This is different from TESHUVA or repentance or saying I AM SORRY. For example, an armed robber steals money and kills a man; in the courtroom, all he can say is that he is sorry. It does not help the widow and 10 children of the victim. To rectify is to compensate the family of the dead. To care for them and assume the responsibilities for the family.
In Shovavim we rescue the SPARKS of holiness that fell in the klipa (evil forces) because of sexual sins and misconduct. During Shovavim we can rectify these sins with 84 days of fasting or a combination of fasting and redeeming with money or with just money only.
Shovavim is a six to eight week period that most Jews do not know about or teach about. In this blog post, you will learn about a process that can redeem the whole Jewish nation and the world. The term ‘Shovavim’ is an acronym for the six consecutive parshiot: Shemot, VaEra, Bo, BeShalach, Yitro, and Mishpatim. These are six to eight weeks in the year during the Hebrew months of Tevet-Shevat (January-February in the Gregorian calendar). In a leap year, Shovavim continues for another two weeks to Parshiot Terumah and Tetzaveh, calling the period Shovavim tat (שובבי”ם ת”ת). Shovavim is a period in which kabbalists teach us is an auspicious time for rectification, cleansing. According to the Arizal in Shaar HaYichudim, this six-week period is a prominent time to specifically rectify sexual transgressions.
‘Shovavim’ is a Hebrew word that translates to mischief-maker and comes from the book of Jeremiah the prophet (שׁ֣וּבוּ בָנִ֤ים שֽׁוֹבָבִים֙ - Chap.3 verses: 14 and 22). Taking a deeper look into the name and its origin, it is revealed Shovavim refers to the five sins that stained the Jewish nation. More on this to come.
The gematria of Shovavim is 360 which also equals שס (ש=300 ס=60) ש = 300 ו = 6 ב = 2 ב = 2 י = 10 ם = 40
The name of Shovavim is a ramez (a hint), Shovavim plus another 5 = 365 meaning it rectifies all the sexual transgressions of the year. During Mincha, one must take it upon himself to declare he/she is fasting (a Tannit) a day before the fast.
Shovavim started with Adam. According to Kabbalah, Adam had two wives, Hava 1 and Hava 2. Adam was away from his first wife Hava 1 for 130 years to repent his sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
During these 130 years, Hava 1 became the wife of Satan or the snake, and became Lilith (also called Aunt Lilly, while Satan is referred to as Uncle Sam, because his name is SaMa-EL; do not pronounce either name).
Aunt Lilly extracted from Adam's night emissions (Zera Levatalla) that created demons and spirits that brought misfortunes and harm to humanity. These divine sparks fell into the evil forces. Today, we are required to extract them back. But in order to be rectified, the sparks came back in four generations as alluded to in Tehillim by King David, the reincarnation of Adam. Tehilim 10:7 תהלים ו ז - יָגַעְתִּי בְּאַנְחָתִי אַשְׂחֶה בְכָל לַיְלָה מִטָּתִי בְּדִמְעָתִי עַרְשִׂי אַמְסֶה (I wet the bed with tears) The four generations:
1. The generation of the Flood (מבול)
2. The generation of Enosh (אנוש)
3. The generation of the Tower of Babel (הפלגה)
4. The generation of Sodom and Gomora (סדום)
To rectify the sins and purify themselves, the Jewish people were gathered in Egypt and had to endure 400 years of slavery. The hardships of slavery were a process of rectification and cleansing. This is the secret essence of Passover. During the Shovavim weekly Parsha readings, the Jewish nation experienced liberation from exile in Egypt and from the 49th level of impurity. During this time, according to one of our sages, Shlah HaKadosh, this period is an intensified time for rectifying. The hardships that we suffered in Egypt came to cleanse us. Just like today, the period of Shovavim comes to cleanse us from sexual transgressions.
But the job has not been finished; more sinful acts were committed. This is why we do Tikkun Shovavim; six weeks (8 weeks for a leap year) we fast every day excluding Shabbat (some fast twice a week, some once a week) to rectify the following 5 sins which are listed progressively from bad to worse:
1. Sperm emissions, wasted (Zera Lavatalla)
2. A man sleeping with another man (homosexuality)
3. Sleeping with a married woman
4. Sleeping with a NIDA (a woman that did not to mikveh)
or during her menstrual period
5. Sleeping with a Non-Jewish woman (Shiktza)
Abortions (are in additions to the main 5, and get rectified)
Ranking of sinful acts according to the root of the sin:
1. Bad Thoughts (eventually translate to action)
2. The guarding of the 5 senses
3. Pornography
4. Illicit internet images
5. Assimilation
6. Image substitution during intercourse (Temura)
7. Seminal Emissions (ShaZaL)
8. Goyah (Shiktza)
9. Nidah
10. Adultery
11. Bestiality
12. Abortions – in this case, she has to do the same as men
13. Homosexuality
This rectification is not only for us but also for all the People of ISRAEL. It is also meant to rectify our bad thoughts of these sins, even without committing them.
In the Zohar on Shemot, it discusses three types of people that drive out the Shechinah (God’s dwelling divine presence on Earth) from this world and make it impossible for God to create His home here (Beit HaMikdash). Without the Beit Hamikdash Jews cannot properly pray and serve God’s willfully. The people that forge this havoic onto the world are those that have sexual relations with women during menstruation, sleep with non-Jews, and intentionally have abortions, thereby preventing it from coming to fruition. The world is judged for these sins and we're told with war, famine, and pestilence as a result. We learned that in exile, the children of Israel remained free of those sins and fulfilled sexual relations to increase and multiply. Consequently, they were worthy of liberation. Indeed, Rabbi Chiya discusses the verse, "And he made the laver of brass", whose ritual ablutions and eagerness to obtain husbands made them worthy of great honor.
During this period, it is recommended to avoid anger and be humble. Take advantage of this once-in-a-year opportunity to rectify sexual transgressions.
Other Remedies Help – But Not Returning The Jewish People to Pristine State
1. Recite the Shema before bedtime with Kavanah (intention), every night: Kriat Shema Al Hamita - we destroy 1125 evil forces created from inappropriate sperm emissions
2. Purchase the first Torah taken out for Kol Nidre
3. Purchase Shishi Aliya on Shabbat
4. Recite Brich Shemeh Demare Alma, with Kavana to rectify emissions (Keri). The prayer has 130 words, against 130 years Adam had emissions.
5. Pay 180 shekels a week + 1 day of fasting (for 6 weeks)
6. Learn Torah
Learn more about Shovavim by listening to these podcast episodes by Yamine below.
Three Days of Fasting - Shovavim
Shovavim - What Is It?
To further learn more about Shovavim in English and Hebrew, click here (English and Hebrew) If you are unable to fast for Shovavim but do want to rectify sexual transgressions, giving money to someone that is fasting for Shovavim is another way to take part. If you do not know anyone fasting for Shovavim and you want to pay, contact elizalavi7@gmail.com.
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