Sod Torah - The Secret of the Yaaleh Veyavo Insertion

Sod Torah - The Secret of the Yaaleh Veyavo Insertion

On Rosh Chodesh, in such important prayers as the Shemoneh Esrei and Birkat HaMazon, the insertion “Yaaleh Veyavo” is recited. The prayer “Yaaleh Veyavo” contains three expressions: “Remember us, G-d our G-d, for good on this day, and be mindful of us on this day, blessing us, and save us on this day for a good and peaceful life.” Why are the words “on this day” - בו - mentioned three times in the prayer? The explanation is as follows: if the 24 hours of the day are divided by 3, the result is 8. A person should devote 8 hours to Torah and prayer, another 8 to work and eating, and the final 8 to sleep. The gematria of the phrase “on this day” = 8. 1) Its first mention in the prayer “Yaaleh Veyavo”: “Remember … on this day, for good” corresponds to Torah and Prayer. 2) The second mention: “Be mindful of us on this day, blessing us” corresponds to the time of daily concerns and work. 3) The final mention: “Save us on this day for a good and peaceful life” corresponds to the time of sleep, since sleep is one-sixtieth of death, and a person needs salvation. Pious and righteous people, however, sleep for only four hours. (Chacham Menachem Menashe, “Ahavat Chaim,” Bamidbar)