Forty Days of Prayer and Hope in the Merit of Rachel Imeinu

I don’t know exactly what your story is, but I’m sure there’s something in your life that you’re hoping and praying for. For some of you, it may be a prayer you’ve carried in your heart for a very long time. Perhaps you’ve spent years begging Hashem for a yeshuah, a salvation, wondering when the day will finally come.

You’re growing in your avodat Hashem, taking on more mitzvot, trying different segulot, strengthening your Torah observance, and doing more chessed. You’re doing everything you can, yet you’re still waiting—sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently—for Hashem to grant you the yeshuah you’ve been longing for.

You carry these prayers and hopes with you through busy mornings and quiet evenings, wondering if perhaps today will finally be the day. And as much as you try to hold on to your emunah, the waiting isn't always easy.

If this sounds familiar, I want to share something special with you: a beautiful segulah associated with Rachel Imeinu, through which many girls have shared stories of the yeshuot they experienced.

The practice is simple but meaningful: 40 consecutive days of lighting a candle in honor of Rachel Imeinu, giving tzedakah, and pouring your heart out to Hashem in prayer for one specific yeshuah.

The Forty Day Practice

1. Light a candle in honor of Rachel Imeinu before sunset.

2. Give tzedakah. Give a small coin to charity.

3. Pray for one specific request. Choose one particular need for which you are seeking Hashem’s help, and focus your prayer on that request.

4. Take upon yourself to share your story, b’li neder. Resolve, with Hashem’s help and b’li neder, without making a vow, that when the salvation you are praying for arrives, you will share the story of how Hashem fulfilled your prayer in the merit of Rachel Imeinu.

5. Recite the following prayer:

קומי רחל אמנו הקדושה ותהיי מליצת יושר עבורי,ואני בתך באה לבקש להיות אם ורעיה.

קומי אמי כי עייפה נשמתי, ואת אמי, רחל אמנו הקדושה,שיודעת את צערם של בניך ובנותיך.

תהיי מליצת יושר שלי אצל הקדוש ברוך הוא, תאמרי לו על אף שלא דייקתי במחשבה בדיבור ובמעשה אני רוצה לזכות בישועה ב... (כאן הוסיפי את התפילה האישית שלך).

ואני יודעת שעדיין לא מאוחר כי גדולים חסדיו של הקדוש ברוך הוא.

קומי אמי רחל ומסרי תפילתי לאל חי, אדון האדונים,מלך המלכים, ותשמחיני נא ותאירי לי אור תפילתי,ישועתי ושועתי אליו יתברך, אל מלך חי, באמרי:

שמע ישראל ה' אלהינו ה' אחד ושמו אחד,

אמן ואמן!

Transliteration of the Prayer  

Kumi Rachel Imeinu HaKedoshah, v'tihyi melitzat yosher avuri, va'ani bitech ba'ah levakesh lihyot em v'rayah.

Kumi imi ki ayefah nishmati, v'at imi, Rachel Imeinu HaKedoshah, sheyoda'at et tza'aram shel banayich uvnotayich.

Tihyi melitzat yosher sheli etzel HaKadosh Baruch Hu, tomri lo al af shelo diyakti b'machshavah, b'dibur uv'ma'aseh, ani rotzah lizkot b'yeshu'ah b... (Kan hosifi et hatefillah ha'ishit shelach).

Va'ani yoda'at she'adayin lo me'uchar, ki gedolim chasadav shel HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Kumi imi Rachel, u'misri tefillati l'El Chai, Adon HaAdonim, Melech HaMelachim, u'tesamcheini na v'ta'iri li or tefillati, yeshu'ati v'shav'ati elav yitbarach, El Melech Chai, b'omri:

Shema Yisrael, H' Eloheinu, H' Echad, u'shemo echad.

Amen v'Amen!

For Shabbat and Yom Tov, consult a rabbi about the appropriate arrangements for candle lighting time and charity. Do not light a candle or give Tzedakah on Shabbat. 

May Hashem hear our prayers, strengthen our hearts, and grant us our salvation speedily, Amen!