Uprooting the fault!

 

By R’ Eliyahu Bakish

 

By his actions, the human being acts on the spiritual roots of the world. The harmful effects of one’s faults are repaired by repentance (teshuvah).

   The work of introspection and repentance is always beneficial. Nevertheless, certain periods of the year are particularly beneficial. We think of the months of Elul, Tichri.

There is another, equally important, but lesser-known period for repentance: the six weeks of Shovavim .

 

The weeks in which the parashas of Shemot, Vaera, Bo, Bechalach, Yitro and Mishpatim are read are  called Shovavim. The word Shovavim is in fact an acronym made up of the initials of these parashas[1] which recount the stay in Egypt and the passage from slavery to physical and spiritual liberation.

The word Shovavim means rebellious or unruly[2] . The Kabbalists reveal another level of meaning: this word refers to the evil spiritual ‘children’ created by the seed sown in vain[3] .

This period, however, “is a time of atonement for the sins of the sexual prohibitions”[4] . In response to sincere repentance during Shovavim, our masters teach that the Creator will deliver the sinner and the Jewish people from their misfortunes.

 

 

Uprooting the fault

According to the cabalist tradition, each fault affects divine Names. Reparation consists, among other things, in “rehabilitating” them, so to speak, in order to repair at the root the spiritual damage caused by the faults.

It is therefore traditional to take advantage of these weeks to make spiritual progress by carrying out “reparations” known as tikunim. In concrete terms, the tikun process includes prayers, “redemption” of faults and fasting[5] .

Techuva must be sincere. It implies regret, confession (to G-d), and the resolution not to commit the fault again[6] . Let us recall that shortly before the destruction of the Temple, the offenders brought offerings of atonement (korban ‘hatat), without really being in the right frame of mind. The fact that a process of atonement is possible does not allow one to err by relying on Divine forgiveness as a result of teshuvah or redemption after participation in a special service of the chovavim. Let us not forget that Hashem knows full well the level of sincerity of each person. Furthermore, the study of the laws related to the halachic matters transgressed is recommended (it is in itself an atonement).

What to do concretely?

  1. Participate in special services during Shovavim. Communities can invite a Rabbi who is competent in this area (beware of charlatans, your Rabbi will be able to guide you).
  2. If it is not possible to participate in such an office, one may engage in a process of redress on one’s own. This can be done in the following way:
  3. To take upon oneself the fast the day before it in the min’ha prayer or before sunset by specifying the reason for this fast: “I take upon myself to fast tomorrow from sunrise to the end of the stars in order to atone for the fault of (specify) …. I may stop my fast at any time. However, may Hashem help me and give me the strength to reach the end of the fast in good health and may my teshuva and my prayers be accepted.
  4. On the day of the fast, it is essential to redeem the number of days of fasting that should have been done[7] . This number varies according to each fault. Each day of fasting is redeemed by the price of the meals usually consumed in one day. A person of modest means will give what he can (not less than the value of a slice of bread per day). The amount given must make us feel at least as difficult as we feel when fasting. One may not use the ma’asser money for “redemption” of faults. The money is to be given to a Torah institution or to needy people (preferably those who study Torah).
  5. On the day of the fast, the money is taken in hand and it is specified that it is a sum intended for the redemption of the number of fasts expiating such fault. [8]
  6. Then, in the min’ha amidah, “anenu” is added to the blessing of “chema’ kolenu” (see sidur).

The period of the Chovavim corresponds to winter. In this season, the nights are long and so is the exile, symbolizing our alienation from the forces of evil.  But spring is approaching, heralded by the celebration of Tu BiShevat. May Hashem accept our prayers and increase our merits, so that the Mashiach will soon come.

 

 

Appendix

Correspondence table of faults and number of fasts

according to Ari zal and his students, and the Rashach [according to Book Benayahu vol. 4].

 

Explanation:

  • The number of fasts required is based on Kabbalist teachings. It does not depend on the gravity of the fault.
  • Some opinions recommend fasting for one day and redeeming all the faults [about 26,000 days of fasting]. This is called tikune ha’avonot ha klali). However, others hold that one day of fasting per subject is indispensable.
  • In the case that one knows that he has transgressed a fault, some advise to perform the tikun three times (on three different days). Even if one has transgressed the fault more than three times). If, on the other hand, one only performs the tikun in the case that the transgression was done by a previous gilgul of one’s soul, or by people related to one’s soul, one time is sufficient.
  • The fact that a process of atonement is possible does not allow one to err with the intention of later atoning. Let us not forget that Hashem knows very well the level of sincerity of each person.

 

  Faults Number of fasts
 

Tikunim of the Rachach
1 Did not fulfill the 248 positive commandments 15128
2 Anger 151
3 Impurified his thought 87
4 False Oath 37
5 Vows and promises 6
6 Pride 55
7 Did not respect his parents [see next table, tikoune 22]. 26
8 Failed his parents 45
9 Cursed his parents 40
10 The one who transgressed faults making him liable to the 4 kinds of execution by the Beth din 200
11 Nida 82
12 Relationship with a married woman 325
13 Wrote a talisman (to command an angel to do his will) 45
14 Relationship with an animal 216
15 Homosexual relationships 233
16 Seed production in vain

 

 84
 

 

Tikunim of Ari zal and his students
1 Relationship with a non-Jew 216
2 Looked at places (of women) usually covered (which is defined as “erva” by the halakha) 18
3 Unintentionally fed forbidden foods (nevelot and trefot) to others 289
4 Eaten forbidden foods (nevelot and trefoils) voluntarily [see tikun 18 below]. 289
5 Transgression of the Shabbat in private 50
6 Transgression of the Shabbat in public (in front of 10 Jews) 36
7 Came out of the te’houm shabbat 454
8 Lachone ara’ and gossip 45
9 Relationship with an unmarried woman 40
10 Spoke in the synagogue (profane words) 40
11 Denounced a Jew to the authorities 301
12 Taunting/mockery 120
13 Has spoken vulgar words 101
14 Shamed his fellow man in public (so much so that he turned pale) 44
15 Flattery. 40
16 Deceived/scammed a convert 1
17 Gave a bad nickname to his neighbor 30
18 Eaten a forbidden food [see tikoune 4 above]. 91
19 Ate a “Nevela 87
20 Drank the wine of the non-Jews 73
21 Idolatry 311
22 Shamed his parents 60
23 Ate bread without netilat yadayim at the beginning and without mayim a’haronim at the end 28
24 Ate without blessing 3
25 Killed 1199
26 Abortion (except in cases where a rabbinical authority has permitted it) 365
27 Theft (from a Jew) – GZELA = with violence 40
28 Theft (from a Jew) – GNEVA = discreetly 40
29 Loaned or borrowed (from a Jew) with interest 365
30 Played games for money (when the person has no other source of income) 40
31 Relationships while in mourning 40
32 Did not pray one of the obligatory prayers 9
33 Has renounced his faith; and has aroused his evil inclination 4000
34 Relationships with his wife in the dates when the cycle is potentially expected (dates of the ‘onot where the relationship is prohibited as a precaution) and the cycle has actually begun on that date 69
35 Kissed or hugged his wife on the dates when the cycle is potentially expected and the cycle actually started on that date 40
36 Did not keep the corners of the hair 182
37 Desecrated G-d’s name in public 36

 

 

 

 

 

© R’ Eliyahu Bakish, January 2023 ;

 

Original Paper and Appendix in French : https://brit-milah.com/chovavim-1/  ; https://brit-milah.com/chovavim-tableau/

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FOOTNOTES

[1] “Sh” is for Shemot…. “M” is for Mishpatim.

[2] Shuvu banim chovavim. “Do teshuvah, you rebellious children…” (Jeremiah 3:14 and 22).

[3] Reported by Rav Ya’akov Moshe Hillel.

[4] Video course by R’ Ron Chaya (2010), http://www.leava.fr/cours-torah-judaisme/actualite/361_chovavim.php, 38 minutes; January.

[5] However, for those who are angry at being deprived of food, it is better that they refrain from fasting because the fasts of the chovavim are not prescribed by halacha.

[6] See Rambam Halakhot teshuva and Sha’aré teshuva by R’ Yona of Girona.

[7] See the table of correspondence of faults and number of fasts, according to Ari zal and his students, and the Rachach: https://brit-milah.com/les-chovavim/.

[8] Even though a day of fasting is necessary, this day of fasting cannot be deducted from the sum intended for the redemption of the total of the necessary fasts.