29 Days of the Hebrew Month—the Significance of Each Day

Every Day of the Hebrew Month—all 29 days—Et Ratzon

  In the book Niflaim Maasecha, citing an ancient book, Ben Ish Chai describes all the days of the month and what each one is auspicious for:   1st day: On this day, Adam and Chavah were born (created). This is a very good day: one born on this day will prosper and rise, and will have a favorable destiny. For a sick person, there is a segula on this day to perform Pidyon HaNefesh before Mincha and increase one's tzedakah. For one who has been deprived of sons, let him give tzedakah and pray on this day, and his prayer will be accepted favorably. Reading Tehillim is especially helpful on this day. Certainly, one who does so will be heard. 2nd day: This day is especially suited to wishing a sick person good health and a complete recovery (Refuah Sheleimah). One born on this day will resemble his mother, while his strength will come from his father. 3rd day: If someone becomes ill on this day (G-d forbid), he should give tzedakah according to his means for the redemption of his soul and accept upon himself that, when he recovers from his illness, he will perform some mitzvah. This day is also good for acquiring ritual objects, such as a tallit, tefillin, mezuzot, books, and the like. 4th day: This day is good for anything. One who marries on this day will have a favorable destiny and a good omen, and will rejoice with his wife; however, children born to them will require special protection. 5th day: This day is suited for repentance and is difficult for work. 6th day: This day is suited for reading Tehillim and for offering good wishes and prayers for the healing of the sick. 7th day: There is a segula to increase tzedakah, separate maaser, distribute it among the poor, and give each petitioner as much as one can afford. One born on this day will live a long life. 8th day: This day is good in every respect. Methuselah, who lived 969 years—the longest of all people (for comparison, Adam lived 930)—was born on this day. There is a great segula on this day for anyone in distress—for example, one who has no sons, lacks money, and so forth: one should recite seven times before Mincha the passage about the Binding of Isaac, and three times Pitum HaKetoret, with the necessary kavanah; then pray Mincha and present one's request in the prayer. 9th day: This day is successful for raising children. Lamech was born on this day. The morning hours are a time of favor, an auspicious time to find favor in the eyes of the Almighty. 10th day: A good day for every purpose and for any construction, for teaching and studying halachah, and for judging. One born on this day will live a long life, and on this day Noah began building the Ark. There is also a segula on this day to have one's tefillin, mezuzot, and tzitzit checked; the person who has them checked will be rewarded with longevity. 11th day: There is a segula on this day to host a meal for talmidei chachamim, in order to be blessed with worthy offspring. Seth was born on this day. This day is also good for any purpose and for making purchases. 12th day: This day is successful for fieldwork, and a sick person will receive good news on this day. If one observes purity on this day, immerses in a mikveh, fasts, and cries out to the Almighty, one will be answered. 13th day: This day is suited for studying the Book of Genesis. If a guest comes to you, it is a sign that an evil decree issued against you will be annulled and that no plague (mildew) will approach your tent. It is also good on this day to meet with one's teacher and receive his blessings. One should take special care to avoid anything dependent on the work of a professional at the beginning of the day, such as a haircut. 14th day: This day is good for every purpose, and Noah blessed his sons on this day. One born on this day will be great and righteous, and will live a long life. One will also be successful in studying the Book of Devarim and the Fifth Book of Tehillim. 15th day: One must take care not to argue on this day, because on this day the languages were divided, thereby giving rise to disputes. This day is auspicious for studying tractate Sukkah. A hint that it is good to study tractate Sukkah on this day is found in the following verse (Tehillim 31:21): “You conceal them in the shelter of Your presence from the intrigues of men; You hide them in a sukkah from contentious tongues.” One should study tractate Sukkah on this day and recite it after Kaddish de-Rabbanan, thereby protecting oneself from a violent, ruthless, and rapacious person. 16th day: This day is suited for attracting great success in all matters through studying the Book of Leviticus. One who is ill on this day (G-d forbid) will quickly recover. One born on this day will be known for good qualities. It is also good on this day to arrange a chuppah for newlyweds. 17th day: It is good on this day to read about the 613 mitzvot and add to them the seven mitzvot of the descendants of Noah, thereby bringing the total to 620—the gematria of the word “Keter” (כתר). The segula of this study is to annul evil decrees and judgments and to be inscribed for a good life. 18th day: This day is good for setting out on a journey, both by sea and by land. For one born on this day it is a good sign, since our forefather Jacob was born on this day. This day is suited for studying the Book of Judges, in order to be saved from the evil eye and the hatred of envious people throughout the month. 19th day: This day is good for anything and for every kind of work, and a sick person will receive good news on this day. On this day our forefather Isaac married our matriarch Rebecca (may their souls rest in peace). The sign for this day is the phrase “come, bride” (בואי כלה)—the gematria of the word “come” (בואי) is 19. One born on this day will be attractive in appearance. This day is suited for prayer, and if people gather to read Tehillim together with the passage about the Binding of Isaac, their prayer will be accepted and Hashem's help will come within three days. 20th day: This day is good for anything and is especially suited for giving tzedakah, as a gift from one's own hand. The sign for this is the word “one's own hand” (ידו), whose gematria is 20. It is good on this day to host a meal for talmidei chachamim and receive their blessings, because on this day our forefather Isaac (may his soul rest in peace) blessed our forefather Jacob (may his soul rest in peace). Note: Tzedakah should not be given if the 20th day of the month falls on Shabbat; it is better to limit oneself to the meal or give the tzedakah beforehand. In addition, many Midrashim state that Jacob received Isaac's blessing on the night of the holiday of Pesach. In this case, there is a contradiction. 21st day: One must take care not to become angry or argue on this day. Anger is especially harmful on this day. There is one unfavorable hour on this day, and the segula for being saved from it is to read Akedat Yitzchak, Pitum HaKetoret, and the passage about lighting the Menorah. It is also good to give tzedakah. 22nd day: This day is good for anything, as indicated by the following verse (Kohelet 7:14): בְּיוֹם טוֹבָה הֱיֵה בְטוֹב On a day of goodness, be good. The gematria of the word “goodness” (טוֹבָה) is 22. Yosef HaTzadik was born on this day of the month. The first half of the day is good for healing, as it is said (Isaiah 49:8): “Thus said the L-rd: In a time of favor I answer you. Take special care on this day to avoid every sin and transgression.” Note: Other sources state that Yosef was born on the first of Tammuz. 23rd day: This is a good day, and Benjamin was born on this day. It is good to increase one's Torah study on this day, as indicated by the verse (Tehillim 1:2): “And he studies (יהגה) His Torah day and night.” The gematria of the word “studies” (יהגה) is 23. There is also a segula on this day for those who have no sons: study the Books of Samuel and pray to the Almighty, and He will answer. 24th day: A person should guard himself against everything. The sign for this is the verse (Tehillim 74:21): “Let not the oppressed (דך) return ashamed.” The gematria of the word “oppressed” (דך) is 24. One must take particular care on this day to avoid the evil eye. The segula for protection from it is to set aside tzedakah. 25th day: This is not a good day for undertaking any task. If one is compelled to do something on this day, one should read the 4th chapter of Tehillim and Psalm 119 according to the letters of one's name. In this way, one will draw Chesed upon oneself. 26th day: This day is very good for any work. The sign for this is the word “and it came to pass” (והיה), which in the Torah always accompanies joyful events, and whose gematria is 26. There is also a segula on this day to read the Book of the Prophet Jonah, which we read as the Haftarah on Yom Kippur. As a segula for easing a difficult birth, one should give tzedakah on this day so that the child will be born safely. 27th day: This day is average with regard to all matters and for any purchase. It is auspicious for prayer (prayer brings success) from midday onward. This is a time of favor. 28th day: This day is good for fasting and tzedakah, increasing one's Torah study, and reading Tehillim, because these practices are especially beneficial during the waning days of the moon. These are good days. 29th day: This day of the month is the same as the 28th day of the month. Its description is also the same: this day is good for fasting and tzedakah, increasing one's Torah study, and reading Tehillim, because these practices are especially beneficial during the waning days of the moon. These are good days. P.S. The book Otzrot Melachim contains a similar description of the days, Segulat HaYamim. On the 29th of every month, there is a segula to light beeswax candles for one's children.   [Copying without linking to the site is prohibited].   (Based on the book “Niflaim Maasecha” by Ben Ish Chai—translated and annotated by Alexander-Tzvi Sypkov)