03 – Customs and Kavanah Regarding Their Recital

[5]. In Seder Rav Amram Gaon it is written in the name of Rav Natrunai Gaon that the main goal is to recite the psalm Tehillah L’David at least once a day, and the fact that the Chachamim write three times daily is so that people will not be negligent by not reciting it at all. Therefore, in his opinion, on Shabbat it is only recited twice. This is also the implication from the Rosh chapter 1, section 6, where he writes, “Whoever recites Tehillah L’David every day.” However, in the Gemara before us (Berachot 4b), the version reads, “Anyone who recites Tehillah L’David three times daily – is promised life in the World to Come.” So writes the Rambam, that it is recited three times on Shabbat as well. According to those who maintain that it is sufficient to recite it once a day, the Kaf HaChaim 51:33 writes not to repeat “Pote’ach” in the middle of Pesukei d’Zimrah since this is considered an interruption. Instead one should have kavanah while saying it in the Ashrei after the Amidah. However, according to the majority of poskim, one must make up its recital in the middle of Pesukei d’Zimrah wherever he realizes his lack of kavanah. This is because in addition to taking into consideration the poskim who maintain that it is necessary to recite it three times, the verse “Pote’ach” is the most important verse of Pesukei d’Zimrah (as Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah 23a write) and therefore it must be recited with kavanah specifically between the berachot of Pesukei d’Zimrah. That is what the Mishnah Berurah implies and what the Ben Ish Chai, Vayigash 12, Igrot Moshe 2:16, and Yabia Omer, part 6, 5:6 write as well. According to most poskim, only the verse “Pote’ach” must be repeated, as written in the Shulchan Aruch 51:7, Magen Avraham, Birkei Yosef 5, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 8, and Tzitz Eliezer 12:8. The Mishnah Berurah, based on the Levush and Chayei Adam, rules that one must recite from “Pote’ach” until the end of the Psalm.