This simple but popular phrase is Talmudic in origin (Brachot 32a) although there it just refers to people. Today, for the most part, it is an answer when someone comments "I haven’t seen you around for a long time," and you answer "אני חי וקיים" - "Ani chai VeKayam" - I am alive and well. Many people also know the song, which is a phrase from the Talmud (Rosh HaShana 25a) "דוד מלך ישראל חי וקיים." "David Melech Yisrael chai ve'kayam" - David the King of Israel is alive and well. Many commentators explain about quoting the Talmud (Brachot 31b) that anyone who attributes a specific teaching to its source (and does not take credit for himself), it is as if the source never died. Since Psalms is attributed to David and studied, read and chanted by so many - it is if he is immortal. Or to paraphrase another quote, "give accreditation where accreditation is due."

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