Most of Tehilim isn't phrased in the language of tefila: it's a book of Torah that's focused more on David's description of his experiences and insights into the way God runs His world or his feelings at various crucial points in his life - and certainly not bakasha.
And a lot of Tehilim is highly complex: reciting even those sections which are tefilos without knowing what you're saying is certainly not tefila.
From what I've seen virtually everyone today thinks of saying Tehilim as a segula: why else would there be so many "special" chapters for various specific needs (especially when there's no obvious connection)?
First of all, selichos, piyutim and hoshanos are NOT tefilos: they're designed to focus our minds appropriately to teshuva or the chag. Off hand, I don't remember seeing any bekashos in selichos besides begging God to accept our teshuva.
I can't read minds, so I certainly couldn't know what people are thinking, but can't imagine how anyone could interpret even thoughtful recitation of most sections Tehilim as tefila: for the most part, it completely lacks the structure of tefila - at least according to Rambam's definition:
אלא חיוב מצוה זו כך הוא שיהא אדם מתפלל ומתחנן בכל יום ומגיד שבחו של הקדוש ברוך הוא ואחר כך שואל צרכיו שהוא צריך להן בבקשה ובתחינה ואחר כך נותן שבח והודיה לה' על הטובה שהשפיע לו
But the Rambam is careful in his definition of the specific mitzva of tefila. Other people can use their own definitions, but Rambam happens to be the only one I'm aware of.
And it seems to me that, like Tehilim, selichos and the others are only useful if we understand exactly what we're saying (and absorb the thoughts).
That's possible, although if the tehilim are recited without the words sparking **new** insights or yiras shomayim, then I'm not sure there was any mitzva done - and therefore no zechus.
Also, I'm not aware of any mechanism where someone can transfer zechuyos between people.
While you're at it ,we ought to abolish as well those dancing postmodern selichos
If it's too much for many,let us ordain for them to just sit silently & contemplate
I wonder if that was Josephus or Yosiphun (a later "sanitized" version).
Most of Tehilim isn't phrased in the language of tefila: it's a book of Torah that's focused more on David's description of his experiences and insights into the way God runs His world or his feelings at various crucial points in his life - and certainly not bakasha.
And a lot of Tehilim is highly complex: reciting even those sections which are tefilos without knowing what you're saying is certainly not tefila.
From what I've seen virtually everyone today thinks of saying Tehilim as a segula: why else would there be so many "special" chapters for various specific needs (especially when there's no obvious connection)?
First of all, selichos, piyutim and hoshanos are NOT tefilos: they're designed to focus our minds appropriately to teshuva or the chag. Off hand, I don't remember seeing any bekashos in selichos besides begging God to accept our teshuva.
I can't read minds, so I certainly couldn't know what people are thinking, but can't imagine how anyone could interpret even thoughtful recitation of most sections Tehilim as tefila: for the most part, it completely lacks the structure of tefila - at least according to Rambam's definition:
אלא חיוב מצוה זו כך הוא שיהא אדם מתפלל ומתחנן בכל יום ומגיד שבחו של הקדוש ברוך הוא ואחר כך שואל צרכיו שהוא צריך להן בבקשה ובתחינה ואחר כך נותן שבח והודיה לה' על הטובה שהשפיע לו
Talking to God is great - the more the better.
But the Rambam is careful in his definition of the specific mitzva of tefila. Other people can use their own definitions, but Rambam happens to be the only one I'm aware of.
And it seems to me that, like Tehilim, selichos and the others are only useful if we understand exactly what we're saying (and absorb the thoughts).
That's possible, although if the tehilim are recited without the words sparking **new** insights or yiras shomayim, then I'm not sure there was any mitzva done - and therefore no zechus.
Also, I'm not aware of any mechanism where someone can transfer zechuyos between people.