נִשְׁמַת כָּל חַי The soul of all that lives: This magnificent poem is composed of two parts. The first, according to Rabbi Yoḥanan is the “blessing of the song” mentioned in the Mishna as a conclusion to saying Hallel in the seder service on Pesaḥ (Pesaḥim 118a). Just as there, so here, it stands as a conclusion to the recitation of Psalms. The second part, beginning “To You alone we give thanks,” is mentioned in the Talmud (Berakhot 59b) as a thanksgiving prayer for rain. The first section is an extended meditation on the final words of the book of Psalms: “Let all that breathes praise the LORD.” Hebrew has many words for soul, all deriving from verbs related to breathing. Neshama – the word linking this passage to the end of Psalms – means to breathe deeply, as we are able to do in a state of rest. Hence the sages said that on Shabbat we have “an extra soul.” In the still silence of the turning world it is as if we hear all that lives sing a song of praise to God who brought the universe into being, sustains it, and guides the destinies of all things. The second section is composed around a phrase from Psalms: “All my bones shall say, God, who is like You?” – thus ingeniously linking the psalms of praise with the שירת הים (“Song at the Sea”), which contains the same phrase, “Who is like You?” Through a fine series of images, the poet expresses the human inability to adequately thank God, itemizing how the various limbs (“All my bones”) may praise Him.

שׁוֹכֵן עַד He inhabits eternity: The Leader begins at different points on different holy days of the year. On Shabbat he begins with “He inhabits eternity,” emphasizing creation; on Yom Tov, with “God – in Your abolute power,” laying stress on God as He acts in history; on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, with “The King – enthroned,” evoking ideas of justice and judgment.

וּבְמַקְהֲלוֹת And in the assemblies: The list of nine words for praise corresponds to the nine additional psalms we say on Shabbat and Yom Tov. The word “assemblies” refers to the large congregations present in synagogues on holy days, reminding us of the Temple, full at such times.

יִשְׁתַּבַּח שִׁמְךָ May Your name be praised for ever: The concluding blessing over the Pesukei DeZimra which, like the introductory blessing, is said standing. The fifteen terms of glorification equal the number of psalms in the Pesukei DeZimra on Shabbat and Yom Tov, as well as the number of “Songs of Ascents.”