Segulot for Rosh Chodesh Av

Segulot for Rosh Chodesh Av

The period of heightened stringencies of the Three Weeks, Bein HaMetzarim, begins on 1 Av. But 1 Av is also Rosh Chodesh. Rosh Chodesh is a festive day, but Rosh Chodesh Av differs somewhat from the others: it is the first day of the month that includes 9 Av, and it is also the yahrzeit of Aharon HaKohen. Some communities refrain from wine and meat even on Rosh Chodesh. Three major events occurred on Rosh Chodesh Av, and they serve as channels for us for all time. 1. The Yahrzeit/Hilula of Aharon HaKohen Rosh Chodesh Av is the yahrzeit of Aharon HaKohen HaGadol—he passed away at the age of 123 in the year 2487 from the creation of the world. This is the only yahrzeit mentioned in the Torah (Bamidbar 33:38). This is recorded in Parashat “Masei”, which we read on the Shabbat nearest to Rosh Chodesh Av. 2. The Clouds of Glory On Rosh Chodesh Av, when Aharon HaKohen passed away, the “Ananei HaKavod” (Clouds of Glory) that surrounded our people in the wilderness, protected us, and helped us feel the Presence of the Creator disappeared. Tikkunei Zohar writes that the Clouds of Glory were delicate, luminous shells consisting of seven layers. They purified the people in the wilderness and kept their clothing and shoes from wearing out. They also provided our people with spiritual support. By making “shalom” between people, as Aharon HaKohen did, and practicing “Ahavat Yisrael” every moment, we can help bring about their return. That the Clouds of Glory are the mercy of the Almighty, granted to His people, can be seen from the words of David HaMelech in Tehillim 32:10: “Rabim machovim la-rasha, veha-bote'ach ba-Adonai chesed yesovevenu”—“Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the L-rd is surrounded by kindness.” Rabbi Uri Vishi says that “is surrounded by kindness” refers to the “Ananei HaKavod” (Clouds of Glory). The Midrash says that the height of the Clouds of Glory was higher than the waters of the Flood. 3. The waters of the Flood began to recede Rosh Chodesh Av is also the day when the waters of the Flood began to recede and the mountains appeared—which means that forgiveness came and the mercy of Hashem was revealed. This day is a channel for prayers of gratitude to Hashem for all His goodness. Therefore, on this day we recite Psalm 100, the Psalm of Thanksgiving, and the prayer “Hoda'ah La-Hashem.” Then we recite Psalm 119 according to the letters of the name Aharon ben Amram and ask Hashem, in the merit of the Kohen HaGadol, for all salvation for the entire nation and for our personal needs. אהרון  בן עמרם א 1. Ashrei temimei darech, haholchim beTorat A-donai. 2. Ashrei notzrei edotav, bechol lev yidrushuhu. 3. Af lo fa'alu avlah, bidrachav halachu. 4. Atah tzivita fikudecha, lishmor me'od. 5. Achalai yikonu derachai, lishmor chukecha. 6. Az lo evosh, behabiti el kol mitzvotecha. 7. Odecha beyosher levav, belamdi mishpetei tzidkecha. 8. Et chukecha eshmor, al ta'azveni ad me'od. ה 33. Horeni A-donai derech chukecha, ve'etzrenah ekev. 34. Havineni ve'etzrah Toratecha, ve'eshmerena vechol lev. 35. Hadricheni binativ mitzvotecha, ki vo chafatzti. 36. Hat libi el edvotecha, ve'al el batza. 37. Ha'aver einai mere'ot shav, bidrachecha chayeni. 38. Hakem le'avdecha imratecha, asher leyir'atecha. 39. Ha'aver cherpati asher yagorti, ki mishpatecha tovim. 40. Hineh ta'avti lefikudecha, betzidkatecha chayeni. ר 153. Re'eh onyi vechaltzeni, ki Toratecha lo shachachti. 154. Riva rivi uge'aleni, le'imratecha chayeni. 155. Rachok meresha'im yeshuah, ki chukecha lo darashu. 156. Rachamecha rabim A-donai, kemishpatecha chayeni. 157. Rabim rodfai vetzarai, me'edvotecha lo natiti. 158. Ra'iti bogedim va'etkotatah, asher imratecha lo shamaru. 159. Re'eh ki fikudecha ahavti, A-donai kechasdecha chayeni. 160. Rosh devarcha emet, ule'olam kol mishpat tzidkecha. ו 41. Vivou'ni chasadecha A-donai, teshu'atecha ke'imratecha. 42. Ve'e'eneh chorefi davar, ki vatachti bidvarecha. 43. Ve'al tatzel mipi devar emet ad me'od, ki lemishpatecha yichalti. 44. Ve'eshmerah Toratecha tamid le'olam va'ed. 45. Ve'ethalech varechavah, ki fikudecha darashti. 46. Va'adabrah ve'edotecha neged melachim, velo evosh. 47. Ve'eshta'asha bemitzvotecha asher ahavti. 48. Ve'esa chapai el mitzvotecha asher ahavti, ve'asichah vechukecha. נ 105. Ner leragli devarecha, ve'or lintivati. 106. Nishba'ti va'akayemah, lishmor mishpetei tzidkecha. 107. Na'aneti ad me'od, A-donai chayeni chidvarecha. 108. Nidvot pi ratzeh na A-donai, umishpatecha lamdeni. 109. Nafshi vechapi tamid, veToratecha lo shachachti. 110. Natnu resha'im pach li, umifikudecha lo ta'iti. 111. Nachalti edvotecha le'olam, ki seson libi hemah. 112. Natiti libi la'asot chukecha, le'olam ekev. ב 9. Bameh yezakeh na'ar et orcho, lishmor kidvarecha. 10. Bechol libi derashticha, al tashgeni mimitzvotecha. 11. Belibi tzafanti imratecha, lemaan lo echeta lach. 12. Baruch atah A-donai, lamdeni chukecha. 13. Bisfatai siparti kol mishpetei ficha. 14. Bederech edvotecha sastii ke'al kol hon. 15. Befikudecha asichah ve'abitah orchotecha. 16. Bechukotecha eshta'asha, lo eshkach devarecha. נ 105. Ner leragli devarecha, ve'or lintivati. 106. Nishba'ti va'akayemah, lishmor mishpetei tzidkecha. 107. Na'aneti ad me'od, A-donai chayeni chidvarecha. 108. Nidvot pi ratzeh na A-donai, umishpatecha lamdeni. 109. Nafshi vechapi tamid, veToratecha lo shachachti. 110. Natnu resha'im pach li, umifikudecha lo ta'iti. 111. Nachalti edvotecha le'olam, ki seson libi hemah. 112. Natiti libi la'asot chukecha, le'olam ekev. ע 121. Asiti mishpat va'tzedek, bal tanicheni le'oshkai. 122. Arov avdecha letov, al ya'ashkuni zedim. 123. Einai kalu lishu'atecha, ule'imrat tzidkecha. 124. Aseh im avdecha kechasdecha, vechukecha lamdeni. 125. Avdecha ani havineni, ve'ed'ah edotecha. 126. Et la'asot la-A-donai, heferu Toratecha. 127. Al ken ahavti mitzvotecha, mizahav umipaz. 128. Al ken kol pikudei chol yisharti, kol orach sheker saneti. מ 97. Mah ahavti Toratecha, kol hayom hi sichati. 98. Me'oyevai techakemeni mitzvotecha, ki le'olam hi li. 99. Mikol melamdai hiskalti, ki edvotecha sichah li. 100. Mizkenim etbonan, ki fikudecha natzarti. 101. Mikol orach ra kaliti raglai, lema'an eshmor devarecha. 102. Mimishpatecha lo sarti, ki atah horitani. 103. Mah nimletzu lechiki, imratecha midvash lefi. 104. Mipikudecha etbonan, al ken saneti kol orach shaker. ר 153. Re'eh onyi vechaltzeni, ki Toratecha lo shachachti. 154. Riva rivi uge'aleni, le'imratecha chayeni. 155. Rachok meresha'im yeshuah, ki chukecha lo darashu. 156. Rachamecha rabim A-donai, kemishpatecha chayeni. 157. Rabim rodfai vetzarai, me'edvotecha lo natiti. 158. Ra'iti bogedim va'etkotatah, asher imratecha lo shamaru. 159. Re'eh ki fikudecha ahavti, A-donai kechasdecha chayeni. 160. Rosh devarcha emet, ule'olam kol mishpat tzidkecha. מ 97. Mah ahavti Toratecha, kol hayom hi sichati. 98. Me'oyevai techakemeni mitzvotecha, ki le'olam hi li. 99. Mikol melamdai hiskalti, ki edvotecha sichah li. 100. Mizkenim etbonan, ki fikudecha natzarti. 101. Mikol orach ra kaliti raglai, lema'an eshmor devarecha. 102. Mimishpatecha lo sarti, ki atah horitani. 103. Mah nimletzu lechiki, imratecha midvash lefi. 104. Mipikudecha etbonan, al ken saneti kol orach shaker. May the merit of the righteous Aharon HaKohen lead our people through shalom to Redemption! (Birkat Kohanim – a segula for bad dreams)   (Sila Tehillim based on lessons by Rabbanit Iris Eliyashiv, Eliyahu Essas, and Raphael Avitan)