THE ABRAHAM J. HESCHEL CENTER FOR CATHOLIC-JEWISH RELATIONS THE JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LUBLIN

Can happiness be found in an ordinary day? In a morning cup of coffee, in a child’s laughter, in the tiredness that follows honest work? Psalm 128 answers: yes. It is one of the warmest texts of the Bible—a hymn of blessing that does not fall from heaven like… Read more… »

Psalm 31 is the prayer of a person who, at their most fragile moment, discovers that they do not have to be alone. It shows that trust is not born of strength, but of the courage to be vulnerable before God, who is a rock, not an illusion. It… Read more… »

Modern people often feel lost because they live in a world without a mountain. Everything is flat, relative, without a summit. The psalm restores the vertical dimension of life—not to weigh you down, but to show that there is something higher, and that it is worth going there. And… Read more… »

Psalm 34 is especially for those who feel that no one hears them. It shows that the path to healing does not begin with success, but with honesty about one’s own poverty. Blessing is a decision, not an emotion—emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek OFMCap, Capuchin friar, psychologist, and initiator of… Read more… »

If we believe in a God who “protects the orphan and the widow,” we cannot remain indifferent to any form of marginalization—within the family, the workplace, or the community—emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek OFMCap, a Capuchin friar and psychologist, initiator of psalm therapy, in a commentary by the Heschel Center… Read more… »

Advent is a school of patience, but also a school of active hope. Psalm 122 reminds us that our spiritual journey is not a lonely march through the desert. We walk together – with the saints and with the sinners – writes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, a Capuchin, doctor of… Read more… »

Psalm 122 is more than just an ancient song. It is a record of the rhythm of the human heart, longing for home. In its words pulses the entire dynamics of faith: decision, movement, encounter, and finally finding peace in community – points out Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, Capuchin, doctor… Read more… »

Psalm 3 does not portray a world without pain. It contains fear, struggle, and loneliness. But it also contains something greater—the presence of God, who does not stand aside. He is closer than your problems, closer than your enemies. It is a psalm about trust, emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek,… Read more… »

Psalm teaches that joy is not an escape from reality, but its deepest response. It is not “wishful thinking,” but a fact: God is at work and will come to complete His work. From the sea to the mountains, we are invited to participate in the cosmic symphony of… Read more… »

Psalm 119 is not a collection of cheap consolations. It does not offer magical solutions. Rather, it points the way from a sense of existential confusion to deep rootedness in what is unchanging – emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, a Capuchin, doctor of psychology, and initiator of “psalm therapy,” in… Read more… »

Psalm 46 is a journey from the epicenter of fear to the very heart of God’s presence. It teaches us that true security is not found in favorable circumstances. The earth will shake, and the nations will roar. The key is whether God is “in the midst” – emphasizes… Read more… »

Psalm 131 is a roadmap to freedom. A freedom born not from inflating the ego but from calming it. It is a path from the pride of the heart to the peace of a child – emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, Capuchin, doctor of psychology, initiator of psalm therapy, in… Read more… »

Psalm 27 is one of those texts that never grow old. It is the prayer of a person standing on the border between fear and trust, loneliness and the desire for closeness with God – emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, Capuchin, doctor of psychology, initiator of psalm therapy, in the… Read more… »

Psalm 24 is a hymn of ascent, that is, about the path of a person who desires to enter the space of God. Yet it is not only about a temple made of stone, but about the inner sanctuary of the heart, says Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, a Capuchin, doctor… Read more… »

God is closest to us in our poverty and brokenness. He is not the God of the triumphant, but the God of the brokenhearted, who hears the cries of those whose voices are lost in the noise of the world, emphasizes Fr. Piotr Kwiatek, Capuchin, doctor of psychology, and… Read more… »

In the broader Jewish context, the psalm is sometimes associated with the prayers of distressed individuals and communities. It is also linked to historical events in which the people of Israel experienced a sense of abandonment, but also hope for salvation, says Shlomo Libertovsky, a Torah teacher in Beit… Read more… »

"Praising God in prayer isn’t enough. It’s only the beginning. Our actions and our words are what matter," says Rabbi Steve Burnstein from the Birkat Shalom congregation in Kibbutz Gezer, Israel, commenting on Psalm 34 for the Heschel Center at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The… Read more… »

“The believer cannot live a single moment without the feeling that God is close to him,” says Shlomo Libertovski, a Torah scholar from Beth Shemesh, commenting on Psalm 27 for the Heschel Center at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Reflecting on King David’s plea, Libertovski emphasizes… Read more… »

Rabbi Oded Peles offers a fresh perspective on Purim by revealing unexpected spiritual ties with Yom Kippur. In his commentary for the Heschel Center at the Catholic University of Lublin, he stressed that while Purim commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people from ancient Persian persecution through festive customs… Read more… »

The Babylonian Talmud teaches that by revealing His Name, God wanted to convey that His activity is not limited to a single intervention (such as the Exodus from Egypt). The repetition of the word ehje indicates His continuous and active presence in history, writes Fr. Dr. Piotr Kot from… Read more… »

The Sabbath is a time of refuge, protection, and consolation for the Jewish people and a day of return to God. It accompanies Israel on its spiritual journey, writes Dr. Thérèse M. Andrevon-Gottstein, a French-Israeli theologian engaged in Jewish-Christian dialogue for 30 years, in her commentary on Psalm 92,… Read more… »

When a person feels on the verge of collapsing under the weight of sin and guilt, rahamim—God’s tender mercy—reveals itself. Like a loving Father, He lifts His child from the abyss and offers a new beginning. God is not a harsh judge waiting for failure. He is Love –… Read more… »

“The Talmud teaches that the date palm is compared to the righteous because the whole tree is good—especially its fruit. Similarly, the righteous person is good,” writes Torah lecturer Shlomo Libertovski in his commentary on Psalm 1, which is read in the Catholic Church on Sunday, February 16. Father Piotr… Read more… »

Below is the full text of the commentary. Happy Birthday to the trees!! Is there a birthday for the trees and plants? Yes! The 15th of the month of Shvat in the Jewish calendar, marks the New Year and the "Birthday of the trees". The sages teach us in… Read more… »