- Halacha
- Tehillim and Personal Prayers
praying for myself and how to improve my life
Question
How can I pray for myself? I have chronic shingles for 6 years now and am in my 20s, struggling regarding all parts of my life. I just started getting into doing teshuva. How can I pray? What do I say in tehilim to heal and have my health back and find a soulmate, and just feel better emotionally? I have all sort of weird things going on with my health. I’ll do anything. Can I speak to the rav over the phone? Thank you so so much. It would mean the world to me to heal and get my health back.
Answer
Shalom- I’m truly sorry to hear about your problems! The 3 things we do in order to try and improve one's situation are:
1. Tshuva (improving mitzvot between you and other people (ethically, like speaking truth and good, not bad, about others) and between you and God, like eating kosher, Shabbat, etc.), to strengthen your loving relationship with God and His People.
2. Tzedaka (give charity, just as you wish God to give you charity and help), and
3. Tfila (prayer from the depths of your heart- simply speak to God as your loving Father, and if you wish, also say the following chapters of Psalms/Tehillim, at least one a day : chapters 20, 6, 9, 13, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 49, 55,56,69, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 102, 103, 104, 107, 116, 118, 142, 143, and 128). In short, to strengthen your personal Godliness, as well as your personal relationship with Him.
I also strongly suggest you contact your local orthodox rabbi and arrange to meet with him personally, so maybe he can help teach you about different mitzvot or possible local volunteer work and Shabbat religious services, to get you more involved in the Jewish community, and maybe also meet a nice Jewish soulmate, to build a home of companionship and mutual strengthening.
Wishing you the best of health, building a home of happiness, and everything good which your heart desires!
Rav Ari Shvat

Mentioning HaKohen in Mi Shebeirach
Rabbi David Sperling | Tevet 20, 5772

Davening for a "convert" to another religion
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 29 Cheshvan 5767

which Tehilim at Poland
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 25, 5773

Tehillim
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 22, 5772

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Delaying aliya for career and studies
Adar II 25, 5771

A Day is a thousand years
Adar I 23, 5771

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Hallel no minyan
Various Rabbis | 1 Adar 5767

No sukkah at home
Rabbi David Sperling | Tishrei 7, 5775

Writing on Chol HaMoed for College
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 24, 5772

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Tefillos Rosh Hashanah
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 3, 5784

Original Passover Meal
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tishrei 3, 5784

fast on yom kipper
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 9, 5784
