There are a total of 36 psalms that are introduced with the word “Mizmor.” The simple meaning of the word “mizmor” is “musical accompaniment,” but the root word zameir also means “pruning,” as in “tizmor karmecha – prune your vineyard” (Sefer Vayikra – Parshas B’Har). A tree cannot flourish if its vitality is sapped by damaged bark and diseased branches. Cutting away the undesirable portions assures the continued growth of a thriving tree. Without regular pruning, a tree will fail to produce fruit. The same concept of pruning a plant to increase growth also applies to spiritual development. Proper pruning involves identifying and ridding ourselves of undesirable traits and modes of action that sap our energy. Such inner work is difficult, but its rewards are unequaled.
According to Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe (Levush, 1530-1612), there is an evil force in this world created from all our sins that prevents our t’filos from reaching the Kisei HaKavod – the eternal throne. The Psalms prune away these obstacles. When we say T’hilim, these forces are destroyed and our t’filos are able to reach the highest point, the Kisei HaKavod. This is the reason we say T’hilim before Sh’ma and Sh’moneh Esrei. T’hilim chases away spiritual forces that might disrupt our prayers and allows our t’filos to rise.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Yisrael ben Raizel Shoshanah Miriam
Eliyahu ben Rachel
Robert ben Mazal
Yosef Yehudah ben Devorah
David ben Maya
Yosef Meir ben Malkah Charna
Amir ben Azar Avivah
Binyamin Nesanel ben Brachah Tovah
Eliyahu ben Zoya
Eliyahu ben Sophie
Lavi Rafael ben Olga
Moshe Reuven ben Sima Taybela
Yitzchak ben Rachel Shifrah
Shalom Reuven ben Shima
Shia Hersh ben Surel
Baruch Bendit ben Chanah Gitel
Chai Yitzchak ben Esther Rivkah
Moshe Reuven ben Sima Taybela
Yosef Gideon Yaakov ben Peninah
Rafael ben Sonyah Sarah
Leah bas Michal
Chayah Esther bas Barba
Esther bas Rachel
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Tziporah bas Fruma
Behnaz Chayah bas Yafah
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.