Our Sages teach us that there are auspicious times for us to pray for special requests, such as requesting health for those needing r’fuah (e.g., hafrashas challah, bris milah, chupah, and during labor). The Talmud also teaches us: “Whoever prays (to Hashem) for mercy on behalf of his friend, while he himself is in need of the same thing, he will be answered first.” We are taught that, in the merit of praying for others, our own prayers are answered, and we fulfill the mitzvos of “Love your fellow as yourself” and chesed.
David HaMelech put together Sefer T’hilim (Book of Psalms) in five books, corresponding to the five books of the Torah. The sefer is an anthology of 150 individual psalms that offer comfort in difficult times. Sefer T’hilim is among the most popular and widely read of all the books of the Tanach. The Jewish literature is replete with encouragement to recite T’hilim as much as possible. Often cited are the words of the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Tzemach Tzedek: “If we only knew the power of Psalms and the effects of its recitation, we would recite them constantly. Know that the chapters of Psalms shatter all barriers, they ascend higher and still higher with no interference; they prostrate themselves in supplication before the Master of all worlds, and they effect and accomplish with kindness and compassion.” (HaYom Yom)
Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (aka the Chida, 1724–1806) wrote in his introduction to his Yosef Tehilos commentary to T’hilim: “One who recites T’hilim each day is considered as though he fulfilled the entire Torah and merits a place beneath the Throne of Glory… One who is accustomed to [reciting] T’hilim repels all kinds of calamities and several harmful plagues from him, his household, his family members, and his entire generation.”
May our t’filos be answered, and may this be a year of y’shuos, brachos, hatzlachah, gezunt, parnasah, and nachas, and may we all be gathered in Yerushalayim for the arrival of Mashiach speedily in our days. Amein.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Eliyahu ben Sophie
Yehudah Leon Yitzchak ben Esther
Yaakov ben Esther
Yosef Chaim ben Chanah Devorah
David ben Miriam
Eliyahu ben Rachel
Yitzchak ben Chanah Rinah
Tiran ben Basah
Zecharyah Shalom ben Batsheva Simchah
Elnathan ben Rozita
Yaakov Yosef ben Paya
Chayah Esther bas Barbara
Esther Fruma bas Beila
Shiva bas Manzal
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Sarah Miriam bas Chanah Batsheva
Rachel Leah bas Ita Yehudis
Chayah Rivkah bas Yocheved Keila
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.
