From Teveria, Rabbanit Leah Kook spreads authenticity and faith
The Tehillim reverberating from the stairwell is the first indication we’ve arrived at our destination.
Rhythmic yet precise, the pesukim escort us up the stairs and through an unpretentious, heavy wooden door. Wall-to-wall across the perimeter of a narrow room sits a motley cross-section of Judaism: women with tightly wound scarves and modest skirts sit shoulder to shoulder beside women in pants. A single girl in demure braids shares a Tehillim with a women balancing a baby on her knee. Most are participating, singing, tapping and clapping along to a jaunty rendition of Sefer Tehillim.
“Shalom,” I call, “We’re from Mishpacha magazine!” An older woman leading the Tehillim immediately fixes her watery blue gaze on me and Mishpacha photographer Ayala Shooter and declares, “You’re here for an interview? Only after we finish. We have five perakim left.”
Chastened, I seat myself next to a middle-aged blonde woman scrolling on her phone. Someone nudges a Tehillim my way and beckons toward the blonde woman, “Show her where we are.” Dutifully, I find the place, fingering the words along with others.
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