It all started with the back...

...of the Israel Center membership card. Every time we reissue a membership card, we change what's on the other side of the card. In the past we've had T'filat HaDerech, Bracha Acharona, the six items we are commanded to remember, a chart of the sedras and books of Tanach, and a few other things. Our latest card with the new name and address was issued just this week. About thirty new members (or renewals) will receive their cards by mail shortly. Okay, we're getting to the point...

We decided to put a chapter of T'hilim on the back of the card, so that a card-carrying member can pull it out when motivated to say something special. First thought was 130 - Shir HaMaalot, out of the depths I call to you, G-d. Or 121, I will lift my eyes to the mountains, from where will come my help. Or 20, ...may G-d answer you in the day of trouble. The MATZAV seems to call for that kind of Psalm.

Next step was consultation with rabbinic advisers (and generally wise people). YMP and EQ both raised the same objection to "fixing" a Psalm for troubled times by not only printing, but by lamination as well. They suggested a more upbeat choice...

And EQ added to his recommendations that the topic be written about in the Lead Tidbit. And so it is.

Slight digression. (Not really.) The Book of T'hilim has it all. Something for any and every mood, situation, request, acknowledgement, thanks — everything. If we could have put the whole book of T'hilim on the back of the membership card, we would have. (In fact, last year's membership gift was a lovely, leatherbound T'hilim.) Last Monday (right after the attack on the bus at Kfar Darom, but planned before it happened) we "experimented" with the T'hilim "project" that is being done in many communities, in Israel and in Chutz LaAretz. And that is, to divide the Book of T'hilim up, distribute the parts to a group of people, and have everyone say their p'rakim, so that in a relatively short period of time, the ENTIRE book is recited. We labeled 61 T'hilim books with a chapter or two or three and asked the Monday morning crowd to each take a book and say the chapter(s) listed on the front. Anticipating that there might be more than 61 people (practically all women), we labeled an additional 11 copies of T'hilim with the word SHARE. The idea was to go to someone who had more than one chapter and ask them for one to say. These T'hilims were scooped up as well. The point was, that in the period of 15 minutes or so, between Rabbi Grunbaum's class and Rabbi Leff's, the whole book of T'hilim was said. It was a powerful experience; we plan on doing it repeatedly.

Back to the back of the membership card. We wanted a chapter that would be a prayer for the welbeing of Jerusalem, its people, all of Klal Yisrael, and peace. We wanted a Psalm that would also thank G-d for what we have, while we ask Him for more. And we found 122. Another one of the 15 Shir HaMaalot chapters (really 14 HaMaalot and 1 LaMaalot).It expresses joy in remembering as well as anticipating being in Yerushalayim and in the Beit HaMikdash. It contains an implicit prayer for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. And of the social justice system that was - and will be - the foundation of a Torah society. It's about this place and it's about our people.

122 certainly isn't the only chapter to recite, but if you are on a bus or standing in a long line at the bank or sitting on a park bench having a quiet moment or two, you can take out you newest Israel Center membership card, say the 9 p'sukim of chapter 122 (a.k.a. KUF-KAF-BET) — with feeling, and hope, a couple of tears... and a smile too.

Our diplomats and politicians do there thing, and our army will do what it does. What our challenges include are not losing faith, in deepfelt prayer, and in making ourselves better people - as individuals and as part of the Jewish community, so that our prayers will have better chances of not only being heard, but being accepted as well.