What is chabad psalm 27?

Psalm 27 (Tehillim, chapter 27) is recited twice daily — morning and evening — throughout the months of Elul and Tishrei, from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Hoshana Rabbah (or in some customs, through Shemini Atzeret). This practice is observed broadly across Ashkenazic and Chassidic communities, including Chabad, as a special tefillah (prayer) of the High Holiday season connecting themes of divine protection, longing for closeness with God, and hope for a favorable judgment.

Key Takeaways

Psalm 27 is recited twice daily from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Hoshana Rabbah / Shemini Atzeret.
The psalm blends thanksgiving for the past with prayer for the future, making it uniquely suited to the season of repentance and judgment.
Its central verse — "One thing I ask of God" — expresses the soul's deepest longing: to dwell in God's presence.
The practice is widespread among Ashkenazim and Chassidim, including Chabad, though it is a minhag (custom) rather than a biblical or Talmudic requirement.
Psalm 27 is recited after Shacharit (morning prayer) and after Maariv (evening prayer) during this period.

The Text of Psalm 27

The psalm opens with one of the most powerful declarations of faith in all of Tanakh:

"יְהֹוָה אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא" "Hashem is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?" [Psalms 27:1]

This verse sets the tone: complete trust in God in the face of enemies and adversity.

The central verse of the psalm reads:

"אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה כׇּל יְמֵי חַיַּי" "One thing I ask of Hashem, that I shall seek: to dwell in the House of Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of Hashem and to visit in His sanctuary." [Psalms 27:4]

The psalm concludes with a call to hope and courage:

"קַוֵּה אֶל יְהֹוָה" "Hope to Hashem" [Psalms 27:14, cited in Shabbat Siddur Sefard Linear, Musaf Service]

Why Is It a "Song of Attachment" (Devekut)?

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz describes Psalm 27 as:

"שיר דבקות שבו מעורבות תודה ותפילה" — "A song of devekut (attachment/cleaving to God) in which thanksgiving and prayer are intertwined, as the Sages said: 'He gives thanks for the past and cries out [prays] for the future.'"* [Steinsaltz Introductions to Tanakh, Psalms]

This dual nature — gratitude and supplication — makes it a perfect psalm for the Elul-Tishrei season, when we simultaneously thank God for the past year and plead for a good new year.

Why During Elul and Tishrei?

The Season of Judgment and Mercy

The months of Elul and Tishrei form a continuous season of teshuva (repentance), judgment, and divine closeness. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch explains that the shofar is blown throughout Elul "to arouse the people to repent" [Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:2]. Psalm 27 serves a parallel function — a daily verbal call to draw near to God.

The Acronym in the Psalm's Opening

Many Chassidic and traditional sources point out that the letters א-ל-ו-ל (Elul) are hinted at in the verse from Song of Songs: "Ani l'dodi v'dodi li" — "I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me" — capturing the intimacy of this season. Psalm 27's theme of longing for God's presence fits this perfectly.

Extended Through Sukkot

The Zakhor VeShamor notes that Psalm 27, recited throughout Elul, continues through the month of Tishrei until the end of Sukkot, because the period of divine judgment extends through Hoshana Rabbah, the final "sealing" of the judgment [Zakhor VeShamor, Gate II, Chapter VIII]. Honey remains on the Ashkenazic table through Shemini Atzeret for the same reason — the season of divine blessing and judgment is one extended continuum.

The Chabad Practice Specifically

In Chabad tradition, Psalm 27 is recited:

After Shacharit (morning services)
After Maariv (evening services)
From Rosh Chodesh Elul through Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah

This follows the broader Ashkenazic/Chassidic custom. The emphasis in Chabad teaching is on the theme of divine light (ohr) — "Hashem is my light" — connecting to the Kabbalistic understanding that during Elul, God's thirteen attributes of mercy are especially accessible, like a king who comes out to greet his subjects in the field.

Summary of Verses and Themes

| Section | Verses | Theme | |---|---|---| | Opening declaration | 1–3 | Trust and fearlessness in God | | Central longing | 4–6 | Desire to dwell in God's presence | | Prayer in distress | 7–12 | Pleading for divine help and guidance | | Closing call | 13–14 | Hope and courage — "wait for Hashem" |

For personal guidance on how to incorporate Psalm 27 into your daily prayers, consult your local rabbi or posek.