29 Blessings for Rosh Chodesh—a gift from Rachel Imeinu

The Ben Ish Chai's Prayer for Rosh Chodesh with the Name of Rachel Imeinu

  The Mekubalim teach that on every Rosh Chodesh, it is beneficial to light a candle for Rachel Imeinu, since there is a profound connection between Rachel Imeinu and Rosh Chodesh. The name Rachel רחל  is an acronym formed from the initial letters of ראש חודש לישראל—Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael. Ben Ish Chai (may his merit protect us) composed a prayer for Rosh Chodesh associated with the name of Rachel Imeinu. Interestingly, this prayer consists of 29 blessings in the merit of Rachel Imeinu. We know that 29 is the gematria of the word הבטחה “havtacha” (promise), and it is also the gematria of one of the names of the Angel Metatron. Rosh Chodesh is also a gift from the Almighty to the Jewish woman; therefore, we pray while keeping all these kavanot in mind.   ראש חדש לישראל (ר׳׳ת רח׳׳׳ל) ראש חדש לישראל אדיר ומברך ראש חדש לישראל אמיץ ומברך ראש חדש לישראל אהוב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל ברוך ומברך ראש חדש לישראל בהיר ומברך ראש חדש לישראל גדול ומברך ראש חדש לישראל דגול ומברך ראש חדש לישראל הדור ומברך ראש חדש לישראל ותיק ומברך ראש חדש לישראל זכאי ומברך ראש חדש לישראל חביב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל טוב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל טהור ומברך ראש חדש לישראל יפה ומברך ראש חדש לישראל כליל ומברך ראש חדש לישראל לבוב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל מגן ומברך ראש חדש לישראל נעים ומברך ראש חדש לישראל סמוך ומברך ראש חדש לישראל עליון ומברך ראש חדש לישראל פתוח ומברך ראש חדש לישראל צהב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל צדיק ומברך ראש חדש לישראל קדוש ומברך ראש חדש לישראל רב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל שמור ומברך ראש חדש לישראל שגיב ומברך ראש חדש לישראל שלם ומברך ראש חדש לישראל תמים ומברך   Transliteration  Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael adir u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael amitz u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael ahuv u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael baruch u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael bahir u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael gadol u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael dagul u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael hadur u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael vatik u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael zakai u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael haviv u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael tov u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael tahor  u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael yafeh u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael kalil u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael lavuv u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael magen u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael na'im u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael samuch u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael elyon  u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael patuach u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael tzaov u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael tzadik u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael kadosh u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael rav u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael shamur u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael sagiv u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael shalem u-mevarech Rosh Chodesh LeYisrael tamim u-mevarech   Translation Rosh Chodesh for Israel (adir u-mevarech)—mighty and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (amitz u-mevarech)—valiant and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (ahuv u-mevarech)—beloved and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (baruch u-mevarech)—blessing and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (bahir u-mevarech)—radiant and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (gadol u-mevarech)—great and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (dagul u-mevarech)—distinguished and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (hadur u-mevarech)—splendid and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (vatik u-mevarech)—ancient and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (zakai u-mevarech)—worthy and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (haviv u-mevarech)—dear and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (tov u-mevarech)—good and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (tahor u-mevarech)—pure and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (yafeh u-mevarech)—beautiful and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (kalil u-mevarech)—crowned and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (lavuv u-mevarech)—warm-hearted and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (magen u-mevarech)—protecting and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (na'im u-mevarech)—pleasant and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (samuch u-mevarech)—reliable and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (elyon u-mevarech)—supreme and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (patuach u-mevarech)—open and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (tzaov u-mevarech)—shining and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (tzadik u-mevarech)—righteous and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (kadosh u-mevarech)—holy and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (rav u-mevarech)—abundant and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (shamur u-mevarech)—protective and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (sagiv u-mevarech)—exalted and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (shalem u-mevarech)—whole and blessed Rosh Chodesh for Israel (tamim u-mevarech)—perfect and blessed   (Based on a lesson by Rachel Bazuk, granddaughter of the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu)