Tefillah Tips - Mizmor Shir Chanukat Habayit LeDovid I

The opening prayer in the pesukei dezimra- section of our morning prayers is Mizmor Shiur Chanukat Habayit LeDovid- King David's song of Temple inauguration. Rashi explains in Tehillim that this psalm was recited by the Levites in King Solomon's Temple.

It is fascinating to note that the recitation of this prayer at this point is not alluded to or found in the Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, or in any of the early Siddurim. The first mention of it seems to be in the seventeenth century based on a Kabbalistic custom revealed by the Ari Hakadosh. Therefore, our Siddur commentators offer insights to account for the insertion of this psalm.

The Tikkun Tefilla explains that since the Talmud Megillah 29a maintains that all synagogues and study halls must be considered "a mikdash miat-mini Temple sanctuaries". It is appropriate to begin our tefilla with a psalm of Temple inauguration. Our daily prayers in shul take the place of the sacrifices offered by our ancestors. The thrill, excitement, and importance that accompanied a visit to the Beit Hamikdash should resonate in the synagogue every Shabbat morning (no matter how good the kiddush is).

The Malbim (Rav Meir Levush ben Yechiel Michel 1809-1879) advances an entirely different approach to understand the content and context of the Mizmor. The Malbim writes that the "Bayit-House" that King David is referring to is his personal body that houses his soul. The theme of the psalm is praise and thanksgiving to Hashem for healing his sadness and frustration. The Ibn Ezra explains that when King David discovered that he would not merit the rights to build the Beit Hamikdash-Holy Temple he was understandably distraught. However, when the prophet Natan revealed that his son Solomon would perform the task it prompted Kind David to song- "Mizmor Shiur Chanukat Habayit LeDovid".

A combination of these two interpretations adds a depth and appreciation of what this psalm is doing at the beginning of pesukei dezimra. As we recite this psalm tomorrow and every morning let us be aware that like King David we should offer requests, praises, and thanksgiving for the manifold blessings we receive regularly. Our Bayit-body is afforded unlimited opportunities to achieve greatness in this world. This will be most easily accomplished when we remember the words of the Tikkun Tefilla and remain cognizant that our Synagogues are mini Temple sanctuaries.