Birkat HaLevana (Text of the Blessing of the Moon) and Segulot

Birkat HaLevana

By establishing the beginning of the calendar month at the New Moon, we fulfill a mitzvah of the Torah; therefore, there is a special blessing for the new moon. In Jewish tradition, the renewal of the Moon symbolizes the continual renewal of the Jewish people. And just as the Moon shines with reflected light—the light of the Sun—so too the Jewish people bring reflected light into the world: the light of the Almighty. 1) Birkat HaLevana is recited no earlier than seven days and no later than fifteen days after the New Moon. 2) Birkat HaLevana is recited when the Moon is shining brightly and is not obscured by clouds. 3) It is preferable to recite it at the conclusion of Shabbat or Yom Tov. 4) One goes outdoors or onto a balcony and recites the blessing under the open sky. Tehillim 19 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ ב הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃ ג י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃ ד אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃ ה בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃ ו וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃ ז מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃ ח תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃ ט פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃ י יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮ עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃ יא הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃ יב גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃ יג שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃ יד גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃ טו יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃ Lamnatzēach mizmor leDavid. Ha-shamayim mesaperim kevod El, u-ma'aseh yadav magid ha-rakia. Yom le-yom yabia omer, ve-layla le-layla yechaveh da'at. Ein omer ve-ein devarim, beli nishma kolam. Bechol ha-aretz yatza kavvam, u-viktzei tevel mileihem; la-shemesh sam ohel bahem. Ve-hu ke-chatan yotzei me-chuppato, yasis ke-gibor larutz orach. Mi-ketzeh ha-shamayim motza'o, u-tequfato al ketzotam, ve-ein nistar me-chammato. Torat Ha-Shem temimah, meshivat nafesh; edut Ha-Shem ne'emanah, machkimat peti. Piqudei Ha-Shem yesharim, mesamchei lev; mitzvat Ha-Shem barah, me'irat einayim. Yirat Ha-Shem tehorah, omedet la'ad; mishpetei Ha-Shem emet, tzadku yachdav. Ha-nechemadim mi-zahav u-mi-paz rav, u-metukim mi-devash ve-nofet tzufim. Gam avdecha nizhar bahem; be-shomram ekeiv rav. Shegiot mi yavin? Mi-nistarot naqeni. Gam mi-zedim chasoch avdecha; al yimsh'lu vi, az etam, ve-niqei­ti mi-pesha rav. Yihyu le-ratzon imrei fi ve-hegyon libi lefanekha, Ha-Shem tzuri ve-go'ali.   Tehillim 148 הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִֽים׃ ב הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ כָל־מַלְאָכָ֑יו הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־צבאו [צְבָאָֽיו׃] ג הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ וְיָרֵ֑חַ הַ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־כּ֥וֹכְבֵי אֽוֹר׃ ד הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝הַמַּ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ מֵעַ֬ל הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ ה יְֽ֭הַֽלְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֤י ה֭וּא צִוָּ֣ה וְנִבְרָֽאוּ׃ ו וַיַּעֲמִידֵ֣ם לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם חָק־נָ֝תַ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַעֲבֽוֹר׃ ז הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים וְכָל־תְּהֹמֽוֹת׃ ח אֵ֣שׁ וּ֭בָרָד שֶׁ֣לֶג וְקִיט֑וֹר ר֥וּחַ סְ֝עָרָ֗ה עֹשָׂ֥ה דְבָרֽוֹ׃ ט הֶהָרִ֥ים וְכָל־גְּבָע֑וֹת עֵ֥ץ פְּ֝רִ֗י וְכָל־אֲרָזִֽים׃ י הַֽחַיָּ֥ה וְכָל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה רֶ֝֗מֶשׂ וְצִפּ֥וֹר כָּנָֽף׃ יא מַלְכֵי־אֶ֭רֶץ וְכָל־לְאֻמִּ֑ים שָׂ֝רִ֗ים וְכָל־שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃ יב בַּחוּרִ֥ים וְגַם־בְּתוּל֑וֹת זְ֝קֵנִ֗ים עִם־נְעָרִֽים׃ יג יְהַלְל֤וּ ׀ אֶת־שֵׁ֬ם יְהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־נִשְׂגָּ֣ב שְׁמ֣וֹ לְבַדּ֑וֹ ה֝וֹד֗וֹ עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃ יד וַיָּ֤רֶם קֶ֨רֶן ׀ לְעַמּ֡וֹ תְּהִלָּ֤ה לְֽכָל־חֲסִידָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֣י יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל עַֽם־קְרֹב֗וֹ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ Hallelu-yah, hallelu et Ha-Shem min ha-shamayim, halleluhu ba-meromim. Halleluhu kol malakhav, halleluhu kol tzeva'av. Halleluhu shemesh ve-yare'ach, halleluhu kol kokhvei or. Halleluhu shemei ha-shamayim, ve-ha-mayim asher me'al ha-shamayim. Yehalelu et Shem Ha-Shem, ki hu tzivah ve-nivra'u. Va-ya'amidem la'ad le-olam, chok natan ve-lo ya'avor. Hallelu et Ha-Shem min ha-aretz, tanninim ve-khol tehomot. Esh u-varad, sheleg ve-kitor, ruach se'arah osah devaro. He-harim ve-khol geva'ot, etz peri ve-khol arazim. Ha-chayyah ve-khol behemah, remes ve-tzipor kanaf. Malkhei eretz ve-khol le'umim, sarim ve-khol shoftei aretz. Bachurim ve-gam betulot, zekeinim im ne'arim. Yehalelu et Shem Ha-Shem, ki nisgav shemo levado; hodo al eretz ve-shamayim. Va-yarem keren le-amo, tehillah le-khol chasidav, livnei Yisrael am kerovo; hallelu-yah. [One should look at the Moon, and not look at it again until the blessing has been completed.] - “When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the Moon and the stars that You have established: Ha-Shem, our L-rd, how majestic is Your name throughout the earth!” “Leshem yichud Kudsha Berich Hu u-Shechintei, bi-dchilu u-rechimu, u-rechimu u-di­chilu, le-yachada Shem ‘Yud’ ve-‘He’ be-‘Vav’ ve-‘He’ be-yichuda shelim, be-shem kol Yisrael. Hinei anachnu ba'im levarech Birkat HaLevana, kemo she-tikenu lanu raboteinu zichronam livrachah, im kol ha-mitzvot ha-kelulot bah, letaken et shorshah ba-makom elyon, la'asot nachat ruach le-Yotzreinu ve-la'asot retzon Boreinu.” - “May the pleasantness of Ha-Shem our G-d be upon us; may He establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” (twice) “Baruch Atah Ha-Shem Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher be-ma'amaro bara shechakim, u-ve-ruach piv kol tzeva'am; chok u-zman natan lahem she-lo yeshanu et tafkidam, sasim u-smechim la'asot retzon Koneihem—po'el emet she-pe'ulato emet. Ve-la-levana amar she-titchadesh, ateret tiferet la-amusei vaten, she-gam hem atidim le-hit­chadesh kemotah, u-lefa'er le-Yotzram al shem kevod malkhuto. Baruch Atah Ha-Shem, mechadesh chodashim.” Siman tov tehi lanu u-lekhol Yisrael,                                                                                                                                                        Siman tov tehi lanu u-lekhol Yisrael,                                                                                                                                                         Siman tov tehi lanu u-lekhol Yisrael “Baruch yotzrech, baruch osich, baruch koneich, baruch boreich. Ke-shem she-anachnu merakdim (one should rise onto one's toes three times) kenegedech, ve-ein anachnu yekholim liga beikh, kakh im yerakdu acherim kenegdenu le-haziken­u lo yukhelu liga banu, ve-lo yishletu vanu, ve-lo ya'asu vanu shum roshem. Tipol aleihem ematah va-fachad be-godel zero'acha yidemu ka-aven. Ka-aven yidemu (pause) zero'acha be-godel ve-fachad ematah aleihem tipol.” [Repeat three times, beginning with the words “Siman tov”] [Recite three times]: - “David, King of Israel, lives and endures.”                                                                                                                                                         Amen, Amen, Amen. Netzach, Netzach, Netzach.                                                                                                                                                        Selah, Selah, Selah. Va'ed, Va'ed, Va'ed.   [Recite seven times]: - “A pure heart create for me, O G-d, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Tehillim 121 א שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי, אֶל-הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן, יָבֹא עֶזְרִי ב עֶזְרִי, מֵעִם יְהוָה עֹשֵׂה, שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ ג אַל-יִתֵּן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֶךָ; אַל-יָנוּם, שֹׁמְרֶךָ ד הִנֵּה לֹא-יָנוּם, וְלֹא יִישָׁן— שׁוֹמֵר, יִשְׂרָאֵל ה יְהוָה שֹׁמְרֶךָ; יְהוָה צִלְּךָ, עַל-יַד יְמִינֶךָ ו יוֹמָם, הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לֹא-יַכֶּכָּה; וְיָרֵחַ בַּלָּיְלָה ז יְהוָה, יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל-רָע: יִשְׁמֹר, אֶת-נַפְשֶׁךָ ח יְהוָה, יִשְׁמָר-צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ— מֵעַתָּה, וְעַד-עוֹלָם Shir la-ma'alot, essa einai el he-harim; me'ayin yavo ezri? Ezri me-im Ha-Shem, oseh shamayim va-aretz. Al yiten la-mot raglekha; al yanum shomrekha. Hinei lo yanum ve-lo yishan, shomer Yisrael. Ha-Shem shomrekha, Ha-Shem tzilkha al yad yeminekha. Yomam ha-shemesh lo yakekah, ve-yare'ach ba-laylah. Ha-Shem yishmorkha mi-kol ra; yishmor et nafshekha. Ha-Shem yishmor tzetkha u-vo'ekha, me-atah ve-ad olam. Tehillim 150 הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶ֥ל בְּקָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בִּרְקִ֥יעַ עֻזּֽוֹ׃ ב הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָ֑יו הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כְּרֹ֣ב גֻּדְלֽוֹ׃ ג הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ בְּתֵ֣קַע שׁוֹפָ֑ר הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּנֵ֣בֶל וְכִנּֽוֹר׃ ד הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ בְתֹ֣ף וּמָח֑וֹל הַ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּמִנִּ֥ים וְעוּגָֽב׃ ה הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁ֑מַע הַ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּֽצִלְצְלֵ֥י תְרוּעָֽה׃ ו כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ Hallelu-yah, hallelu El be-kodsho, halleluhu birkia uzo. Halleluhu bigvurotav, halleluhu ke-rov gudlo. Halleluhu be-teka shofar, halleluhu be-nevel ve-khinor. Halleluhu be-tof u-machol, halleluhu be-minim ve-ugav. Halleluhu be-tziltzelei shama, halleluhu be-tziltzelei teru'ah. Kol ha-neshamah tehalel Yah, hallelu-Yah. - “Tana de-Bei Rabbi Yishmael: Had it been granted to the people of Israel to greet their Father in Heaven only once a month, it would have sufficed. Abaye said: Therefore we recite it while standing.” [The Kaddish “Al Yisrael” is recited] - “And the light of the Moon shall be like the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold, like the light of the seven days, on the day that Ha-Shem binds up the breach of His people and heals the wound He has inflicted. You shall be adorned with gold and silver, and clothed in fine linen and silk and embroidery; you shall eat fine flour, honey, and oil, and flourish exceedingly and prosper as a kingdom.”     [Turn to those standing nearby and say]: - “Shalom aleichem” (three times).   [Then take hold of the corners of one's garment and shake them gently].   Segulot of Birkat HaLevana 1. For men – One should be careful regarding Birkat HaLevana (the blessing of the Moon), since a woman symbolizes the Moon. One should strive to perform this mitzvah joyfully and at the proper time (from the seventh through the fifteenth day of the month); this brings assurance of a good shidduch.   2. The Arizal teaches that after Birkat HaLevana one should shake out one's garment thoroughly, because Birkat HaLevana is a very great mitzvah, and at that time a Jew receives tremendous spiritual light. The impure forces seek to attach themselves to this holy light, so one should shake out one's garments. 3. A segula for dental health and relief from toothache A segula for protecting one's teeth is to be meticulous in observing the mitzvah of Birkat HaLevana. For toothache, one should recite verses from the prayer of Kiddush Levana. This is a segula attributed to the Gaon, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the Steipler), father-in-law of Rebbetzin Kanievsky: “Just as I dance before you, Moon, and cannot touch you, so may all my enemies be unable to harm me, and may I have no toothache.” Once, the Steipler's wife, the elder Rebbetzin Kanievsky, suffered from a toothache, and he advised her to recite the verses from Kiddush Levana. The toothache disappeared immediately. However, the Rebbetzin did not allow her son, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, to publicize this, lest people think that her husband was a miracle worker and distract him from his Torah study.   4. A segula for finding one's match The Kiddush Levana ritual is a good segula for finding a shidduch, and there is an indication of this in the word: Levana – לבנה (Moon), which in Hebrew is an acronym for the words: “a virgin marries on Wednesday”;   (From the siddur “Tefillat Moshe,” with the permission of Rabbi Baruch Malaev; segulot from the Sila Tehilim website)