As we find ourselves in these difficult days, it is important to try to find comfort and support in the words of our Tzadikim and Talmidei Chachomim of years gone by.
Not having the ability to daven b’tzibur, our individual davening needs to be strengthened to overcome the frightening gezeira.
With this in mind, it is important to note that the monthly tefilla of Kiddush Levana is an awesome opportunity to help us in our time of suffering.
The following is found in one of the seforim of the Chida:
“It is a Segulah Gedolah to be saved from all enemies and all bad things, by saying Kiddush Levana with kavana…”
Rav Chaim Palagi, says the following:
“Our great Sages and Tzadikim of previous generations, who are compared to Angels, told us this wondorous Segula. One who says Kiddush Levana with proper kavana will not have any harm nor any death in that month…”
And the Chasam Sofer writes in a T’shuvo (Orach Chaim, Siman 102):
“Perhaps we may say that, in truth, there is healing when saying Kiddush Levana which is likened to greeting the presence of the Shechina. As we find by Avrohom Avinu that when he greeted the Shechina he was healed. And it says (Mishle 16, 15) “In the light of the face of the King [will be] life.”
עי’ בספר מורה באצבע להחיד”א סי’ קפ”ח “ויש סגולה גדולה באמירת ברכת הלבנה להנצל מאויב ומכל רע אם יאמרנה כתיקונה”. ועי’ בספר כף החיים למהר”ח פלאג”י סי’ ל”ה ס”ג “ראשונים כמלאכים היטיבו את אשר דברו דהיא סגולה נפלאה להאומר ברכת הלבנה בכונה שלא יארע לו שום נזק וחשש מיתה באותו חודש, כאומרם ז”ל. ולכן מי שהוא חולה יוסיף אומץ ויתחזק עצמו לומר ברכת הלבנה בכונה גדולה, עיי”ש. וכ”כ בשו”ת חתם סופר חאו”ח סי’ ק”ב, “ואולי יש באמת רפואה למחלה בקבלת פניה דהוה כקבלת פני השכינה, וכתיב (משלי טז, טו) באור פני מלך חיים, כמ”ש רמב”ן ר”פ וירא. ויעויי”ש ברמב”ן שהיתה לאברהם רפואה למילה במראה השכינה.
UPDATE FOR TIMES THAT THE LEVANA WILL BE VISIBLE IN LAKEWOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS:
Monday night March 30: between 8 and 9 should be clear. Between 9 and 10 will be mostly cloudy. After 10 will be cloudy
Tuesday night March 31: Mostly cloudy all night.
Wednesday night April 1: Very clear night. (It is also after 7 full days from the molad).
Thursday night April 2: Mostly cloudy. Might not be visible
SAYING SHOLOM ALEICHEM BY YOURSELF
Though we usually say “Sholom Aleichem” to three people etc., you actually do NOT need to have anyone and you should just say SHOLOM ALEICHEM three times by yourself, WITHOUT HAVING ANYONE ANSWER YOU.
I will end with a fervent tefilla that Hakodosh Baruch Hu should see us, and have Rachmanus on us all. And in the zechus of our Kabolas Pnei Shechina by Kiddush Levana may we be zoche to be mekabel Pnei Moshiach Tzidkeinu, b’karov. Amen.
Can women say Kiddush levanah?
The general minhag (custom) is that women do not say Kiddush Levana.
Just because they don’t generally say it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with them doing so.
Wonderful service you’re doing to the Klal with this info.
My grandfather was always very Makpid to say Kiddush Levana at the first possible opportunity – I suspect for this exact reason.
It was an irony that the Malach Hamoves was only able to get him on Beis Kisleiv..
It’s a mchlokes haposkim as to whether can say kiddush levana.
Please elaborate
Regarding women saying Kiddush Levana, much has been written about this and I will try to summarize.
The Magen Avraham in the beginning of Siman 420 says in the name of the Shelah that women do not say Kiddush Levana because it is a “time-bound Mitzva” (mitzvas asei shehazman grama). This is quoted as well in the Mishna B’rura in seif katan alef.
The Magen Avraham further states that even though in other cases women do preform mitzvos that are characterized as “time-bound” mitzvos, nevertheless there are reasons that by Kiddush Levana they should not do so.
(See further Magen Avraham Siman 296 seif katan 11.)
Among the reasons given is one from HaRav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt”l. He states that since the mitzva is done outside, we have a general rule of “Kol kevuda bas melech Penima”.
It should be noted that the Kaf HaChaim in Siman 426 states that perhaps a woman should listen to a man making the b’racha and then answer Omein (or she can just say “Baruch Mechadesh Chodoshim” without saying “sheim u’malchus”).
However, the Pri Megadim (siman 426 in Aishel Avrohom) is of the opinion not to do so, even saying it without “shem u’malchus”. This is also the opinion of the Ksav Sofer (T’shuvos Siman 34).
(For further information on this topic see: Sefer Kiddush Levana. Perek 1 Par. 1, and footnotes 5-7.)
So in the end, women do not and should not say Kiddush Levana.