Question: What is the order of Tikun Chatzot that is recited at midnight, and should every individual be reciting it?
Answer: The Gemara (Berachot 3a) states that the night is divided into three “guards” (parts) and at the time of the “changing of the guards”, Hashem sits and roars like a lion and says, “Woe unto the children whose sins have caused me to destroy my house, burn my sanctuary, and exile them throughout the nations of the world.” The Rosh states that it is worthy for anyone who is G-d-fearing to show sorrow and worry at this time and to recite supplications regarding the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash, as the verse (Eicha 2) states, “Arise, cry out into the night at the beginning of the watches.” It is therefore worthy for one to recite supplications before Hashem if one is awake at the time of the changing of these watches. All of the above applies to our Talmud.
Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Chapter 1, Section 2) writes: “One who arises to beseech his Creator should calculate the times of the changing of the guards which is at the end of the first third of the night, at the end of two-thirds of the night, and at the end of the night.” This means that the time in between the changing of these periods is most opportune time for prayer.
On the other hand, the Mekubalim established that it is even more auspicious to pray to Hashem exactly at the midpoint of the night which the most opportune time for prayer regarding the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and the exile of the Jewish nation. This is indeed the prevalent custom throughout the Jewish nation to set the order of supplications for the destruction of the Temple at halachic midnight which is exactly twelve hours following halachic midday.
The saintly Ari z”l adapted an even more precise text of prayers and supplication for the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash to be recited at halachic midnight which is printed in almost all Siddurim, both Sephardic and Ashkenazi. This version was accepted by the entire Jewish nation and is referred to as “Tikun Chatzot”. It is worthy for every G-d-fearing Jew to recite the text of Tikun Chatzot every night at halachic midnight as established by the Ari z”l.
This text is divided into two parts: “Tikun Rachel” and “Tikun Leah.” There are times when only “Tikun Leah” is recited while “Tikun Rachel” is omitted, including the entire Shemitta year. All this is because of deep Kabbalistic reasons.
Although Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l was extremely careful with his time and dedicated every moment to Torah study and for this reason he did not spend much time reciting things that were not the primary prayers (such as “Yehi Ratzon,” “Leshem Yichud,” and the like), nevertheless, because of the great importance of Tikun Chatzot, he would customarily recite Tikun Chatzot in his bedroom every so often amid tears and yearning as though it were the first time he was reciting Tikun Chatzot. If so, how much more so must we try and observe this worthy custom of reciting Tikun Chatzot at least if one is awake at this hour. Indeed, our Sages taught, “Anyone who mourns over Jerusalem shall merit to see its joy.”
In general, the time of halachic midnight is auspicious for acceptance of one’s prayers, atonement for one’s sins, and all forms of salvation.
In the following Halacha, we shall discuss whether or not women should recite Tikun Chatzot.
