“And establish for us, the work of our hands.“51Ps. 90:17. Through the special power of this tikkun, performed on this very day, through the power of the blessings and contemplation of the mystery of the fruit’s divine roots, an effect will be produced in their structure and character above.
Moreover the person performing the tikkun can also be affected. For through the beauty of this tikkun, he can correct what he distorted (me’uvat lo yukhal litkon)52A pun on Eccle. 1:15: “That which is crooked cannot be made straight (me’uvat lo yukhat litkon).” in damaging the [sign of the] covenant through inchastity.53Although various forms of male sexual incontinence may be alluded to here, it is possible that the author has masturbation specifically in mind. The Zohar views ejaculation that does not occur during “normal” intercourse with women as an especially serious sin that cannot be rectified. If this is indeed the meaning, Peri Eitz Hadar would have to be considered an earlier tikkun for shikvat zera le-vatalah than the Tikkun ha-Kelali of Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav. See Yehuda Lieves, “Ha-Tikkun Ha-Kelali of R. Nahman of Bratslav and Its Sabbatian Links,” in Studies in Jewish Myth and Jewish Messianism (SUNY, 1993), pp. 115-50. By virtue of performing this tikkun for the fruit tree, he will heal his part54Literally, “his wound.” in the flawing of Tsaddik who makes fruit.55See above. Sexual irregularities, the “flaw of the covenant,” have a negative effect on the ninth sefirah, Yesod, the Tsaddik, which represents the divine phallus. Since the 15th of Shvat tikkun affects this sefirah and deals with supernal potency, it can also correct the damage caused in that region by aberrant sexuality. It is interesting to note the implied magical relationship between human sexuality and fecundity of nature. Male irregularities in this area damage the divine quality that is ultimately responsible for the quality of the year’s fruit. There is the added benefit of the penitential period, mentioned above.56See note on shovavim, above. Thus a tikkun for the flaw of the covenant is performed….