15 Elul is a special day. The weekly Torah portion of Ki Tavo always falls on this date; it contains 11 curses corresponding to the 11 sefirot of the Tree of Impurity.
[Of the 12 curses, the first—which is connected with idolatry—no longer applies after the destruction of the First Temple, because the Almighty abolished that part of the evil inclination responsible for idolatry.]
Each of these curses is connected with a specific, very serious prohibition, the violation of which strengthens the forces of impurity (kelipot) and allows all forms of negativity—the evil eye, curses, self-curses, and sorcery—to dominate a person throughout the year.
Therefore, 15 Elul is an auspicious time for a segula that reminds us of the need for teshuvah and of the importance of observing the prohibitions listed in Ki Tavo; according to the prophet Ezra, it also nullifies their effects in the year that is coming to an end.
15 Elul is a good opportunity to enter the New Year with the curses annulled. To do so, one should read the passage about the curses from Sefer Devarim.
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar said, and the prophet Ezra (so it may be said that this segula comes from the Torah) instituted that the curses be read:
- from Sefer Vayikra (Torat Kohanim), before the holiday of Atzeret (as Shavuot was once called);
- from Sefer Devarim, before Rosh Hashanah.
The reading from Sefer Devarim takes place during the month of Elul. Reading these chapters at home signifies that the year has ended and, along with it, all the curses a person brought upon himself during the departing year. All the curses can be annulled by virtue of this segula.
It is also advisable to perform Hatarat Kelalot (the annulment of curses) during these days.
It may be performed every Friday (since Friday and Rosh Hashanah are considered equivalent), as well as privately before Rosh Hashanah.
A woman who wishes to perform Hatarat Kelalot should appoint a shaliach—a man who will perform the annulment of curses on her behalf. In the presence of three authorized men, a fourth man declares that he is the shaliach of a particular woman or women (if it is a group) and wishes to perform Hatarat Kelalot on their behalf. Under current circumstances, women may observe the process online so that they can have a certain degree of kavanah.
There is also a segula to read these curses at a wedding before the chuppah. The idea is that both Rosh Hashanah and a wedding are symbolic milestones representing renewal. Reading the curses before the wedding likewise symbolizes that one stage of life—the unmarried, independent life—is ending, and with it all the curses, which will not enter the couple's new life.
Anyone who did not perform Hatarat Kelalot on 15 Elul as part of this segula should do so on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when everyone performs it.
Devarim 27:15-26
:אָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַֽעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּֽוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה מַֽעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָֽמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן
:אָר֕וּר מַקְלֶ֥ה אָבִ֖יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֕וּר מַסִּ֖יג גְּב֣וּל רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֕וּר מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה עִוֵּ֖ר בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֗וּר מַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּֽר־יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־כָּל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֲחֹת֔וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֖יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר
:כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָרוּר֙ לֹקֵ֣חַ שֹׁ֔חַד לְהַכּ֥וֹת נֶ֖פֶשׁ דַּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֕וּר מַכֵּ֥ה רֵעֵ֖הוּ בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
:אָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
15. ARUR HA-ISH ASHER YAASEH FESEL U-MASECHAH TOAVAT ADONAI MAASEH YEDEI CHARASH VESAM BASATER VEANU KOL HA-AM VEAMERU AMEN.
16. ARUR MAKLEH AVIV VE-IMO VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
17. ARUR MASIG GEVUL RE-EHU VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
18. ARUR MASHGEH IVER BADERECH VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
19. ARUR MATEH MISHPAT GER-YATOM VE-ALMANAH VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
20. ARUR SHOCHEV IM-E-SHET AVIV KI GILAH KENAF AVIV VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
21. ARUR SHOCHEV IM-KOL-BEHEMAH VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
22. ARUR SHOCHEV IM-ACHOTO BAT-AVIV O VAT-IMO VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
23. ARUR SHOCHEV IM-CHOTANTO VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
24. ARUR MAKEH RE-EHU BASSATER VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
25. ARUR LOKEACH SHOCHAD LEHAKOT NEFESH DAM NAKI VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
26. ARUR ASHER LO-YAKIM ET-DIVREI HA-TORAH HAZOT LAASOT OTAM VEAMAR KOL HA-AM AMEN.
Translation
15. Cursed is the person who makes a sculpted or molten idol, an abomination before the L-rd, the work of a craftsman's hands, and sets it up in secret. And all the people shall respond, saying: “Amen.”
16. Cursed is the one who dishonors his father and mother. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
17. Cursed is the one who moves his fellow's boundary marker. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
18. Cursed is the one who leads the blind astray on the way. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
19. Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
20. Cursed is the one who lies with his father's wife, for he has uncovered his father's nakedness. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
21. Cursed is the one who lies with any animal. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
22. Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
23. Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
24. Cursed is the one who secretly strikes down his fellow. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
25. Cursed is the one who accepts a bribe to kill a person and shed innocent blood. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
26. Cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this Torah and fulfill them. And all the people shall say: “Amen.”
(Based on a lesson by Rav Alexander Tzvi Sypkov, “Parashat Balak”; translated and transliterated by Lia Kriheli)
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