The [[Hebrew]] “''Book of Praises''” is the oldest song-book still in use. The term, “psalm” is from the [[Greek]] for striking or plucking and came to mean a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. It was translated as such in the 3rd century [[Septuagint]]. Psalms have been an important part of Jewish liturgy throughout the world (they crossed the Atlantic to America in colonial times). The destruction of the temple at [[Jerusalem]] in AD 70 and the subsequent ban on Jewish instrumental music gave impetus to a tradition of unaccompanied vocal and choral singing in synagogues, especially of psalms, that has lasted with little change to this day. | The [[Hebrew]] “''Book of Praises''” is the oldest song-book still in use. The term, “psalm” is from the [[Greek]] for striking or plucking and came to mean a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. It was translated as such in the 3rd century [[Septuagint]]. Psalms have been an important part of Jewish liturgy throughout the world (they crossed the Atlantic to America in colonial times). The destruction of the temple at [[Jerusalem]] in AD 70 and the subsequent ban on Jewish instrumental music gave impetus to a tradition of unaccompanied vocal and choral singing in synagogues, especially of psalms, that has lasted with little change to this day. |