Q. Dear Rabbi; Is it correct to say Tehilim at night when visiting a dangerously ill or dying patient?
A. Birkei Yosef (O.H. 238: 2) quotes Medresh Tanchuma (Ki Sisa 36) that Moshe Rabbenu knew while learning the Torah in Mount Sinai, when it was day or night, depending if Hashem thought him the written Torah by day or the Mishna an Talmud at night.
The Arizal (Shaar Hamitzvos – Vaeschanan) mentions that the one learning the written Torah at night awakens the powers of Dinim and strict judgment, and should therefore be avoided.
Poskim disagree if this principle applies only to the Five Chumashim or it includes the complete Tanach. (Yafe Lalev 1: 238: 3, and others permit. However, the Chida (Chaim Shoal 2: 250 and others don’t).
Poskim also disagree if it includes Tehilim or not.
Pnei Boruch (2: 38) mentions that it is better to recite Tehilim after midnight. He also quotes a number of special chapters to be read. Yet he permits reading the complete Sefer
.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the common tradition in our days is to recite Tehilim for the ill at night.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a
Important Numbers
