Tikkunim Through Tehillim

Tikkunim Through Tehillim

The word Tikkun  means rectification. Note that the word “Tikkun” consists of the same letters as the word “Tinok” (infant), and both words have the same gematria: 566. This hints at rectification that restores one to their original state—that Tikkun brings a person to the state of an infant in terms of purity and freedom from involvement in sin. The Book of Tehillim differs from all the other books of Tanakh, just as the soul of David HaMelech differed from all the souls that existed before and after him. It was, as it were, a “continuation and completion” of the soul of Adam, the first man. Adam was meant to live for 1,000 years, but lived for 930, giving 70 years of his life to King David. This was before Adam’s sin, meaning that King David’s soul was the only pure soul in the entire history of humanity. Another quality that distinguished David from everyone else was that the primary attribute of his soul was the “quality of malchut”—a constant yearning, anticipation, and striving to bring the Will of the Almighty to fruition in the world. (Rabbi Eliyahu Essa) The book of Tehillim reflects precisely these qualities. Since each of us contains a spark of the soul of Adam and, consequently, of David, everyone who reads the Book of Tehillim feels that it is speaking personally to them, about their own experiences. Tzadikim present a large number of Tikkunim—ways to repair the damage in our souls. But today, the two most popular Tikkunim among the Jewish people—both in Israel and in communities around the world—are accessible to everyone through the recitation of Tehillim. Tikkun HaKlali Tikkun HaKlali consists of 10 Psalms: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, and 150. Tikkun HaKlali is the primary rectification for P'gam HaBrit (the damage done to the covenant with the Almighty), revealed by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. One should recite 10 Psalms because there are 10 types of melodies corresponding to 10 types of song mentioned in the Book of Tehillim, corresponding to 10 types of pulse in a person, the 10 sefirot, and so on—as brought in (Zohar HaKadosh 6); namely: Ashrei, Lamnatzeach, Maskil, Hallelujah, and so forth. Each of these 10 songs has the power to eliminate the power of impurity. Read more here: Tikkun HaKlali - the Fundamental Rectification of Pgam HaBrit     Tikkun HaNefesh Tikkun HaNefesh of Rabbi Naftali Katz consists of 10 Psalms, plus the first and last Psalms of Sefer Tehillim. A great Torah scholar and renowned Kabbalist, Rabbi Naftali Katz was renowned as a miracle worker and healer. Through the efforts of Rabbi Yeshayahu Yosef Pinto, Tikkun HaNefesh was revived and once again made available to the Jewish people. The uniqueness of this collection of Psalms is that throughout the centuries, it has brought deliverance and salvation to Jews facing various troubles and illnesses. These particular 12 Psalms saved Rabbi Naftali from troubles and death—he was held captive by the Tatars and sentenced to death by the authorities, but miraculously escaped. Read more here: Tikkun HaNefesh — The Text of the Prayer of Rabbi Naftali Katz