Tehillim 25 and the Prayer of “Nefilat Apayim”

Tehillim 25 and the Prayer of “Nefilat Apayim”

Tehillim 25:1 - “LeDavid eilecha Ad-nai nafshi essa” - (To You, G-d, I lift up my soul). Zohar HaKadosh calls Lot – “the yetzer hara” (the evil inclination), which is why, at first, he constantly followed Avraham, like the evil inclination that continually pursues a person. “And Avraham said to Lot: Behold, the entire land is before you; please separate yourself from me.” That is, the soul says: “Let there be no quarrel between me and you—the body—for we cannot do without one another. You should not constantly cause me suffering; you, too, have the opportunity to enjoy food, drink, and conversation—‘separate yourself from me’.” The soul asks for this above all during prayer. In Hebrew, “please separate yourself” is “ipared na,” where “na” (“nun” and “alef”) is an acronym for the words “Nefilat Apayim” (falling on one’s face). At the end of the prayer, many perform “Nefilat Apayim” and, according to the Zohar HaKadosh, this prayer contains great mysteries. Therefore, each word must be pronounced correctly. One who performs it with proper kavanah will attain healing for the soul and body and be saved from Gehinnom. Chazal, of blessed memory, teach that the first verse of Tehillim 25: “To You, G-d, I lift up my soul” – is part of the prayer of נפילת אפים, which is customarily recited with one’s face bowed low onto one’s hand. The word אשא “essa” (I lift up) is an acronym formed from three words: א “Achilah” (food), ש “Shtiyah” (drink), א “Ishah” (woman). This demonstrates the inverse relationship between “the lifting of the soul” and these three concepts, which most strongly drive a person toward sin. Therefore, the Sages maintain that reciting this psalm rectifies the sins and mistakes of our forefathers: Adam violated a prohibition related to food; Noach violated a prohibition related to drink; the Jews sinned with the daughters of Moav. Therefore, during the prayer of “Nefilat Apayim”, the soul says to the evil inclination: “Separate yourself from me—I want to rectify all three of these transgressions.” The Sages ask that this psalm be read without swallowing the words and without rushing, while looking into the siddur. “Nefilat Apayim” can serve as an atonement even for thoughts that incline one toward sin and for the very attempts to draw closer to it. There is another important aspect: “Nefilat Apayim” protects a person from thoughts of promiscuity, distancing him from temptation. (“Ahavat Chaim” on Lech Lecha, Hakham Rabbi Menachem Menashe)