25 Elul – the First Day of Creation – the Ben Ish Chai’s segula

25 Elul is the first day of Creation, and on this day there is a beautiful segula of the Ben Ish Chai. 25 Elul is the day on which the world was created, according to Rabbi Eliezer, whose view we follow regarding calendar calculations. This first day of the Creation of heaven and earth preceded the day of the creation of man by six days. For it is specifically the day on which Adam was created that we call Rosh Hashanah. 25 Elul – the first day of Creation Rabbeinu Bachya brings a remez (allusion) connected with the emergence of the primordial light: “You should know that the creation of the universe began with the utterance, ‘Let there be light.’ The light was created on 25 Elul.’ An allusion to this is contained in the very words ‘Let there be light,’ יהי אור – the gematria of the word יהי (let there be) = 25. And when it is usually said that the world was created on 1 Tishrei (that is, six days after 25 Elul), this refers to the completion of Creation—the creation of the First Man.” Moreover, the number 25 consists of the letters kaf and hei, which form the beginning of the phrase: “koh tevarekhu et Bnei Yisrael” – (“thus shall you bless the Children of Israel”). When the Almighty addresses Aaron and his sons, He says: “Thus shall you bless the Children of Israel, saying to them: ‘May the L-rd bless you and safeguard you. May the L-rd illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you. May the L-rd turn His countenance to you and grant you peace.’ And they shall place My Name upon the Children of Israel, and I shall bless them.” The word כה “thus” in the sentence “thus shall you bless...” = 25. From this, the Sages teach that the 25th day is the day of blessing for the Jewish people. This day is an Et Ratzon, a time of favor. Five Candles – 25 Elul Ben Ish Chai (of righteous memory) taught that it is good to light five candles on 25 Elul—for opposite these lights there are five lights of blessing that will be revealed on this day. The book Ishei Yisrael states that the world was created on 25 Elul. It is a special day, and one should take care to sanctify it. On this day, one should be extremely careful not to become angry or upset. One should increase one’s tzedakah, it is good to have a meal with bread and meat, eat sweets, and recite Birkat HaMazon with full kavanah. Before lighting the candles, one should recite a prayer.

Prayer Before Lighting the Five Candles

יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו, שתרחם עלי ועל אשתי ובני, ותעמידנו בקרן אורה, ותאיר לנו בפנים מאירות, באור פני מלך חיים, ותתן לנו זרע קודש בנים צדיקים, חכמים ונבונים בתורה. תמימים וישרים וטובים, ותרחמנו ותחיינו חיים ארוכים, חיים של שלום, חיים של טובה, חיים של ברכה, חיים של פרנסה טובה, חיים של חילוץ עצמות, חיים שיש בהם יראת חטא, חיים שאין בהם בושה וכלימה, חיים שיש בהם אהבת תורה ויראת שמים, חיים שתמלא משאלות ליבנו לטובה לעבודתך. ויהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו שתקיים בנו את הברכות אשר ציווית את אהרן ואת בניו לאמור כה תברכו את בני ישראל אמור להם יברכך ה' וישמרך, יאר ה' פניו אליך ויחונך, ישא ה' פניו אליך וישם לך שלום “Yehi ratzon milfanecha Adonai Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu, sheterachem alai ve-al ishti ve-al avdecha beni, ve-ta'amideni be-keren orah, ve-ta'ir lanu be-panim meirot, be-or penei Melech Chaim, ve-titen lanu zera kodesh banim tzaddikim, chachamim u-nevonim ba-Torah, temimim ve-yesharim ve-tovim. Ve-terachemeinu ve-techayeinu chaim arukim, chaim shel shalom, chaim shel tovah, chaim shel berachah, chaim shel parnasah tovah, chaim shel chilutz atzamot, chaim she-yesh bahem yirat chet, chaim she-ein bahem busha u-kelიმah, chaim she-yesh bahem ahavat ha-Torah ve-yirat Shamayim, chaim she-temale mishalot libeinu le-tovah le-avodatecha. Ve-yehi ratzon milfanecha Adonai Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu she-tekayem banu ha-berachot asher tzivita et Aharon ve-et banav al yedei Moshe avdecha levarech et amcha Yisrael be-ahavah, ve-kach katuv: Va-yedaber Adonai el Moshe lemor: Daber el Aharon ve-el banav lemor: Koh tevarekhu et Bnei Yisrael, amor lahem: Yevarechecha Adonai ve-yishmerecha; ya'er Adonai panav elecha vi-chuneka; yisa Adonai panav elecha ve-yasem lecha shalom.” Yevarechecha Adonai ve-yishmerecha, ya'er Adonai panav elecha vi-chuneka, yisa Adonai panav elecha ve-yasem lecha shalom.” Then light the five candles and recite the following verses: 1. Genesis 1:3  וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי-אוֹר - “Vayomer Elohim yehi or va-yehi or” - (God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light); 2. Tehillim 80:4 אֱלֹהִ֥ים הֲשִׁיבֵ֑נוּ וְהָאֵ֥ר פָּ֝נֶ֗יךָ וְנִוָּשֵֽׁעָה - “Elohim, hashiveinu ve-ha'er panecha ve-nivashe'ah” - (G-d, restore us and shine Your countenance upon us, and we shall be saved! L-rd, G-d of Hosts); 3. Tehillim 67:2 אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְחָנֵּ֥נוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵ֑נוּ יָ֤אֵ֥ר פָּנָ֖יו אִתָּ֣נוּ סֶֽלָה - “Elohim yechanenu vi-varecheinu ya'er panav itanu selah” - (May G-d be gracious to us and bless us; may He shine His countenance upon us, selah); 4. Tehillim 118:27 אֵ֤ל ׀ יְהוָה֮ וַיָּ֪אֶר לָ֥נוּ אִסְרוּ־חַ֥ג בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים עַד־קַ֝רְנ֗וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ - “El Adonai va-ya'er lanu, isru chag ba-avotim ad karnot ha-mizbe'ach” - (G-d is the L-rd, and He has illuminated us; bind the festival offering to the horns of the altar); 5. Tehillim 18:29 כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה תָּאִ֣יר נֵרִ֑י יְהוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי - “Ki atah ta'ir neri, Adonai Elohai yagiah choshechi” - (For You light my lamp; the L-rd, my G-d, illuminates my darkness); 6. Tehillim 36:10 כִּי עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים בְּאוֹרְךָנִרְאֶה אוֹר - “Ki imecha mekor chaim be-orecha nir'eh or” - (For with You is the source of life; in Your light we shall see light); 7. Isaiah 2:5 בֵּית, יַעֲקֹב--לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה, בְּאוֹר יְהוָה - “Beit Yaakov lechu ve-nelechah be-or Adonai” - (House of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the L-rd); 8. I Samuel 1:6, 7 וַאֲמַרְתֶּם כֹּה, לֶחָי; וְאַתָּה שָׁלוֹם וּבֵיתְךָ שָׁלוֹם, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-לְךָ שָׁלוֹם - “Ve-amartem (כה) koh lechai ve-atah shalom ve-beitcha shalom ve-chol asher lecha shalom” - (She greeted him, his wife, and said: “Peace to you, peace to your household, and peace to all that is yours”) - 10 times; 9. Tehillim 97:11 א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב שִׂמְחָֽה - “Or zarua la-tzaddik u-le-yishrei lev simchah” - (Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart) - 17 times. The time of candle-lighting is a time of grace, and it is good to ask Hashem to illuminate the darkness of the exile and redeem His people Israel with abundant mercy, kindness, and love.

From 25 Elul to Rosh Hashanah – Seven Passages on Creation

There is a custom during the days from 25 Elul until Rosh Hashanah (the day of the creation of man) to read the passage about Creation from the Torah corresponding to that day. 25 Elul – the First Day of Creation בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ , והארץ היתה תהו ובהו וחשך על פני תהום ורוח אלהים מרחפת על פני המים , ויאמר אלהים יהי אור ויהי אור, וירא אלהים את האור כי טוב ויבדל אלהים בין האור ובין החשך , ויקרא אלהים לאור יום ולחשך קרא לילה ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום אחד 1. BERESHIT BARA ELOHIM ET HASHAMAYIM VE-ET HAARETZ. 2. VEHAARETZ HAYETAH TOHU VAVOHU VECHOSHECH AL PENEI TEHOM VERUACH ELOHIM MERACHEFET AL PENEI HAMAYIM. 3. VAYOMER ELOHIM YEHI OR VAYEHI OR. 4. VAYAR ELOHIM ET HAOR KI TOV VAYAVDEL ELOHIM BEIN HAOR UVEIN HACHOSHECH. 5. VAYIKRA ELOHIM LAOR YOM VELACHOSHECH KARA LAILA VAYEHI EREV VAYEHI BOKER YOM ECHAD. 1. In the beginning of G-d’s creating the heavens and the earth, 2. the earth was astonishingly empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters. 3. And G-d said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4. And G-d saw the light, that it was good, and G-d separated between the light and the darkness. 5. And G-d called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning: one day. 26 Elul – the Second Day of Creation ויאמר אלהים יהי רקיע בתוך המים ויהי מבדיל בין מים למים, ויעש אלהים את הרקיע ויבדל בין המים אשר מתחת לרקיע ובין המים אשר מעל לרקיע ויהי כן , ויקרא אלהים לרקיע שמים ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום שני 6. VAYOMER ELOHIM YEHI RAKIA BETOCH HAMAYIM VIHI MAVDIL BEIN MAYIM LAMAYIM. 7. VAYAAS ELOHIM ET HARAKIA VAYAVDEL BEIN HAMAYIM ASHER MITACHAT LARAKIA UVEIN HAMAYIM ASHER MEAL LARAKIA VAYEHI CHEN. 8. VAYIKRA ELOHIM LARAKIA SHAMAYIM VAYEHI EREV VAYEHI VOKER YOM SHENI. 6. And G-d said: “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate between water and water!” 7. And G-d made the firmament and separated between the waters beneath the firmament and the waters above the firmament. And it was so. 8. And G-d called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning: the second day. 27 Elul – the Third Day of Creation ויאמר אלהים יקוו המים מתחת השמים אל מקום אחד ותראה היבשה ויהי כן י ויקרא אלהים ליבשה ארץ ולמקוה המים קרא ימים וירא אלהים כי טוב , ויאמר אלהים תדשא הארץ דשא עשב מזריע זרע עץ פרי עשה פרי למינו אשר זרעו בו על הארץ ויהי כן , ותוצא הארץ דשא עשב מזריע זרע למינהו ועץ עשה פרי אשר זרעו בו למינהו וירא אלהים כי טוב , ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום שלישי 9. VAYOMER ELOHIM YIKAVU HAMAYIM MITACHAT HASHAMAYIM EL MAKOM ECHAD VETEIRAEH HAYABASHA VAYEHI CHEN. 10. VAYIKRA ELOHIM LAYABASHA ERETZ ULEMIKVEH HAMAYIM KARA YAMIM VAYAR ELOHIM KI TOV. 11. VAYOMER ELOHIM TADSHE HAARETZ DESHE ESEV MAZRIA ZERA ETZ PERI OSEH PERI LEMINO ASHER ZAR'O-VO AL HAARETZ VAYEHI CHEN. 12. VATOZE HAARETZ DESHE ESEV MAZRIA ZERA LEMINEHU VE-ETZ OSEH PERI ASHER ZAR'O-VO LEMINEHU VAYAR ELOHIM KI TOV. 13. VAYEHI EREV VAYEHI VOKER YOM SHELISHI. 9. And G-d said: “Let the waters beneath the heavens gather into one place, and let the dry land be seen!” And it was so. 10. And G-d called the dry land Earth, and the gathering of waters He called Seas. And G-d saw that it was good. 11. And G-d said: “Let the earth sprout vegetation, seed-bearing plants, fruit trees producing fruit according to its kind, whose seed is within it, upon the earth!” And it was so. 12. And the earth brought forth vegetation, seed-bearing plants according to its kind, and trees producing fruit whose seed is within it according to its kind. And G-d saw that it was good. 13. And there was evening and there was morning: the third day. 28 Elul – the Fourth Day of Creation ויאמר אלהים יהי מארת ברקיע השמים להבדיל בין היום ובין הלילה והיו לאתת ולמועדים ולימים ושנים , והיו למאורת ברקיע השמים להאיר על הארץ ויהי כן , ויעש אלהים את שני המארת הגדלים את המאור הגדל לממשלת היום ואת המאור הקטן לממשלת הלילה ואת הכוכבים , ויתן אתם אלהים ברקיע השמים להאיר על הארץ , ולמשל ביום ובלילה ולהבדיל בין האור ובין החשך וירא אלהים כי טוב , ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום רביעי 14. VAYOMER ELOHIM YEHI MEOROT BIRKIA HASHAMAYIM LEHAVDIL BEIN HAYOM UVEIN HALAILA VEHAYU LEOTOT ULEMOADIM ULEYAMIM VESHANIM. 15. VEHAYU LIM'OROT BIRKIA HASHAMAYIM LEHAIR AL HAARETZ VAYEHI CHEN. 16. VAYAAS ELOHIM ET SHENEI HAMEOROT HAGEDOLIM ET HAMAOR HAGADOL LEMEMSHOLET HAYOM VE-ET HAMAOR HAKATON LEMEMSHOLET HALAILA VE-ET HAKOCHAVIM. 17. VAYITEN OTAM ELOHIM BIRKIA HASHAMAYIM LEHAIR AL HAARETZ. 18. VELIMSHOL BAYOM UVALAILA ULEHAVDIL BEIN HAOR UVEIN HACHOSHECH VAYAR ELOHIM KI TOV. 19. VAYEHI EREV VAYEHI VOKER YOM REVII. 14. And G-d said: Let there be luminaries in the firmament of the heavens, to separate between the day and the night; and let them be for signs, and for appointed times, and for days and years; 15. And let them be luminaries in the firmament of the heavens, to illuminate the earth! And it was so. 16. And G-d made the two great luminaries: the greater luminary to rule the day and the lesser luminary to rule the night, and the stars. 17. And G-d placed them in the firmament of the heavens to illuminate the earth, 18. to rule by day and by night, and to separate between the light and the darkness. And G-d saw that it was good. 19. And there was evening and there was morning: the fourth day. 29 Elul – the Fifth Day of Creation ויאמר אלהים ישרצו המים שרץ נפש חיה ועוף יעופף על הארץ על פני רקיע השמים כא ויברא אלהים את התנינם הגדלים ואת כל נפש החיה הרמשת אשר שרצו המים למינהם ואת כל עוף כנף למינהו וירא אלהים כי טוב כב ויברך אתם אלהים לאמר פרו ורבו ומלאו את המים בימים והעוף ירב בארץ כג ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום חמישי 20. VAYOMER ELOHIM YISHRETZU HAMAYIM SHERETZ NEFESH CHAYA VEOF YEFOFEF AL HAARETZ AL PENEI REKIA HASHAMAYIM. 21. VAYIVRA ELOHIM ET HATANINIM HAGEDOLIM VE-ET KOL NEFESH HACHAYA HAROMESET ASHER SHARTZU HAMAYIM LEMINEHEM VE-ET KOL OF KANAF LEMINEHU VAYAR ELOHIM KI TOV. 22. VAYVARECH OTAM ELOHIM LEMOR PERU URVU UMILU ET HAMAYIM BAYAMIM VEHAOF YIREV BAARETZ. 23. VAYEHI EREV VAYEHI BOKER YOM CHAMISHI. 20. And G-d said: “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly over the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens!” 21. And G-d created the great sea creatures and every living creature that crawls, with which the waters swarmed according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And G-d saw that it was good. 22. And G-d blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23. And there was evening and there was morning: the fifth day. 1 Tishrei – the Sixth Day of Creation – the Creation of Man ויאמר אלהים תוצא הארץ נפש חיה למינה בהמה ורמש וחיתו ארץ למינה ויהי כן , ויעש אלהים את חית הארץ למינה ואת הבהמה למינה ואת כל רמש האדמה למינהו וירא אלהים כי טוב , ויאמר אלהים נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו וירדו בדגת הים ובעוף השמים ובבהמה ובכל הארץ ובכל הרמש הרמש על הארץ , ויברא אלהים את האדם בצלמו בצלם אלהים ברא אתו זכר ונקבה ברא אתם , ויברך אתם אלהים ויאמר להם אלהים פרו ורבו ומלאו את הארץ וכבשה ורדו בדגת הים ובעוף השמים ובכל חיה הרמשת על הארץ , ויאמר אלהים הנה נתתי לכם את כל עשב זרע זרע אשר על פני כל הארץ ואת כל העץ אשר בו פרי עץ זרע זרע לכם יהיה לאכלה , ולכל חית הארץ ולכל עוף השמים ולכל רומש על הארץ אשר בו נפש חיה את כל ירק עשב לאכלה ויהי כן , וירא אלהים את כל אשר עשה והנה טוב מאד ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום הששי 24. VAYOMER ELOHIM TOTZE HAARETZ NEFESH CHAYA LEMINAH BEHEMA VAREMES VECHAYTO-ERETZ LEMINAH VAYEHI CHEN. 25. VAYAAS ELOHIM ET CHAYAT HAARETZ LEMINAH VE-ET HABEHEMA LEMINAH VE-ET KOL REMES HAADAMA LEMINEHU VAYAR ELOHIM KI TOV. 26. VAYOMER ELOHIM NAASEH ADAM BETZALEMENU KIDMUTENU VEYIRDU VIDGAT HAYAM UVE-OF HASHAMAYIM UVABEHEMA UVCHOL HAARETZ UVCHOL HAREMES HAROMES AL HAARETZ. 27. VAYIVRA ELOHIM ET HAADAM BETZALMO BETZELEM ELOHIM BARA OTO ZACHAR UNKEVA BARA OTAM. 28. VAYVARECH OTAM ELOHIM VAYOMER LAHEM ELOHIM PERU URVU UMILU ET HAARETZ VECHIVSHUHA URDU BIDGAT HAYAM UVE-OF HASHAMAYIM UVCHOL CHAYA HAROMESET AL HAARETZ. 29 VAYOMER ELOHIM HINEI NATATI LACHEM ET KOL ESEV ZOREA ZERA ASHER AL PENEI CHOL HAARETZ VE-ET KOL HAETZ ASHER BO FERI ETZ ZOREA ZERA LACHEM YIHIYEH LE-OCHLA. 34. ULECHOL CHAYAT HAARETZ ULECHOL OF HASHAMAYIM ULECHOL ROMES AL HAARETZ ASHER BO NEFESH CHAYA ET KOL YEREK ESEV LE-OCHLA VAYEHI CHEN. 31. VAYAR ELOHIM ET KOL ASHER ASAH VEHINEI TOV MEOD VAYEHI EREV VAYEHI VOKER YOM HASHISHI. 24. And G-d said: Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kind: cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth according to their kind! And it was so. 25. And G-d made the beasts of the earth according to their kind, and the cattle according to their kind, and every creeping thing on the earth according to its kind. And G-d saw that it was good. 26. And G-d said: Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness! And they shall rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. 27. And G-d created man in His image, in the image of G-d He created him; male and female He created them. 28. And G-d blessed them, and G-d said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every animal that creeps upon the earth! 29. And G-d said: Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing herb that is upon the face of the entire earth, and every tree on which there is fruit-bearing seed; it shall be yours for food, 30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creeps upon the earth in which there is a living soul, every green herb shall be for food. And it was so. 31. And G-d saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning: the sixth day. 1 Tishrei – the Completion of Creation ויכלו השמים והארץ וכל צבאם , ויכל אלהים ביום השביעי מלאכתו אשר עשה וישבת ביום השביעי מכל מלאכתו אשר עשה , ויברך אלהים את יום השביעי ויקדש אתו כי בו שבת מכל מלאכתו אשר ברא אלהים לעשות 2. VAYCHULU HASHAMAYIM VEHAARETZ VECHOL TZEVAAM. VAYCHAL ELOHIM BAYOM HASHEVII MELACHTO ASHER ASAH VAYISHBOT BAYOM HASHEVII MIKOL MELACHTO ASHER ASAH. 3. VAYVARECH ELOHIM ET YOM HASHEVII VAYKADEISH OTO KI VO SHAVAT MIKOL MELACHTO ASHER BARA ELOHIM LAASOT. 1. The heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2. And G-d completed on the seventh day His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3. And G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work that G-d had created to do. (Based on the book Glimpsing into the Pardes by A. Katz; and on an article by Rabbi Meshulam Bruckman; and a lesson by Leah Hizgiyayeva)

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Tags: Segulot, Number, Ben Ish Chai, Et Ratzon, 25 Elul, Elul, Segulot of the Ben Ish Hai, The 1st Day of Creation, 5 Candles, 25 Elul – the First Day of the Creation of the World – the Five Candle Berachot from the Ben Ish Hai