Ta'anit Dibbur and Tikkun Lashon Hara
Ta'anit Dibbur and Tikkun Lashon Hara
The primary spiritual work of women is the refinement of the mouth and speech. Women find it more difficult than men to guard their speech.
Why?
The root of this goes back to the very beginning of Creation. Man was created from the earth (adamah), and was therefore called Adam, which alludes to silence (demimah).
Woman, not having been created from the earth, lacks this foundation of silence. She was called Chavah, which alludes to speech: “And night to night conveys (yachaveh) knowledge.” (Tehillim 19:3)
“A locked fire” burns in women's mouths.
Chazal said: “Ten kab of speech descended into this world—women took nine, and the entire world took one.” (Kiddushin 49b)
If a woman cannot cool this fire through prayer and the recitation of Tehillim, her inner fire will burst forth in the form of slander. If a woman wishes to direct her mouth toward the Almighty, like our Matriarchs did, she will achieve everything. (Rabbi Shalom Arush, “The Wisdom of a Woman”)
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: “Kadosh Baruch Hu forgives all sins except Lashon Hara.”
Who created Lashon Hara, and what is its root?
— “The Nachash (Serpent). When the Nachash came to Chavah (the sin of the Tree of Knowledge), it introduced its impurity into her—and all human sins stem from this impurity.” (The Zohar on Shelach, Sulam, Zvi Nisanzen)
Chazal teach that the tongue is the only organ that contains nothing hard within it—no bone or cartilage—and therefore it is difficult for it to control itself.
The tongue is the gateway into a person. If the tongue is unrestrained and does not guard what lies within a person, then the gates to the treasury will be open, and everything will come out and become visible. But if the gates are guarded, then the treasury itself and all that it contains are protected, as the wise man said: “Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise.” (Mishlei 17:28)
“When a person speaks, breath called ‘hevel’ comes out of his mouth—and this breath is his life force, ‘chiyut.’ This can be clearly seen when the soul leaves the body: there is no longer any breath or speech in it. The breath that comes out of his mouth when he speaks is ‘chelek nishmato’ (a part of his soul). Therefore, tradition teaches us not to speak useless words, as this leads to the loss of part of the soul.” (“Petach Einayim, Nedarim 22”)
Ta'anit Dibbur
Ta'anit Dibbur—a fast from speech, abstaining from idle and mundane conversation—is a powerful spiritual tool for purification and atonement. It was introduced in the previous century by the Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Alfiyah, author of the book שיח יצחק “Siach Yitzchak” (Yitzchak's conversation).
Rabbi Alexander Ziskind writes that many great rabbanim accepted upon themselves Ta'anit Dibbur from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur, in order not to speak about mundane matters.
The great mekubalim also practice Ta'anit Dibbur during the days of Shovavim and recommend that women do so as well.
[Abstaining from useless speech is better than abstaining from food, because fasting weakens the body for the service of Hashem, whereas silence strengthens the body and soul for serving G-d.]
It was precisely regarding this state that the Arizal (of blessed memory) wrote: “One who guards himself from conversation for 40 consecutive days can attain Ruach HaKodesh.” (“Yesod VeShoresh HaAvodah,” Sha'ar HaMayim, chapter 4)
Rabbeinu Chida teaches how to practice Ta'anit Dibbur.
The fast begins after Shacharit and continues until Mincha. During this time, one does not speak with anyone. The entire book of Tehillim is recited—ideally, three times before Mincha. After Mincha, the fast concludes with a very powerful prayer expressing requests for the salvation and deliverance of the entire Jewish people.
Rabbeinu Chida says that if a person can violate the laws of Lashon HaKodesh, then he will certainly violate the laws of the Brit. Therefore, let him train himself to refrain from idle conversation.
Gaon Rabbi Ben Zion Mutzafi relates in the name of his father, the Kabbalist Rabbi Salman Mutzafi, how to perform Tikkun HaDibbur.
One must recite 12 times Tehillim (119:89):
לְעוֹלָ֥ם ה׳ דְּ֝בָרְךָ֗ נִצָּ֥ב בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם
— “Leolam Adonai, devarcha nitzav bashamayim”—(Forever, O L-rd, Your word stands firm in the heavens).
(“Ahavat HaKodesh, Tzipora Shamir” (7:101))
Was this helpful?
100% of readers found this article helpful (85 votes).
Please note: some articles on our site contain the holy Names of the Almighty. If you print these articles, they may not be thrown away or destroyed. Please handle printed copies with care and respect.
Tags: Prayer, The Power of Tehillim, Taanit, Tikkunim, Taanit Dibbur, Taanit Dibbur and Why a Woman’s Primary Tikkun Is Her Speech, Tikkun, Ta'anit Dibbur During the Days of Shovavim, Taanit Dibbur in Elul, Tikkun Lashon Hara
