[Avodah] Saying Tehillim for a sick person

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' SBA asked:

> That's been puzzling me too. Why not suffice with Refoeinu -adding
> the Yehi Ratzon - a tefilah compiled by the AKHg -  which surely
> has all the ingredients/segulos required for a refuah? And having
> said that, what's the point of adding 'man-made' Tehillim?
>
> I have the same question regarding the Vidui said (at least in
> nussach Sfard) after ShE. Isn't the AKHg's "Selach lanu" enough?

Enough?????

How can one ever reach that point?

This isn't something one does to be yotzay. Ideally, one would never stop these things until he is confident that he'll be answered with a "yes". B'dieved, of course we pause or even stop when we tire out or when some other urgency arises. But if the thought that "I've said my piece, and now I'll move on" ever enters my mind,... :-(

Regarding Viduy, this could also be asked about Tachanun in general. In fact, it can be asked even before Tachanun, about the Tachanunim ("Elokai N'tzor") immediately after Shemoneh Esreh. We've just finished the AKhG's Tefilah, what could we possibly add to it? The obvious answer (obvious to me, at least) is that we must never be satisfied with the standard text, even one as perfect and lofty as the AKhG's Tefilah. One must always add a bit more, if for no other reason than to show that he is not rushing out.

I fully support any push to re-awaken us to have more kavana for the original tefilos. One example is Rabbi Arie Folger's suggestion to say Lamnatzeach (before Uva L'tzion) "slowly, passuq befassuq, instead of
adding another psalm." And if R'SBA's suggestion was for the Shliach Tzibur to add the Yehi Ratzon to Chazaras Hashatz, I think that's a great idea too.

But I see a big difference between saying, "Hey, let's start with having proper kavana for the basic tefilos, and *then* we can add more", as opposed to "The original texts should be enough."

Akiva Miller

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