Tehillim on Yom Kippur by Rabbanit Chava Cooperman
Tehillim on Yom Kippur by Rabbanit Chava Cooperman
Many years ago, during one of Rabbanit Chava Cooperman’s visits to Moscow, I asked Rabbanit Chava Cooperman questions about reciting Tehillim on Yom Kippur during a lesson on Yom Kippur at the “Shaarei Kedusha” community.
She explained that in the word כיפור—KiPuR—the letters כ—“kaf”, פ—“pe”, and ר—“reish”—are the root letters.
Their gematria is 300 (20+80+200).
The Sages concluded that on Yom Kippur, one should recite the entire Book of Tehillim twice (150 Psalms + 150) = 300.
It is especially good to recite it the first time at Chatzot Layla (on the evening of Yom Kippur, after the prayer service in the synagogue), and the second time at Ayelet HaShachar (the pre-dawn prayer); if this is difficult, then in the morning.
Rabbanit Chava also recommended reciting the following chapters of Tehillim on Yom Kippur:
130, 32, 27, and 97 (with emphasis on verses 11–12).
Another point Chava Cooperman addressed in the lesson was the importance of asking forgiveness and forgiving everyone who has wronged us.
Rabbanit Chava teaches that one who is unable to forgive gives cause to suspect that he is not Jewish.
The descendants of Esau cannot forgive.
Forgiveness is a distinctly Jewish trait.
When we forgive even those who have wronged us most grievously, we emulate the All-Forgiving Creator.
Gmar Chatimah Tovah!
(Based on a lesson by Rabbanit Chava Cooperman at “Shaarei Kedusha”)
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Tags: Reciting the Entire Book of Tehillim, Rabbanit Chava Cooperman, Tehillim on Yom Kippur, Tehillim on Yom Kippur according to Rabbanit Chava Kuperman, Yom Kippur
