Tehillim in the Month of Elul

The great Rabbi Nissim Gaon (whose commentaries are printed in the margins of the Gemara) writes that reciting Tehillim is the practice of ordinary people. Reading Tehillim is “temimut” (wholeness, sincerity, simplicity). Ordinary people cannot engage in profound Torah study, so they recite Tehillim. The month of Elul is the most important time for Tehillim and other prayers. During Elul, we recite Tehillim at any time of day or night—there are no restrictions. The King is in the field. He awaits our praises around the clock. Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz also taught that although we generally do not recite Tehillim at night (since night is a time of judgment, and it is dangerous to recite these pesukim at night), we may recite Tehillim during Elul, because these are days of Mercy, when there is no judgment at all. The Tur writes (581): “The more a person beseeches the mercy of the Almighty (during Elul), the greater his merit.” These prayers will help him during the Days of Judgment. Sefer Tehillim begins with the word “ashrei” (fortunate). Rabbi Chaim Palaggi writes that “ashrei” is an acronym for four periods that are ideal for reciting Tehillim—for both spiritual growth in the coming year and material blessings: א – Elul, ש – Shabbat, ר – Rosh Chodesh, י – Yom Tov. Customs for reciting Tehillim during Elul

It is customary to recite 10 chapters of Tehillim each day during Elul, totaling 300 chapters—the gematria of the word “kapar” (to atone);
The custom of the Arizal is to recite Tehillim 27 every day of Elul.

The Kabbalistic Siddur of Reb Shabsi states: “Anyone who recites the 27th chapter of Tehillim from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Simchat Torah every morning and evening is guaranteed goodness and pleasure throughout his entire life. Even if a harsh decree is issued against him, it will be annulled, and all the “kitrugim” (accusing angels) will withdraw... He will be vindicated in judgment..., because the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy descend on Rosh Chodesh Elul... By reciting this chapter, we push away the “kitrugim”, and they cannot judge us. Only the Almighty will judge us, as it is written: “Let my judgment come before You”—and we will be declared innocent.”

It is customary to recite Tehillim 143 every day of Elul, because it says: – “Ve'al tavo vemishpat et avdecha, ki lo yitzdak lefanekha kol chai”—(Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no living being can be acquitted before You).
It is customary to recite Tehillim 51. The psalm's number is an acronym for the word נא “na” (please), expressing a plea and a request for forgiveness.

Stories of Tzadikim Once, a visitor came to Reb Yosef Shmuel Vogel, who lived in a nursing home in Jerusalem. Reb Yosef Shmuel was reciting Tehillim at the time, and he did not interrupt his reading when he saw the visitor. When Reb Yosef Shmuel finished reciting, he said: “I will tell you why I did not stop reciting Tehillim when you came in. When I was a bachur, I studied at the Damesek Eliezer of Vizhnitz Yeshivah. It was a time of hunger. One day, exhausted from hunger, I went outside. A cart loaded with apples passed nearby. I began praying for an apple to fall from it. The Almighty heard my prayers. The cart struck a stone, and an apple fell. I waited until the driver (who was not Jewish) had left, picked up the apple, recited a berachah, and took a bite. Suddenly, someone beside me answered Amen to the berachah! I turned around—it was Damesek Eliezer. I felt embarrassed (it is not fitting for a chassidic bachur to eat in the street). Damesek Eliezer placed his hand on my shoulder and walked alongside me. He said: ‘Yosef Shmuel, you acted like a chassidic bachur. It is now Elul, and during this month one's mouth should not remain empty for even a minute. You do not know Mishnayot, so you filled it with an apple.’” Reb Shmuel added: “From that day until today, I cannot waste time during Elul.” For this reason, he did not interrupt his recitation of Tehillim. This is one of the forms of Divine service with which we should be occupied during Elul. (Based on “The Well of Torah”—Parshat Shoftim)

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Tags: TEHILLIM, Elul, Tehillim During the Month of Elul

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Tehillim in the Month of Elul

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