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10 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit

Gad ben Yaakov Avinu - the 12 Tribes

Gad ben Yaakov Avinu - one of the 12 heads of the Tribes of Israel – and his saving prayer «Gad gedud yegudenu» Yahrzeit - 10 Cheshvan On this day, the segula connected to the blessing that Yaakov Avinu gave his son Gad is especially powerful. This blessing was given in a prophetic spirit to Gad for good fortune, and therefore it is powerful for emerging from difficult and hopeless situations; it is also a segula for attaining good fortune and happiness.
Why is mentioning the name of Gad – one of the 12 Tribes of Israel – a segula for good fortune? Gad was the son of the patriarch Yaakov and Zilpah (the maidservant of Leah Imeinu). Gad was both born and passed away on 10 Cheshvan – at the age of 125. Rabbeinu Chida teaches that the founder of one of the 12 tribes was born covered with a membrane, as though with a garment, and so Leah said at his birth: “Ba – gad”, which is read as two words (fortune has come), but is written as one word, like “beged” (garment). And this is a good sign for those born this way. (Rabbeinu Chida, “Midbar Kedemot” 3:2) Gad was the 10th in order to be circumcised in the entire history of the Jewish people – the first was Avraham, then Yitzchak – Yaakov – Reuven – Shimon – Levi – Yehuda – Dan – Naftali – Gad. Among the Jewish people, Gad is the 10th child to be circumcised, even though he was already born circumcised. Another meaning of the name Gad is a troop“gedud” (the root of this name consists of three letters – a “gimel” and two “dalets”). In cases where the ending has two identical consonants, one of them can be dropped; instead of gdudtroop, we get Gad, which also translates as “coriander.” And coriander is also “man” (manna) (Bamidbar 11:7). It was precisely in the land where Gad settled that the manna fell for the last time. Thus, the name of Gad is associated with manna (the food of Heaven), a striking (victorious) troop, circumcision (which signifies being marked/chosen). Moreover, it was in the territory of Gad that not only the burial place of Moshe was located, but also the living prophet Eliyahu. He was known as Eliyahu of Gilad (a place within the portion of Gad). (Rabbanit Chava Kupperman)  
Rabbi Chaim Palaggi writes in his book “Moed LeChol Chai” that on the 10th day of Cheshvan, the day on which Gad, the son of Yaakov Avinu, was born – there is good fortune for all of Israel in the merit of Gad. On this day there is success and good fortune in everything a person does, because Gad, as is known, signifies good fortune.   Segulot   1. Verses for good fortune and happiness connected with Gad:
  1) Vayeitzei 30:5-11
  1. VATAHAR BILHAH VATELED LEYAAKOV BEN.
  2. VATOMER RACHEL DANANI ELOHIM VEGAM SHAMA BEKOLI VAYITEN-LI BEN AL-KEN KARA SHEMO DAN.
  3. VATAHAR OD VATELED BILHAH SHIFCHAT RACHEL BEN SHENI LEYAAKOV.
  4. VATOMER RACHEL NAFTULEI ELOHIM NIFTALTI IM-ACHOTI GAM-YACHOLTI VATIKRA SHEMO NAFTALI.
  5. VATERE LEAH KI AMDAH MILEDET VATIKACH ET-ZILPAH SHIFCHATAH VATITEN OTAH LEYAAKOV LEISHAH.
  6. VATELED ZILPAH SHIFCHAT LEAH LEYAAKOV BEN.
  7. VATOMER LEAH BA GAD VATIKRA ET-SHEMO GAD.
(And Bilhah conceived, and bore Yaakov a son. And Rachel said: “G-d has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore she named him Dan. And she conceived again, and Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, bore Yaakov a second son. And Rachel said: With mighty wrestling I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed. And she named him Naftali. And when Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Yaakov as a wife. And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, bore Yaakov a son. And Leah said: Fortune has come! And she named him Gad. 2) Yaakov Avinu's blessing to Gad – Vayechi (49:19) - «Gad gedud yegudenu, vehu yagud akev. Kach atzliach bidrachai kmo she'asa Yehoshua be'ever ha-Yarden im Yisrael uvamilchama im ha-Kena'ani veshav beshalom le'artzo». (Gad, a troop shall press upon him, but he shall press upon their heel. Save me on my paths, as You did for Yehoshua when the people of Israel crossed the Jordan and in the war against the Canaanites, returning in peace to his Land). 3) Moshe Rabbeinu's blessing to Gad – Vezot HaBerachah (33:20-21)
  1. ULEGAD AMAR BARUCH MARCHIV GAD KELAVI SHACHEN VETARAF ZEROA AF-KODKOD.
  2. VAYAR REISHIT LO KI-SHAM CHELKAT MECHOKEK SAFUN VAYETE RASHEI AM TZIDKAT ADONAI ASAH UMISHPATAV IM-YISRAEL.
(And of Gad he said: “Blessed be He who enlarges Gad; he dwells as a lion, and tears the arm, even the crown of the head. And he chose the first part for himself, for there a portion of a lawgiver was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, executing the justice of G-d, and His ordinances with Israel”).  
3. Recite 3 times forward and backward: - «Gad gedud yegudenu, vehu yagud akev» } 3 times - «Akev yagud vehu yegudenu gedud Gad» } 3 times   The Protective Prayer of Rabbeinu Tam https://silatehilim.com/молитва-оберег-рабейну-тама/
Pilgrimage site: Grave: Yaakov Avinu