Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 151

Likutey Moharan 151

A segulah for enduring offspring

A segulah (spiritual remedy) for children that endure: both the man and his wife should recite the Torah portion beginning “On the beginnings of your months” [Numbers 28:11–15] before engaging in marital relations.

Similarly, when a child is ill, God forbid, both husband and wife should also recite this portion.

For the word me’arat (curse) appears without the letter vav, which alludes to the lack of vitality—the vav represents the life-force of all existence. Similarly, the phrase kallat Moshe (Moshe's bride) also lacks the vav [Zohar Vayechi 236a; Pinchas 254a].

This alludes to the mystical defect of the moon, from which the lacking of the vav is drawn—this is associated with diphtheria in children, God forbid [Zohar Bereishit 19a, 33b, 34a].

For the vav is the vitality of all things [Zohar Bereishit 256a]. And thus, the lack of the vav signifies a lack of life-force, leading to the death of young children, God forbid.

On Rosh Chodesh (the new month), the moon begins to be filled and repaired, as is known. For it has reached the peak of its diminishment, and from there the rectification and filling begins immediately.

And this is the acronym of kallat (Kapparah Lekhol Toldoteihem) – “Atonement for all their offspring.”

On Rosh Chodesh, the concept of kallat Moshe (Moshe's bride) is sweetened and rectified. This reflects the moon’s filling, and atonement, forgiveness, and sweetening are drawn upon all the offspring of Israel. Through this, a flow of good and long life is drawn upon them.

Therefore, the Torah portion “On the beginnings of your months” is a segulah for children, as explained.