98 or 99 percent of the volunteers are Jewish.
“We actually have a few Christian people also participating because these are people who love Israel and they’re committed to this prayer,” he said. “This became a global thing. Never in my wildest dreams [did] I [think] this would go on this long. Nobody ever thought it would go on this long.”
Now in week 101, Abraham is in awe of volunteers’ dedication to prayer and the hostages’ safe return.
“The Book of Psalms, historically, is something that has sustained the Jewish people for centuries,” he said.
“The power of prayer allows us to raise awareness in the spiritual realm of the urgent need to release Jewish captives,” Bill Graff, a volunteer and former member of MDSC, said. “Adding Tehillim three times a week to my morning prayers connects me to a similarly committed community.”
“Participating in the Tehillim project has not only been keeping Israel fresh in my mind, but has given me hope because I know that others are davening for the safety of our chayalim, return of our hostages and redemption of Israel,” Amari Suissa, a participating MDSC member and high school student, said.
While the reading of the Tehillim largely focuses on the hostages and their well-being, this initiative has proven meaningful for the volunteers as well.
“During the week, life gets busy, but having a reason to carve out a few minutes just to say Tehillim is very grounding,” Suissa said.
“It’s deepened my connection to Magen David and helped me to learn more about Sefer Tehillim,” Dino Feigelstock, a member of MDSC, said. “What began as a gesture of support has become a part of my weekly rhythm.”
“Being given my own portion [of Tehillim] each week fills me with a deep sense of purpose and gratitude, knowing that I am included in something so meaningful and sacred,” Eliya Lazarus, a participating member of MDSC, said.
She added that as a college student, she often feels “small” and “voiceless” sitting in the back of the classroom as her professor “speaks critically about [her] nation” of Israel.
“Yet when I open my Tehillim, I feel my voice return,” Lazarus said. “Prayer reminds me that I am never truly alone — that my words are part of a collective plea, joining countless others across the world. It grounds me in my faith and in my identity, reminding me that my people have faced immense challenges before and always found strength to continue.”
“Our prayer is that this comes to fruition, that all the hostages come home,” Abraham said. “There are some people who said, ‘When the hostages come home, we’ll stop.’ And then there are others who say, ‘Hey, listen, let’s continue this. After the hostages are home, let’s continue to pray for Israel as a community.’
“This has blessed everyone,” he said.
