Hamtakat Dinim – Reading the Entire Book of Tehillim

Hamtakat Dinim – Reading the Entire Book of Tehillim

The teachings of the Baal Shem Tov (zechuto yagen aleinu), preserved in the writings of his disciples, reveal another dimension of the importance of reading the entire Book of Tehillim. Namely, the Baal Shem Tov teaches that reading the entire Book of Tehillim is Hamtakat Dinim—the sweetening of judgments. The book "Tshuot Chen" (Vayigash) cites the following explanation in the name of Rabbi Meshulam Zusman, regarding the pasuk in Tehillim (106:2): “Mi yemalel Gevurot Ad-nai, yashmia kol Tehilato”—(Who can proclaim the might of Ad-nai? The one who declares all His praise.) Rabbi Meshulam Zusman revealed that the word “yemalel” can be read as “to sweeten.” That is: “Who is able to sweeten the Gevurot of Hashem? The one who declares all His praise (“Tehilato”)”—by reading the entire Book of Tehillim in full. The word “Tehilato” refers to the Book of Tehillim. Moreover, this is also stated by the prophet Yeshayahu (48:9): “For the sake of My glory (“Tehilati”) I restrain Myself (“echtam”), so as not to destroy you.” In other words, reciting Tehillim awakens the mercy of the Almighty, for mercy is associated with the words “panim” (face) and “chotem” (nose), while the words “echtam” (I restrain Myself) and “chotem” (nose) share the same root. The final letters of the first verse of the Book of Shemot (1:1): “Ve-eleh shemot bnei Yisrael haba'im Mitzraymah”—(And these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt)—form the word Tehillim. As is known, the Book of Shemot corresponds to the attribute of Gevurah (strict judgment). The verse in Tehillim (106:2): “Who can proclaim the might (Gevurot) of Ad-nai and declare all His praise (Tehilato)?” contains a hint as to how to sweeten judgments: the first part of the verse speaks of the Gevurot, while the second offers wonderful advice—a way to subdue them: read the entire Book of Tehillim (the collection of David’s praises) and proclaim “all His glory.” The book “Shnei Luchot HaBrit,” by the Shlah HaKadosh, likewise states that the wonderful counsel for sweetening judgment is to read the entire Book of Tehillim from beginning to end. (Ginzei Yosef, Shemot)   (Based on the book "Early Hasidism")