Tikkun Shovavim
Tikkun Shovavim
“Shovavim” means “wayward, spoiled children” in Hebrew.
Beginning with the weekly Torah portion of “Shemot”, we enter a period of holy and exalted days known as SHOVaVIM—an acronym formed from the names of the parshiyot (weekly Torah portions) read during this period: Shemot, Va’eira, Bo, Beshalach, It ro, and Mishpatim.
In Tanakh, the word “shovavim” appears twice, both times in the Book of Jeremiah. For example, in (3:14): “Return, wayward children”—the Jewish people are described as disobedient children who make mistakes, upset their Parent, and become shovavim.
These portions are read during two Hebrew months: Tevet and Shevat (two of the three months traditionally associated with negativity: Av, Tevet, and Shevat).
This period is considered auspicious for Ta’anit and tikkunim connected with rectifying violations of 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 word Ta’anit is the first word in the acronym for Teshuvah—תשובה:
Tav—Ta’anit (fasting),
Shin—sak (sackcloth),
Vav—vidui (confession),
Bet—bechi (weeping),
Hey—hesped (acknowledging one’s sins before G-d).
Our Sages teach that every violation of the laws of the Brit leaves the greatest stains upon the soul and creates a great distance between us and the Creator.
Women and children may also be affected by this sin; as a result, problems with parnasah, health, children, and other matters can accumulate within the family.
The most appropriate time to rectify this sin is during the period of Shovavim.
Ta’anit Shovavim is a complete fast from all food and drink, including water, from dawn until nightfall. During the winter months, when the days are short, such a fast is easier to observe. Abstaining from food and drink expresses repentance for one’s sins—the offering of one’s fat and blood to G-d, by analogy with the sacrifices offered in Temple times, when the fat and blood of animals were offered for people’s sins.
The fast is observed throughout the six weeks of Shovavim, on Mondays and Thursdays (the days when the Torah scroll is taken out in the synagogue), excluding Shabbat, since fasting is not customary on Shabbat. This means two fasts per week, for a total of 12 fasts from dawn until nightfall.
If you are unable to fast for any reason, you may replace the fast with tzedakah in an amount approximately equal to what you would have spent on food that day.
According to some opinions, it is meritorious to give 405 coins of any denomination, corresponding in gematria to the word נשימה—“neshamah” (soul).
Those for whom this fast is too difficult may instead refrain during these days from protein-rich foods—namely, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and animal fats—as our grandmothers used to do.
Rabbeinu Chida (“Ahavat HaKodesh,” Tzipporah Shamir, 7:101) teaches that during this period it is good to practice Ta’anit Dibbur—to refrain from speaking mundane words from morning until evening for one day, speaking only words of prayer and Tehillim. Rabbeinu Chida explains that if a person was capable of violating the laws of Lashon HaKodesh, then violating the laws of the Brit is all the more possible.
The special tikkun during Ta’anit Dibbur is to recite the entire Book of Psalms. The reading begins after breakfast and is completed before the Mincha prayer.
[More about Ta’anit Dibbur here]
Ta'anit Dibbur and Tikkun Lashon Hara
It is also important during this period to recite “Tikkun HaKlali” of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a collection of Psalms that rectifies violations of the laws of the Brit.
Tikkun HaKlali - Text with the Introductory and Concluding Prayers
It is customary to study the Tahorot tractate of the Mishnah during this period.
In addition to Ta’anit (fasting), we should not forget the other aspects of the word Teshuvah: namely, vidui (confession before Hashem), bechi (weeping), and hesped (acknowledging one’s sins before G-d).
In Sephardic communities, women also observe Ta’anit and Ta’anit Dibbur on Mondays and Thursdays.
(Based on a video lecture by Gaon Ben Zion Mutzafi, a lecture by Rabbi Daniel Cohen, and a translation of an article by Rabbi Tzvi Fishman)
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Tags: Prayer, Taanit, Tikkunim, Shovavim, Tikun Shovavim, Taanit Dibbur, Tikkun
