The Secret of Tehillim 90: Ha-Shem's Name That Heals Children and Finger Placement During the Shema Prayer

The Secret of Tehillim 90: Ha-Shem's Name That Heals Children and Finger Placement During the Shema Prayer

The Mekubalim teach that when reciting Tehillim 90, it is good to have in mind the Holy Name that emerges from this psalm – שד׳׳י – one of the Holy Names that may not be erased. This Name is written on our mezuzot and is understood as: «Shomer Daltot Yisrael» (Guardian of the doors of Israel). The Holy Zohar insists that this Name be complete and written correctly – when evil, negative forces and spirits attempt to enter a Jewish home, they retreat when they see this Name. However, even if the crowns of the letters are written incorrectly, or omitted entirely, problems may arise in the home. Kabbalists call this Name שד׳׳י – the Name that heals children. If a child falls ill, one should pick him or her up and bring the child to the mezuzah on the entrance door. Place the child's right hand on the mezuzah so that the middle finger of the right hand is positioned at the center of the mezuzah, recite Tehillim 90, and then ask in one's own words for healing, in the merit of the Holy Name – שד׳׳י.   The Shema Prayer and the Name שד׳׳י The Mekubalim also teach that during one of the central Jewish prayers – “Shema Yisrael” – one should try to have the Name שד׳׳י somehow inscribed upon us as well. For while this prayer is being recited, the Divine Shechinah is before us, and one may not look at it, so we cover our eyes. The eyes should be covered in such a way that this Name is formed: Three middle fingers should be placed on the forehead – corresponding to the letter ש, the thumb on the right eye, bent to form the letter ד, and the little finger on the left eye, bent to form the letter י.   A Segula Against Dinim Rabbi Natan Neta Shapiro, the great Kabbalist of Krakow, gives approximately 1,000 explanations of a single pasuk from Sefer Devarim in his famous book “Megaleh Amukot”: “Va'etchanan el Adonai ba'et hahi lemor.” Only a little over 200 explanations have survived to our day. In the 203rd commentary, Rabbi Natan Neta says that if a person has endured difficult trials, illnesses, and extremely severe tzarot, and wants to change the situation—to transform these difficult days into good ones—this should be done through Tehillim 90, with kavanah focused on Ha-Shem's Name – שד׳׳י. He explains that this Tehillim has the power to transform everything bad into good. The more we recite it, the more it works. It is good to recite it 17, 22, or 24 times.