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The Road To Rectification

8. Hitbodidut & Tehillim

Hitbodidut - pouring out one’s heart before G-d - is one of the main teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. A personal, heartfelt conversation with G-d, whether in the seclusion of one’s room, or in the solitude of a forest, is a powerful tool in bringing G-d actively into our lives. Hitbodidut, the fervent, unrepressed outpouring of the soul, contains everything – the confessing of one’s sins, one’s fears, and one’s shortcomings, and the pleading with of G-d to help in every endeavor in life. In the following chapter on the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a sample of hitbodidut composed by his foremost pupil, Rabbi Natan, is included as a guideline to opening a conversation with G-d. Hitbodidut gives expression to the baal tshuva’s desire to climb ever higher and higher in G-d’s service. In effect, all of King David’s Tehillim, are examples of hitbodidut – the yearning of King David to maintain a constant closeness to G-d throughout all of life’s trials. This constant yearning of David, expressed in the outpourings of his soul and unsurpassed beauty of his Psalms, is the secret of his triumph over all of his many adversities. (See the Commentary of the Malbim, Tehillim 23.)  

Tehillim, the Psalms of King David, are eternal. They speak to everyone, and for everyone, throughout all generations. The praises of G-d and the supplications of the Psalms apply to King David in his personal life, and to the national life of the people of Israel throughout its long history. According to their inner understandings, they also are addressed to the spiritual world of the sefirot and the war against the forces of evil. For this reason, the earnest recital of Tehillim is a powerful rectification of the holy souls that, due to sexual transgressions, have fallen captive to the realm of impurity.

To prevent an unintentional seminal emission on Yom Kippur night, G-d forbid, the sages have recommended reciting the first four chapters of Tehillim before retiring to sleep. This is also an excellent remedy for people who have a reoccurring problem with keri at night.