4813 —תהלים לפני התפלה ותהלים לאחר התפלה – שתי תקנות וסגולות נפרדות

B"H, 6 Marcheshvan, 5717

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter, in which you write about the takanah of saying Tehillim after davening — why should one not say it before davening?

These are two separate takanos and two different segulos and matters. Saying Tehillim before davening is a preparation for davening and belongs with Tikkun Chatzos^[1]. Saying Tehillim after davening is a conclusion of the davening and a beginning of the order of the day that comes after davening. The takanah of saying Tehillim specifically after davening goes back to earlier generations, and in our generation it was renewed by my father-in-law the Rebbe, of sainted memory, as explained in many of his letters, and especially in the collection of letters, the Tehillim booklet, and as also printed in the Tehillim Ohel Yosef Yitzchak^[2]. From there one can also understand the greatness of the matter. Therefore, everyone who can do anything in this, it is his merit and holy duty to see to introducing the takanah wherever he possibly can, and the merit of the many depends on him.

I hope that you yourself keep the takanah of saying Tehillim after davening, and the other takanos: learning every day a section of Chumash with Rashi's commentary from the week's sidrah — Sunday from the start of the sidrah to the second section, Monday from the second to the third, etc. — and also the takanah of learning every day the shiur of Tanya, as the Tanya is divided over the days of the year, as explained in the letters mentioned above. In any case, you should start doing this from now on, and may Hashem grant you success.

With blessing,

In the name of the Rebbe shlita

Secretary

Publisher's notes

These are (דאס זיינען): see also Kovetz Michtavei Tehillim, p. 211, in the note.

Notes

[1] Tikkun Chatzos (תקון חצות): the midnight prayer of mourning over the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash.

[2] Tehillim Ohel Yosef Yitzchak (תהלים אהל יוסף יצחק): the Previous Rebbe's letters on saying Tehillim are printed at the end of this edition of Tehillim.

Summary

This Yiddish letter explains why the takanah is to say Tehillim after davening and not before: these are two separate practices. Tehillim before davening prepares for prayer and belongs with Tikkun Chatzos; after davening it concludes the prayer and opens the day. It urges keeping this and the daily Chumash with Rashi and Tanya.