The Arizal says that you should not read pasukim at night. Does this apply to saying Tehilim as well? The Btzel HaChochma (4:46) brings down a number of sources that say the Arizal never meant saying pasukim of Tehilim. He further says that it has become an accepted practice in Klal Yisroel to say Tehilim after Chatzos.
He quotes the Yosef Ometz who says that in Chevron and Yerushalayim, where they followed the Minhag Ari, they would wake up at Chatzos to say Tehilim. The Medrash says that Yaakov Avinu said Tehilim at night. Dovid HaMelech said Tehilim at night and even composed most of Tehilim at night. However, adds the Yosef Ometz, that although when asked by someone about this practice he permits it because there are sources to rely on, nevertheless he himself is afraid and he refrains from doing so. The lone exception is Thursday night and Friday night since Rav Chaim Vital specifically says that the problems of saying pasukim at night are not applicable on these nights.
Lastly he brings from the Aishel Avrohom that even before Chatzos it is permissible to say Tehilim since Chazal tell us that Hashem considers the Tehilim we say as if we are learning the difficult mishnayos of Nega'im and Ohalos whose time is the beginning of the night. The Btzel HaChochma therefore concludes that it is permissible to say Tehilim the entire night.
Important Note: We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. Please also understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions.
ym, 2009-10-28 12:07:59 Respectfully stated, of course, I think it is a kasha on the Aishel Avrohom. Although Dovid asked that Tehillim should be treated as learning Negaim V'oholos, it doesn't say that this request was answered positively (although it wasn't explicitly denied, either). Can we rely on that request, then?YH, 2009-10-30 10:36:56 Something to do with before chatzos being a time of gevura and after chatzos a time of chesed so Dovid composed Tehillim and others recited Tehillim after chatzos.Anonymous, 2011-03-31 07:54:56 Even for those that say tehillim should not be said at night, suppose that is the only time one has time to say tehillim, is it better to say tehillim at night than not at all?
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