Political and Theological tensions in the Siddur
Introduction
In this article, I propose that
the early to central section of the Shacharit (morning prayer) service,
known as Pesukei Dezimra - incorporated into the Siddur (prayer
book) only at around the 10th
to 11th centuries - was related to the decline and eventual demise
of the office of the Reish Galuta (Exilarch), occurring at that time. The
Reish Galuta had overwhelming religious, political and social powers,
indeed mirroring the status of a Jewish king. The general tenor of the Pesukei
Dezimra (essentially comprising the last six psalms of Sefer Tehillim)
is one of rebellion against, and minimising the role of, the monarchy and
drawing focus, instead, towards a divine Kingship. In other words, it was a
reaction against human intervention and intercession in a theology that was
supposed to be monotheistic.
Simply put, this is an attempt at
answering why it was that specifically the last six psalms of Sefer Tehillim
were chosen to be inserted into an already well-established Siddur, at
that late juncture in history. Was it a “re-enactment” of why those types of
psalms were instituted in the first place when the parallel and original biblical
monarchy was also in decline?
Although I do draw on previous
scholarship (in Part I), this hypothesis (in Part II) is my own and any
shortcomings or inaccuracies are entirely my own.
