- Q. Dearest Rabbi. Tomorrow Tuesday May 27 (2025) is the day dedicated by many to recite the Tefillah (prayer) from the Shelo Hakadosh. Why is this day specially dedicated for it?
A. The Tefillah of the Shelo Hakadosh is a known Segula (accepted dedication) for parents to say on behalf of their children and grand children.
The Shelo Hakadosh wrote that “the most appropriate time to recite this prayer is on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, for that is the month when Hashem gave us His Torah, and when we began to be called his children”.
The Shelah Hakadosh, was Horav Yesaiah HaLevi Horowitz. His Kever is in Tiveria and his Yahrtzeit is - 11, Nisan
Horav Yeshaiah HaLevi Horowitz ZT”L, known as the 'Sh'lah Hakadosh' (1565-1630), was born in Prague. He was a great scholar of outstanding reputation, and he served as chief Rabbi of Krakow, and more famously, of Frankfort (1610-1620).)
After his first wife passed away, Rabbi Horowitz remarried and moved to Israel in 1621. He became the first Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Jerusalem.
After being kidnapped by the local pasha, and ransomed by the Jewish community for a backbreaking sum of money, Rabbi Horowitz moved to Tiberias in order to prevent a subsequent kidnapping.
He is known as the Shelah, which is the abbreviation of the title of his great Sefer, Shnei Luchot HaBrit, a classic work in Jewish tradition, combining insights into the weekly portion, the holidays and Halacha.
His most visited Kever is in Tiberias, near the tomb of the Rambam.
The traditional prayer of parents on behalf of their children is read on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
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