Tehillim 100 – "A Psalm of Thanksgiving" - The Psalm’s Heading and Its Place in the Liturgy (Appendix)

I. Mizmor le-toda - "A Psalm of Thanksgiving" – What Does this Mean?

            In our examination of Psalm 100, we analyzed the psalm detached from its heading. We assume, as did many before us, that the headings in the psalms of Tehillim are not an integral part of the psalms themselves, nor were they written by the authors of the psalms. Rather, they were added to the psalms at some later point for various reasons and for different purposes.[1] For this reason, we did not consider the psalm's heading over the course of its analysis. We wish now to discuss the heading of the psalm in itself; we will try to understand its meaning, clarify the connection between the heading and the body of the psalm, and see how the interpretation given to the heading impacted upon the way the psalm was used in the liturgy.

            What, then, is the meaning of the heading to our psalm: Mizmor le-toda, "A psalm of thanksgiving"?

            The Aramaic translation of Tehillim renders the heading of the psalm as: "Praise over a thanksgiving-offering." Several commentators, both ancient and modern, have accepted this interpretation. The Metzudot writes: "'A psalm of thanksgiving' – this psalm would be recited by one bringing a thanksgiving-offering for a miracle that had been performed for him." Tz. P. Chajes writes: "[Our psalm] was apparently written as a prayer to be recited while offering a thanksgiving-offering." Similarly, Amos Chakham writes in his Da'at Mikra commentary: "A psalm which was recited as a prayer of thanksgiving, and which accompanied the sacrifice of a thanksgiving-offering."

            However, already in the commentary of Rashi we see a slight retreat from this explanation of "toda" in the sense of a thanksgiving-offering: "'A psalm of thanksgiving (toda)' – for thanksgiving (hodaya), to be recited over thanksgiving-offerings." A question may be raised in connection with Rashi's remark: If the word toda means hodaya, "thanksgiving," how do we know that the psalm was meant "to be recited over thanksgiving-offerings"? Perhaps the heading merely means that the psalm is a prayer of verbal thanksgiving?

            Indeed, beginning with the Radak and Rabbeinu Yeshaya of Trani, various commentators have explained our psalm's heading as unconnected to a thanksgiving-offering. The Radak writes: "'A psalm of thanksgiving' – that you should thank Him for the lovingkindness that He has performed for you." In other words, toda is intended in the sense of hodaya, "thanksgiving." Similar explanations were offered by Rabbeinu Yeshaya, the Meiri, Ibn Yachya, and the Malbim.

            According to the first explanation, the psalm's heading informs us of the psalm's use in the Temple service. According to the second explanation, the heading defines the content of the psalm, establishing that it is a psalm of thanksgiving. With respect to the second explanation, however, it must be stated that this definition does not accord with the psalm's content. Our analysis of the psalm based on its content, its type, and its structure has brought us to the conclusion that it is not a psalm of thanksgiving, but rather a psalm of praise.[2]

            It appears, therefore, that preference should be given to the first explanation, the explanation that is based on the Aramaic translation, that the heading is meant to establish the psalm's use – that it should be recited when bringing a thanksgiving-offering. This does not mean that the psalm was written from the outset for this purpose,[3] but only that after it was written, it was adopted as the psalm to be recited over a thanksgiving-offering, and that the heading informs us of this use that was assigned to the psalm.

            There are other reasons for preferring the explanation of the word toda in the sense of a thanksgiving-offering.

            First of all, in most instances of the word toda in the Bible, the term is used as the name of an offering, or at least as a term connected to a thanksgiving-offering and the manner in which it was brought. (We already noted this at the end of section VII, and in note 9 there.)

            In addition, many headings of psalms in the book of Tehillim contain terms that, although we do not know their precise meaning, presumably served as instructions as to how the psalms were to be sung in the Temple.[4] If we explain that the heading "a psalm of thanksgiving," relates to a thanksgiving-offering, we have then yet another heading connected to the Temple service, albeit in a different way than the musical terms.

            Finally, the word toda appears in the body of the psalm in verse 4: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise." In this verse, the reference is certainly to a thanksgiving-offering, or to a procession of those bringing such a sacrifice, as we are dealing with entry into the Temple gates and courtyards. It may be assumed that there is a connection between what is stated in the body of the psalm and the heading, which uses the identical word.

            It seems then that the heading in our psalm – "A psalm of thanksgiving" – indicates the use of the psalm in the framework of the Temple service. It assigns the psalm to those bringing a thanksgiving-offering, who should recite it over their sacrifice, or perhaps when they come to the Temple with a procession of celebrants in anticipation of the bringing of the offering. If so, the heading indicates nothing regarding the plain meaning of the psalm, nor does it reflect the circumstances surrounding its writing or the purpose of its composition, and so one need not consider it when analyzing the body of the psalm as it was written.

            Now the question arises: Why was Psalm 100 chosen to serve in the Temple as the psalm of those bringing a thanksgiving-offering? What is the connection between a psalm of praise, which according to its plain meaning refers to the Messianic period (as we clarified at the end of the body of this study), and a thanksgiving-offering brought by the individual during the time of the Temple for a miracle that had been performed for him? Even the thanksgiving-offering mentioned in the second half of the psalm is not a thanksgiving-offering brought by an individual, but rather a thanksgiving-offering brought by the people of Israel as a whole for having been redeemed in the end of days!

            This question is, in fact, not difficult at all. The use of the psalms of Tehillim in the Temple service (and later in the synagogue) need not accord with the plain sense of the psalms. The selection of the psalm to accompany the ceremony of the sacrifice of a thanksgiving-offering is clearly connected to what is stated in the second half of the psalm: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name." Mention is made here of a thanksgiving-offering, the gates of the Temple, and it courts, and the directive is given here to come to the Temple with a thanksgiving-offering, to thank God and to bless His name. These verses are most appropriate to serve as the song of those bringing a thanksgiving-offering in a joyous procession to the Temple.[5] What is the problem if they have been detached from their broader context of the entire psalm? Many midrashic expositions of verses are based on such a detachment of the verses from their context, and the designation of our psalm based on what is stated in the heading is a kind of midrashic exposition.

            It may be added that the fact that our psalm is a short and general anthem of praise to God is precisely what makes it fit to be designated the psalm of those bringing a thanksgiving-offering to the Temple. A clear psalm of thanksgiving (e.g., Psalm 30) is less appropriate for this stage of the arrival of the celebrants in the Temple. It is possible that at the time of the actual sacrifice of the offering, the person bringing the offering would choose one of the psalms of thanksgiving that suited him personally in light of the circumstances of the particular miracle for which the offering was being brought.

II. The Use of our Psalm in the Liturgy

            According to all of the liturgical rites followed today, Psalm 100, Mizmor le-toda, enjoys a place of honor, after the Barukh she-Amar blessing, at the beginning of Pesukei De-Zimra.[6]

            The question that we would like to clarify here relates to the source of this practice – who established it and when, and what was the reason for doing so. The later commentators and codifiers, by whose day the practice of reciting the psalm was already an accepted fact, suggest various reasons for reciting it,[7] but a discussion of the reason for the practice requires, of course, knowledge concerning the development of the practice. Since there is no clear documentation that can answer these questions, we will try to carefully outline our supposition regarding the development of this practice, using the relevant sources: the prayer books from the periods of the Ge’onim and the Rishonim, and the books dealing with this issue.

A. The Earliest Evidence of the Practice

            Seder Rav Amram Gaon,[8] in the weekday Pesukei De-Zimra, states that one should recite several verses after Barukh She-Amar (the verses of Yehi Khevod), but there is no mention whatsoever of Mizmor Le-toda (pp. 7-10 of Goldschmidt edition). Similarly, in Siddur Rav Sa'adya Gaon, from about two generations later, there is no mention of our psalm among the psalms that are recited as part of Pesukei De-Zimra (Siddur Rav Sa'adya Gaon, pp. 32-34).

            Let us turn now to two later prayer books, which reflect the Sefardic and North African custom: In Siddur Rabbi Shelomo Be-Rabbi Natan, the Av Bet Din of Sijilmassa, Morocco (c. beginning of the 12^th century),[9] there is also no mention of the recitation of Mizmor Le-Toda" in Pesukei De-Zimra, and the Rambam similarly does not mention it in his presentation of the liturgy (at the end of Sefer Ahava).

            However, in the siddurim of Germany and northern France of roughly the same period (12^th century), the practice of reciting Mizmor Le-Toda is mentioned. In Siddur Rashi,[10] sec. 417 (p. 208), we find:

When a person enters the synagogue, before reciting Pesukei De-Zimra, he should start with these verses… And he recites the series of blessings [birkot ha-shachar]… and afterwards, the entire order until: "A psalm of thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth." And if it is Shabbat, he should skip Mizmor Le-Toda, and start: "To the chief musician. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19).

And I saw written: Why do we not recite Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat? Because they would recite it over a thanksgiving-offering… And since it was assigned to a thanksgiving-offering, and a thanksgiving-offering does not override Shabbat, we skip it on Shabbat, so that one not say that a thanksgiving-offering overrides Shabbat. And he concludes Pesukei De-Zimra in order and starts: Yishtabach Shimkha.

            In Machzor Vitri of Rabbeinu Simcha,[11] which is also rooted in the school of Rashi, in the order of the weekday prayers after the blessing of Barukh She-Amar (pp. 62-63), reference is made to the recitation of Hodu and an assortment of verses from the book of Tehillim, "until 'and His faithfulness to all generations'" – that is, until the end of Psalm 100. Here it is added: "On Shabbat, Mizmor Le-Toda is skipped, because a thanksgiving-offering is not offered on Shabbat… On Shabbat one says: 'To the chief musician' (Psalm 19)." And here mention is made of all the additional psalms that are recited on Shabbat. Similar remarks are found in the order of the Shabbat morning prayer (p. 89):

And we go to the synagogue and recite all the blessings in accordance with the daily practice… And we begin with the psalms as the Sages instituted the daily liturgy, and we skip Mizmor Le-Toda, because a thanksgiving-offering is not offered on Shabbat, and we add: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19)…

            In 5732, R. Moshe Hirschler published in Jerusalem two siddurim authored by Ashkenazi Rishonim, based on manuscripts, in a single volume: Siddur Rabbeinu Shelomo, which he attributes to R. Shelomo ben R. Shimshon of Worms,[12] and Siddur Chasidei Ashkenaz, which was written by the students of the leading figures among the Ashkenazi pietists several generations later. The second siddur is sort of an explanation and expansion of the earlier siddur.

            In Siddur Rabbeinu Shelomo, in the section describing the recitation of Pesukei De-Zimra on weekdays, the author also lists the additional psalms that are recited on Shabbat, and makes no mention whatsoever of Mizmor Le-Toda, neither on weekdays nor on Shabbat (secs. 11-12 and on). But in the section dealing with the Shabbat prayers (sec. 58), which once again lists the psalms that are added on Shabbat, Mizmor Le-Toda is mentioned negatively, as a psalm that is not recited on Shabbat:

The prayers of Shabbat: On Shabbat, psalms of praise and exaltation are added in Pesukei De-Zimra… Because Shabbat is a day of rest on which no work is performed, a person can stay longer in the synagogue. By right these should be recited on weekdays as well, but because people would be kept from their work they refrained from doing so.[13]

And Mizmor Le-Toda, which is recited on weekdays,[14] is not recited on Shabbat. Because a thanksgiving-offering is not brought on Shabbat, and those who brought a thanksgiving-offering on weekdays would recite it, and there are four who are obligated to offer thanks, those who went out to sea, those who crossed the desert, sick people [who recovered], and prisoners who were released from jail, and all of them bring [an offering in] the house of God.

And one starts with: "The heavens declare the glory of God"… By right, this should be recited every day to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written, "Day to day utters speech" (Tehillim 19:3), but because of the burden on the community, who are not free from work, [they do not do so]. But on Shabbat, when there is no work, it is recited.

Rabbeinu Shelomo repeats this idea also with respect to the additional psalms that follow, each time explaining that owing to their content and their importance, they should be recited every day, but we suffice with reciting them on Shabbat because then there is no cancelation of work.

            In Siddur Chasidei Ashkenaz, which was written several generations after Siddur Rabbeinu Shelomo and which is sort of an explanation and expansion of that siddur, Mizmor Le-Toda, which was absent from Siddur Rabbeinu Shelomo, is mentioned in the section dealing with the weekday morning prayer. After an explanation of the verses of Hodu, there is an explanation of Mizmor Le-Toda (p. 28). After the explanation, a comment is made, the meaning of which will be discussed below:

Mizmor Le-Toda – because a thanksgiving-offering is not brought on Shabbat, it was established that this psalm be recited on weekdays.

We see, then, that in Germany and northern France, beginning in the twelfth century, the custom was to recite Mizmor Le-Toda on weekdays, but on Shabbat the psalm was skipped. This is the prevalent custom today in most Jewish communities.[15]

B. The Development of the Custom

            From where did the practice of reciting Mizmor Le-Toda in the weekday Pesukei De-Zimra enter the liturgical rites of Germany and northern France beginning in the twelfth century (from there, later spreading to the other liturgical rites)? There is no mention of this practice in the siddurim penned by the Ge’onim, nor is it found in the rites of northern Africa and Spain in the parallel period. From where did the Franco-German practice arise?

            The answer to this question may, nevertheless, be found in Siddur Rav Amram Gaon.

            Let us turn to the order of the Shabbat prayers in this early siddur. Following the passages dealing with the sacrifices, it is stated there (p. 68): "And the prayer leader stands up and begins…," and in the continuation we find a list of verses and psalms that are added on Shabbat to the Pesukei De-Zimra that is recited on weekdays.

            The editor of the volume (Daniel Goldschmidt) writes at the top of p.69: "From here on, the manuscripts vary as to the order and the scope of the psalms." He presents three parallel columns, with the versions of the three manuscripts upon which he bases his edition. Two of the three manuscripts, the manuscript referred to in his edition as MS M (a Spanish siddur containing Seder Rav Amram, the oldest of the three manuscripts) and the manuscript referred to as MS Z (an Italian manuscript) include Mizmor Le-Toda among the psalms added on Shabbat!

            In 5737, Prof. Shraga Abramson published (in Sinai 81) pages from the Cairo Geniza containing parts of Siddur Rav Amram Gaon. As opposed to the manuscripts available to Goldschmidt, which were all from the west, the Geniza fragments originated in the lands of the east. On pp. 224-227, we find the Shabbat Pesukei De-Zimra, and on p. 225 we find Mizmor Le-Toda among the psalms recited on Shabbat!

            The custom that is reflected in these manuscripts of Seder Rav Amram was to recite Mizmor Le-Toda in the Pesukei De-Zimra of Shabbat, and not of weekdays!

            What is the connection between Psalm 100 and the psalms that are added to the Shabbat Pesukei De-Zimra? The answer is simple: Our psalm is a classic psalm of praise, very similar in content and spirit to most of the psalms that are added on Shabbat, which are also psalms of praise and exaltation of God, as are the six psalms included in the Pesukei De-Zimra recited on weekdays. These additional psalms are a special custom for Shabbat and constitute a quasi-expansion of the basic Pesukei De-Zimra.[16]

            It stands to reason that this expanded Shabbat practice, which includes Mizmor Le-Toda, as it is reflected in most of the manuscripts of Seder Rav Amram, reached Franco-Germany as well. But for the Sages of those lands, reciting Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat was problematic, for the reason repeated in all of their siddurim: A thanksgiving-offering is not brought on Shabbat, and this psalm is connected to the thanksgiving-offering, and therefore it is inappropriate to be recited on Shabbat! Therefore, these Sages decided to skip Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat, thus changing the customary practice that had reached them from Babylonia (perhaps via Italy).

            It would appear that at first, the practice of reciting Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat was cancelled, but it was still not recited on weekdays.

            This stage may be reflected in the siddur of Rabbeinu Shelomo. Rabbeinu Shelomo was of the opinion that by right, the additional psalms should be recited on weekdays as well, as he writes in their regard time after time in his discussion of the Shabbat liturgy (section 58). At the end of his remarks, he even argues that the recitation of the additional psalms "was primarily enacted for weekdays, with the exception of 'A psalm, a poem for the Sabbath' and 'The Lord reigns,' which are psalms that were instituted for Shabbat." He proves his argument and concludes: "And when they saw that the majority of the community was unable to adhere to this enactment because it interfered with their work, they cancelled it on weekdays, and left it on Shabbat. And one who recites them on weekdays, blessing will rest upon him."[17]

            Rabbeinu Shelomo is, however, aware of the fact that according to the customary practice these psalms were not recited on weekdays, and therefore he opens section 11 with the sentence: "The custom in Mainz on Shabbat is that the prayer leader starts: 'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name….'" This proves that in his day, it was still not customary to recited Hodu on weekdays, at least in Mainz.

            This may be the reason that in the sections dealing with weekdays (11-18), there is no mention whatsoever of Mizmor Le-Toda, because it was still not the custom to recite it on weekdays, and on Shabbat it was skipped. However, when he reaches section 58, where Rabbeinu Shelomo spells out the psalms recited on Shabbat, he writes: "And Mizmor Le-Toda, which is recited on weekdays, is not recited on Shabbat," which seems to be proof that this psalm was recited on weekdays. But his intention is clarified in the continuation: "Because a thanksgiving-offering is not brought on Shabbat, and those who brought a thanksgiving-offering on weekdays would recite it,[18] and there are four who are obligated to offer thanks… and all of them bring [an offering in] the house of God." We see, then, that his intent is that Mizmor Le-Toda was recited in the Temple over the thanksgiving-offering only on weekdays, and therefore it should not be recited in the Shabbat prayers.

            Not long afterwards, parts of the additions recited on Shabbat made their way into the Pesukei De-Zimra recited on weekdays, in the spirit of the words of Rabbeinu Shelomo, that "by right, this should be recited every day to praise the Holy One, blessed be He." This "invasion" included Hodu and the verses that follow it,[19] and with them, Mizmor Le-Toda was also established to be recited on weekdays.

            The recitation of Mizmor Le-Toda was established for weekdays because it had been cancelled on Shabbat! This is sort of a compensation for Psalm 100. Originally it had been among the special psalms recited on Shabbat, but owing to its heading, it was no longer deemed fit for Shabbat, and it was left an "orphan." When the practice developed to add psalms even on weekdays, the psalm was adopted and found its place as a permanent addition recited on weekdays.

            Thus, we find in Siddur Rashi and in Machzor Vitri the custom to recite Mizmor Le-Toda in the Pesukei De-Zimra recited on weekdays, as we saw above. Later, in Siddur Chasidei Ashkenaz (p. 28), we find the reason to recite it on weekdays, precisely as we have proposed:

Mizmor Le-Toda – Because a thanksgiving-offering is not brought on Shabbat, it was established that this psalm be recited on weekdays.

Now that we have reconstructed the development of the new custom, lest us attempt to explain the reasons for the differences in practice regarding whether to recite Mizmor Le-Toda or to refrain from reciting it. The practice of reciting Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat takes into consideration the psalm's content as a psalm of praise, which is appropriate for expanding the Pesukei De-Zimra on Shabbat. The psalm's heading was certainly viewed by those who observed the ancient custom as a technical matter that is irrelevant with respect to the question of whether or not the psalm is fit to be recited on Shabbat. But in the eyes of the rabbinic authorities in France and Germany, the heading was critical. They viewed it as determining the psalm's use in the Temple service, providing the psalm with its importance and uniqueness.[20] This being the case, they thought that the psalm was inappropriate for Shabbat and Festivals, and that it should be skipped on those days.[21]

C. Remnants of the Original Custom

            Is it possible to find in the halakhic literature support for our position that the original custom was to recite Mizmor Le-Toda specifically on Shabbat, as part of the additional psalms of Pesukei De-Zimra, and not on weekdays?

            Indeed, this custom continued in various places for centuries, even though it had to defend itself against the arguments raised against it in France and Germany.

            In the book Shibbolei Ha-Leket written by R. Tzidkiya ben Avraham the doctor,[22] in section 76, which carries the heading: "The law of psalms of Shabbat that are recited… Mizmor Le-Toda…," we read:

Mizmor Le-Toda – There are places where this is recited on weekdays, and not recited on Shabbat. And I found a reason for their custom in the name of Rabbeinu Shelomo ztz"l,[23] because a private offering is not offered on Shabbat, and a thanksgiving-offering is a private offering, and it can be sacrificed on any day except for Shabbat. And in our place [Rome] the custom is to recite it on Shabbat and not on weekdays.[24]

Indeed, this custom persisted among Italian Jews until this very day, and it is documented in the machzor of Bologna published in 5300 and in the machzor of Leghorn, published in 5616.[25]

However, it was not only in Italy that this custom persisted, but apparently also in Spain. In Tur, Orach Chayim, sec. 51, in the section governing the laws of the morning blessings, we read:

There are places where it is customary to recite Mizmor Le-Toda, "Give thanks to the Lord, call by His name," as it is written in Divrei Ha-Yamim, because David instituted that it be recited every day in the presence of the ark… and every place in accordance with its custom. In Germany, it is the custom not to recite Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat and Festivals, because a thanksgiving-offering is not offered on those days. But there is no need to prevent him from reciting it, as there is no concern lest they come to offer it when the Temple will be rebuilt, as people do not err with regard to this.[26]

From the words of R. Yaakov ben Rabbi Asher, the author of the Tur (Spain, beginning of 14^th century), it is evident that where he lived, it was customary to recite Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat, although it is not clear whether in his place it was customary to recite it also on weekdays ("There are places where it is customary").

            In the siddur of a disciple of the Tur, Peirush Ha-Berakhot Ve-Ha-Tefillot Le-Rabbi David Abudraham (Spain, middle of the 14^th century),[27] the following picture emerges: In "Seder Shacharit shel Chol U-eirusha," before Barukh She-Amar, the Abudraham writes: "There are places where it is customary to recite… 'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name' and the psalm 'The heavens declare the glory of God.' But it is not our custom to recite them except for on Shabbat and Festivals."[28] No mention is made of Mizmor Le-Toda, either before Barukh She-Amar or after it.[29]

            But in "Siddur Shacharit shel Shabbat u-Peirusha," in the Pesukei de-Zimra, the Abudraham writes after the blessing of Barukh She-Amar:

And he recites Mizmor Le-Toda. And Even Ha-Yarchi[30] writes: In France it is customary not to recite Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat and the Festivals, because a thanksgiving-offering is not brought on Shabbat… But in Provence and in Spain it is recited [on Shabbat], but this is not possible. Thus far [Even ha-Yarchi]. But I say that it is possible to recite it and one should not stop [another person from doing so]. For one should not say lest they will come to sacrifice a thanksgiving-offering [on Shabbat] when the Temple is rebuilt, as people do not err with regard to this.[31]

Thus we have seen that in Spain and in Italy (and perhaps also in Provence) the original custom was preserved to recite Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat as part of the additional psalms recited on Shabbat, but not on weekdays.

            R. Avraham ben Natan Ha-Yarchi, who was familiar with the French custom, which is the opposite of the custom in Spain and in Provence, and who was familiar with the rationale offered by the French Sages for their custom, reacted to the Spanish custom with the words: "But this is not possible." According to him, the French custom is based on a halakhic consideration; he cannot understand how one can behave in a manner that is the very opposite of the "correct" custom. It seems, however, that it was precisely the members of the Franco-German community who reversed the original custom, based on halakhic arguments that were introduced in the academies of the Sages of these countries.

            An original solution to the tension between the ancient custom to recite Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat because of its lofty content and the later custom to refrain from reciting it on Shabbat because of its heading is found precisely in northern France and documented in Sefer Ha-Rokeach of R. Elazar of Worms (1165-1240). There in section 319 we find a short discussion dealing with the days when Mizmor Le-Toda is not recited:

The customary practice to skip Mizmor Le-Toda on Shabbat and the Festivals is because [a thanksgiving-offering] is not brought on those days, as it is an obligatory sacrifice without a fixed time [to be brought, and a sacrifice without a fixed time does not override Shabbat and the Festivals]… But I heard about the Rabbi, R. Eliyahu, who would not skip it, but only these two words, Mizmor Le-Toda, "A psalm of thanksgiving," and he would begin: "Make a joyful noise, all the earth," as this is praise of the Holy One, blessed be He.

The custom of R. Eliyahu, a contemporary and colleague of Rabbeinu Tam (12^th century), preserved the original custom to recite the psalm on Shabbat, its content making it appropriate to be included among the psalms added on Shabbat, as it contains "praise of the Holy One, blessed be He," and he resolved the problem raised by the French and Germany Sages by omitting the heading, "A psalm of thanksgiving."[32]

            R. Eliyahu's practice reflects an understanding similar to the one that we presented in this study, that each psalm should be interpreted on its own merits and that the heading is not an integral part of the psalm.

 

(Translated by David Strauss)

 

, full_html, In our study of Psalm 100, we suggested that the content of the psalm should be interpreted independent of its heading, which was a later addition indicating when the psalm was customarily recited in the time of the Temple. In this appendix to that study, we will discuss the development of the prevalent custom to include this psalm in the liturgy on weekdays, but not on Shabbat, which is related to this heading, and we will suggest that the different customs in this regard are connected to the question of how to relate to the heading.