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10 Heshvan – Yahrzeit of Gad son of Yaakov Avinu – “Gad gedud yegudenu”
The Twelve Tribes

10 Heshvan – Yahrzeit of Gad son of Yaakov Avinu – “Gad gedud yegudenu”

Gad son of Yaakov Avinu – “Gad gedud yegudenu” 10 Heshvan – the yahrzeit/hillula of one of the twelve tribal leaders of Israel, Gad son of Yaakov Avinu (alav hashalom). On this day, the segula associated with the blessing that Yaakov Avinu gave his son Gad is especially powerful. This blessing was given to Gad in a spirit of prophecy for good fortune, and is therefore powerful for emerging from difficult and dead-end situations. It is also a segula for attaining good fortune and happiness.
Why is mentioning the name of Gad—one of the twelve tribes of Israel—a segula for good fortune? Gad was the son of the patriarch Yaakov and Zilpah, Leah Imeinu’s maidservant. Gad was born and died on 10 Heshvan, at the age of 125. Rabbeinu Chida teaches that the founder of one of the twelve tribes was born covered with a membrane like a garment. Therefore, at his birth Leah said: “Ba gad”, which is read as two words (good fortune has come), but written as one word, like “beged”(garment). This is a good sign for those born in this manner. (Rabbeinu Chida, “Midbar Kedemot” 3:2) Gad was the 10th person in the history of the Jewish people to be circumcised—first was Avraham, followed by Yitzchak, Yaakov, Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah, Dan, Naftali, and Gad. In the Jewish people, Gad was the tenth child to undergo circumcision, despite having been born circumcised. Another meaning of the name Gad is troop—“gedud” (the root of this name consists of three letters: “gimel” and two “dalets”). When a word ends with two identical consonants, one may be omitted; instead of gdud—troop—we get Gad, which translates as “coriander”. Coriander is also manna (Bamidbar 11:7). It was precisely in the land where Gad settled that manna fell for the last time. Thus, the name Gad is associated with manna (the food of Heaven), a striking (victorious) troop, and being circumcised (meaning marked). Moreover, it was in Gad’s territory that not only Moshe’s burial place was located, but also the living prophet Eliyahu. He was known as Eliyahu of Gilad (a place within Gad’s portion). (Rabbanit Chava Cooperman)
  Segulot  1. It is beneficial to read the following pesukim from the Torah related to Gad:

Vayetze 30:5–11

  1. VATAHAR BILHA VATELED LEYAAKOV BEN.
  2. VATOMER RACHEL DANANI ELOHIM VEGAM SHAMA BEKOLI VAYITEN-LI BEN AL-KEN KARA SHEMO DAN.
  3. VATAHAR OD VATELED BILHA SHIFCHAT RACHEL BEN SHENI LEYAAKOV.
  4. VATOMER RACHEL NAFTULE ELOHIM NIFTALTI IM-ACHOTI GAM-YACHOLTI VATIKRA SHEMO NAFTALI.
  5. VATERE LEAH KI AMEDA MILEDET VATIKACH ET-ZILPA SHIFCHATA VATITEN OTA LEYAAKOV LEISHA.
  6. VATELED ZILPA SHIFCHAT LEAH LEYAAKOV BEN.
  7. VATOMER LEAH BA GAD VATIKRA ET-SHEMO GAD.

(And Bilhah conceived and bore Yaakov a son. And Rachel said: “G-d has judged me, and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she named him Dan. And she conceived again, and Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, bore Yaakov a second son. And Rachel said: “With divine wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed.” And she named him Naftali. And Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children, so she took Zilpah, her maidservant, and gave her to Yaakov as a wife. And Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, bore Yaakov a son. And Leah said: “Good fortune has come!” And she named him Gad.)

 

Yaakov Avinu’s blessing to Gad – Vayechi (49:19)

  1. GAD GEDUD YEGUDENU VEH U YAGUD AKEV.

(As for the tribe of Gad: a troop will raid him, but he will raid their rear.)

Moshe Rabbeinu’s blessing to Gad – Vezot Ha-Berachah (33:20–21)

  1. ULGAD AMAR BARUCH MARCHIV GAD KELAVI SHACHEN VETARAF ZEROA AF-KODKOD.
  2. VAYAR RESHIT LO KI-SHAM CHELKAT MECHOKEK SAFUN VAYETE RASHEI AM TZIDKAT ADONAI ASAH UMISHPATAV IM-YISRAEL.

(And concerning Gad he said: “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad’s domain. He crouches like a lion and tears off arm and crown. For he chose the first portion for himself, for there the lawgiver’s allotment was hidden; and he came with the heads of the people, carrying out the righteousness of the L-rd and His judgments with Israel.”)

2. The prayer of Rabbeinu Tam with the segula “Gad Gedud” The Protective Prayer of Rabbeinu Tam  

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Tags: Prayer, Segulot, The 12 Tribes, Bracha, 10 Cheshvan – Yahrzeit of Gad, son of Yaakov Avinu, 10 Cheshvan – Yahrzeit of Gad, son of Yaakov Avinu, and the segula “Gad gedud yegudenu”, Gad, Gad Gedud Yegudenu, The 12 Tribes of Israel

29 Oct 2017
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