The Sadikim have taught us many "Tikkunim," ways to repair the spiritual damage caused by various kinds of sins. During the period of Shobabim, when we work on repenting for and avoiding sins involving bodily impurity, it is worth noting the famous "Tikkun Ha’kelali" taught in the Likutei Moharan (Rabbi Nahman of Breslav, 1772-1810) for a man who committed the grave sin of making himself impure. The Likuteh Moharan writes that if a person performs the Tikkun on the same day the sin was committed, he can fully repair all the spiritual damage caused by this impurity. He adds that one then does not have to fear the harmful spiritual effects of the sin, provided that he recites the Tikkun with the proper intentions (listen to audio recording for precise citation).
The Tikkun entails the reading of ten chapters of Tehillim: 16 ("Michtam Le’David"), 32 ("Le’David Maskil"), 41 ("La’menase’ah Mizmor Le’David"), 42 ("Ke’ayal Ta’arog"), 59 ("La’menase’ah Al Tash’het Le’David"), 77 ("La’menase’ah Al Yedutun"), 90 ("Tefila Le’Moshe"), 105 ("Hodu L’Hashem Kir’u Bishmo"), 137 ("Al Naharot Babel"), 150 ("Haleluy-ah Halelu Kel Be’kodsho").
When reciting these chapters of Tehillim, one must have in mind that his recitation should overpower the force of impurity associated with this sin, which is represented by the series of letters Lamed-Yod-Lamed-Yod-Tav. The combined numerical value of these letters is 480, and when we add five, the number of letters in this sequence, we arrive at 485 – the numerical value of the word "Tehillim." One must thus have in mind while reciting these chapters that the recitation of Tehillim has the power to subjugate this harmful spiritual force.
Furthermore, the human seed consists of two components – moisture and heat – which correspond to the aspects of Hesed and Gebura. The moisture corresponds to the concept of Hesed, and the heat corresponds to Gebura. The divine Name representing Hesed is "Kel," whereas the Name representing Gebura is "Elokim." If we spell out the letters of these two Names – "Alef," "Lamed," "Alef," "Lamed," "Heh," "Yod," "Mem" – the combined numerical value of the names of these seven letters is 485. Thus, one should have in mind that the recitation of Tehillim should repair the sin that affected these two aspects – Hesed and Gebura.
The Likuteh Moharan emphasizes that if one recites this Tikkun on the day of the sin with these intentions – to overpower the force of "Lamed"-"Yod"-"Lamed"-"Yod"-"Tav," and to repair the two aspects of Hesed and Gebura – he reverses the harmful effects of the sin and does not have to worry.
It must be noted that this Tikkun is a relatively simple one. It does not require fasting, any form of bodily affliction, or even reciting the entire Book of Tehillim. As such, it is certainly worthwhile to take advantage of this opportunity to repair the harmful effects of the sin, and, as mentioned, this must be done specifically on the day the sin was committed.
