Introduction to Pesukei d’Zimra (7) – an Independent Unit – Zohar
The Zohar, like Rav Sa’adia and the Rambam, presents pesukei d’zimra as functioning outside of the parameters of the amida. In parashat Vayakhel (דף ר׳ ע״א – ר׳ ע״ב) the Zohar offers a kind of commentary on the siddur. In that section we learn that there are six mitzvot – not obviously related to tefila – that can be fulfilled through davening: Fear of God, Love of God, Blessing God, Unifying God, the Priestly Blessing, being ready to give up our lives for God1. After introducing these six Mitzvot, we are then told which section of the siddur is connected to which Mitzvah. Let’s see how the Zohar understands the role of pesukei d’zimra:
זוהר ב:ר”ב ב
לְיִרְאָה אֶת הַשֵּׁם, פִּקּוּדָא דָּא קַיְּימָא בְּאִלֵּין תּוּשְׁבְּחָן דְּקָאָמַר דָּוִד מַלְכָּא, וּבְאִינּוּן קָרְבָּנִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּתַמָּן בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְדַחֲלָא מִקַּמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן שִׁירִין קַיְּימִין בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִקְרֵי יִרְאָה. וְכָל אִינּוּן הַלְלוּיָהּ, דְּאִינּוּן רָזָא דְּיִרְאָה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְשַׁוָּאָה רְעוּתֵיהּ בְּאִינּוּן שִׁירִין בְּיִרְאָה…
Zohar 2:202b
To fear God: This commandment is fulfilled through the recitation of the praises of King David, as well as the Torah’s sacrifices. For in those areas a person must awaken one’s self in awe before the Creator. For these songs are grounded in malchut which is called fear. And all those chapters that have the word Halleluya, which are the secrets of the fear of the Holy Blessed One. A person is required to place his will into these songs with fear…