The First 12 Days of Sivan – Et Ratzon
The First 12 Days of Sivan – Et Ratzon
Throughout the first 12 days of Sivan, beginning on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, it is customary to recite Tehillim—these are the days when the holiness of Tehillim is revealed most powerfully. David HaMelech, the author of Sefer Tehillim—the holy praises of Hashem—was born into this world and departed from it on the 6th of Sivan, exactly at the midpoint of this period.
It is customary to recite the entire book of Tehillim at midnight before Shavuot.
It is said in Tehillim 119:62: “Chatzot Lailah akum lehodot Lach, al mishpetei tzidkecha”—(At midnight I rise to thank You for the judgments of Your righteousness).
When a Jew rises at midnight and praises Hashem for His judgments (even difficult ones, chas v'shalom), Hashem erases all his sins and blesses him.
The first 12 days of the month of Sivan are different from all the others.
They possess a special holiness, although it is lesser than that of the festival days.
The first of them is Rosh Chodesh; its status is no different from that of the other new moons.
The four days between Rosh Chodesh and the festival that falls on the 6th of Sivan are the days during which Moshe and our forefathers prepared to receive the Torah.
The 6th of Sivan (and outside Eretz Yisrael, also the 7th of Sivan) is the festival of Shavuot.
The 7th of Sivan is Yom Tavoach (“the day of slaughter”), the day when pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for Shavuot brought their festival offerings if the festival itself had fallen on Shabbat—for the offerings of individuals, unlike communal offerings, may not be brought on Shabbat.
During the following five days, pilgrims also brought their offerings if they had not managed to do so during the festival—for the law permits them to be brought in such a case throughout the seven days, including the festival day.
Thus, all the first 12 days of Sivan possess greater holiness than ordinary weekdays. Therefore, reciting Tehillim on these days has special power.
(“The Book of Our Heritage,” Eliyahu Ki Tov)
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Tags: Segulot, The Power of Tehillim, Number, Sivan, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, The First 12 Days of Sivan
