Question: Is it a worthy custom for women to recite Tikun Chatzot as it is for men or is preferable that they abstain?
Answer: In the previous Halacha, we have explained that it is worthy for any G-d-fearing individual to recite the text of Tikun Chatzot printed in Siddurim and arranged by the saintly Ari z”l if one is awake at halachic midnight. We have written that prayer regarding the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and prayer in general at this time is more readily accepted.
Regarding women reciting Tikun Chatzot, Hagaon Rabbeinu Yosef Haim zt”l writes in his Ben Ish Hai (Parashat Vayishlach) that women should not recite Tikun Chatzot. This is based on his ruling is his Responsa Rav Pe’alim (Volume 1, Sod Yesharim, Chapter 9) and this is the response he received from Hagaon Harav Eliyahu Mani, Chief Rabbi of Hebron, who writes that we have neither seen nor heard of any women reciting Tikun Chatzot. He writes several Kabbalistic reasons for this, most notably because most of the Tikun Chatzot is comprised of verses of Tanach which should not be recited at night. Although men do recite Tikun Chatzot, this is because there is a distinction between men and women regarding this issue.
Nevertheless, Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l disagrees with the opinion of the Ben Ish Hai, for as long as there is a necessity in reciting these verses at night, such as Tikun Chatzot which should be recited specifically at halachic midnight, there is no concern of reciting verses from the Tanach at night for either men or women. This is especially true since these chapters of Tehillim are being recited in the form of prayers and supplications and not as Torah study in which case there is room to allow reading verses from Tanach at night as well, as we have explained elsewhere.
Thus, halachically speaking, it is worthy for women as well to recite Tikun Chatzot every night when they are awake at that hour and they should not abstain from observing this righteous custom.
We have already established in the previous Halacha that during the Shemitta year (like this year, 5782), only “Tikun Leah” is recited while “Tikun Rachel” is omitted. On Shabbat and Yom Tov, Tikun Chatzot is not recited at all.
Summary: The great Mekubalim speak highly of reciting Tikun Chatzot. The custom of Sephardic sages is to recite Tikun Chatzot with much concentration and emotion in order to awaken Hashem’s Heavenly mercy upon us so that He redeem us once and for all time and rebuild the Bet Hamikdash. Women should also be encouraged to observe this righteous custom. Anyone who mourns over Jerusalem shall merit to see its joy.
