“K’tivah v’Chatimah Tovah” — How to Create Advocates for Yourself from the 15th of Av until Rosh Hashanah

“K’tivah v’Chatimah Tovah” — How to Create Advocates for Yourself from the 15th of Av until Rosh Hashanah

The compiler of Kovetz Ha-Be’er (year 15, p. 47) heard from the Rabbi of Lublin, Rabbi Israel Engelsberg, who had heard from the Tzaddik Rabbi Yaakov Moshe of Komarno, who was visiting Lublin (the son of the Damesek Eliezer): “I heard from my teacher, the Maggid of Trisk, who heard from his holy grandfather of Chernobyl, who heard from the Baal Shem Tov, who received this tradition from his teacher—the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh—that as many times as a person wishes others: “K’tivah v’Chatimah Tovah” (a good inscription and sealing) during the period from the 15th of Av until Rosh Hashanah, so many advocates (melitzim tovim) will he have in Heaven to defend and vindicate him on the Day of Judgment of Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Eliyahu Getz notes that the gematria of the phrase 15th of Av חמשה עשר באב “Chamishah Asar b’Av” (928) — equals the numerical value of the phrase כתיבה וחתימה טובה “K’tivah v’Chatimah Tovah” (938). The difference of 10 is a hint to Yom Kippur, as it is stated in the Talmud (Mishnah, tractate Ta’anit): “There were no happier days for Israel than the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur,” and there are 10 Days of Repentance from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah greetings: “K’tivah v’Chatimah Tovah” — (may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year) From: the 15th of Av/Rosh Chodesh Elul Until: Erev Rosh Hashanah “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatev ve-Tichatem” — (may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year) From: the first night of Rosh Hashanah Until: Musaf of the first day of Rosh Hashanah “Gmar Chatimah Tovah” — (a good final sealing) From: Musaf of Rosh Hashanah Until: the end of Yom Kippur; “Gmar Tov” — (all the best) From: Yom Kippur Until: Musaf of Hoshana Rabbah. (Rabbi Eliyahu Getz; according to the website https://www.ou.org/holidays/halacha-lmaaseh-on-rosh-hashana/)