Perek Shirah

Perek Shirah is a cosmic hymn to the Creator in which all of Creation, including the winds, clouds, all species of birds, mammals and fish sing praises for their very existence. It opens with the promise that those who recite it “are assured of a place in the World to Come” and ends with the hope that their study will be transformed into good deeds that will win heavenly reward. The praises are expressed in the form of scriptural quotations, reflecting the Jewish belief in the interdependence of study and prayer. This tenth-century work also reflects an acute awareness of the spiritual dimension of nature and the environment.