6th Week of Shovavim – Tikkun Yesod

6th Week of Shovavim – Parashat Mishpatim – Tikkun Yesod

Rabbi Shalom Sharabi – Rashash writes that each day of this week has its own rectification: Day 1 – Tikkun HaChesed Day 2 – Tikkun Gevurah – (overcoming the yetzer hara – the pachad of Yitzchak Avinu) Day 3 – Tikkun for Torah study Day 4 – Tikkun for mitzvot Day 5 – Tikkun for shalom (increasing and maintaining peace – the quality of Aharon HaKohen) Day 6 – Tikkun for all types of sins Day 7 – Tikkun for everything connected with kedushah – desecrating Shabbat, disrespecting parents and the Beit Knesset, and tzedakah. Rabbeinu Chida taught that these bring blessing to the sparks of holiness. During these days, it is beneficial to attend a Brit Milah. Fast Before Rosh Chodesh  1. Just as Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul rectifies the entire year, the kabbalistic sefer “Emet Yaakov” also reveals—its author is Rabbi Yaakov Shaltiel Ninio—that when the “molad of the month” arrives, one should fast for two nights and one day, beginning ten hours beforehand. This is 37 hours. 2. The Fast Before Rosh Chodesh, although primarily associated with firstborns, is also important for those who wish to ease the severity of the judgments (dinim) during this month. The mekubalim also advise praying as follows: 1) Give tzedakah; 2) Recite “Pit um HaKetoret” – 4 times, in the 4 corners of the house/apartment, for shemirah (protection); 3) Recite “Akeidat Yitzchak” – 7 or 13 times, le-Rachamei Shamayim (for the mercy of Heaven).     Tikkun Yesod according to the Gaon Rabbi Ben Zion Mutzafi Recite the word “Yesod” 24 times (foundation); יְסוֹד – [24 times] Yesod is the sixth sefirah, and the corresponding bodily organ is the male reproductive organ. Shovavim is a period for rectifying transgressions connected with the laws of the Brit. According to Kabbalah, this period is especially conducive to rectifying sexual transgressions (the Arizal, Sha'ar HaYichudim 4:3). During Shovavim, Jews gather in synagogues throughout Israel and recite special prayers called “Tikkun Yesod” (the rectification of the sefirah of Yesod).