It is advantageous that the Book of Psalms can be recited wherever we are: in a synagogue, at home, at the office, in a hotel…
It is advantageous that the Book of Psalms can be recited wherever we are: in a synagogue, at home, at the office, in a hotel. while travelling, etc. Such has been the case for thousands of years. King David’s words have accompanied us through thick and thin and you’ll find Psalms in all sizes and formats, in everything for the talit bag micro to the knapsack mega.
Traditionally, the Book of Psalms has been recited at all holy sites, including the Western Wall, the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, Rachel’s Tomb and the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, to name a few. It is an ancient custom to pray at the gravesites of Tzaddikim so that in their merit our prayers should be answered. Once, Rebbe Nachman was speaking about the gravesite of the Baal Shem Tov. He said: The graves of the True Tzaddikim have the same holiness as the Land of Israel. It is therefore a very great thing to visit their graves to pray and recite the Psalms there (Likutey Moharan II, 109).
It is an ancient custom to pray at the gravesites of Tzaddikim so that in their merit our prayers should be answered.
In reference to his own grave, Rebbe Nachman said: Whoever comes to my gravesite, recites the Ten Psalms (the General Remedy) and donates something to charity for my sake, I promise that I will intercede on his behalf. No matter how terrible his sins, I will do everything in my power to remove that person from Gehennom! (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #141). (Rebbe Nachman is buried in the Ukrainian city of Uman, mid-way between Odessa and Kiev.) This is a most incredible promise, one that no other Tzaddik ever issued. Consider the power of this promise. By virtue of his traveling to Rebbe Nachman’s gravesite, reciting the General Remedy and giving charity, a person has earned himself the services of a most powerful and eloquent defense lawyer, one who will argue his case before the Heavenly Tribunal on his Day of Judgment.
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Reb Noson writes: The General Remedy is a very powerful rectification. In the merit of this rectification, may we be worthy of seeing the coming of Mashiach, the ingathering of the exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Amen (Likutey Moharan II, 92).
(Taken from the book Crossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings, chapter 8 – Prayer)
