In this week’s sedra we learn about a terrible plague that broke out after the machlokes of Korach, and the mechanism Aharon employed in order to stop it. Moshe said to Aharon: קח את המחתה ותן עליה אש מעל המזבח ושים קטרת והולך מהרה אל העדה וכפר עליהם כי יצא הקצף מלפני ה׳ החל הנגף – “Take the frying pan and put fire from the top of the mizbayach into it and add incense. Then take it quickly to the congregation and atone for them, for wrath has gone forth from Hashem, and the plague has begun” (Bamidbar 17:11).
The power of reciting pitum haketores
The Zohar (Medrash Hane’elam, Vayeira 100b) tells the following story: Rabbi Pinchas ben Yoir was walking along when he met Eliyohu HaNovi. Rabbi Pinchas asked him for a secret with which he could assist people. Eliyohu HaNovi told him that in order to annul an evil decree, when heavenly persecutions speak evil about humanity, people should mention the korbonos with all their heart. This will cause Hashem to remember them in a positive way.
This Zohar teaches us that not only offering the actual ketores stops a plague, but even reciting the relevant pasukim with proper intention can achieve the same result. Another Zohar (Parshas Vayakhel 218b-219a) writes that the Sotan has no control over one who recites Parshas HaKetores every day and he is protected from all forms of witchcraft, bad events, evil thoughts, death, and all other harm.
Parshas HaKetores before davening
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 1:9) brings the minhag to recite Parshas HaKetores before davening. The Zohar (Vayakhel 219b) writes that the ketores is offered in the Beis HaMikdosh before the korbon tomid, therefore, it should be recited before davening— before the praises and song, because they only have power to ascend and connect after the ketores atones for the sins of the Jewish people.
Pitum haketores after Shacharis
The Rema (Orach Chaim 132:2) writes that pitum haketores should be recited after Shacharis. He adds, though, that it must be recited slowly – just as a kohen who offers it hastily and omits one of the ingredients is punishable by death, so too one who fails to mention one of the words in the passage brings harm upon himself.
Twice in the morning
The Birkay Yosef (Orach Chaim 132:6) explains that reciting it before Shacharis and Mincha is in place of the ketores offered in the Beis HaMikdosh. After Shacharis we recite it for a different reason, we recite it to ensure our tefillos ascent to Shomayim unobstructed, and as protection for the day.
Reciting pitum haketores from parchment
The Mekor Chaim (Orach Chaim 132) quotes the Seder HaYom saying there is great benefit to be had in terms of financial and general success from reading the text of pitum haketores from parchment, with the text written by hand in kesav Ashuris (sefer Torah font).