Shavuos - Torah, Tikun, Segulas and more

Reb Boruch of Mezibuzh says that on Rosh Hashana we are judged on material matters, but on Shavuos we are judged on spiritual matters. (Botzina Dinehora)

It says “ad mochoras haShabbos”, meaning that we have the whole sefira including the 50th day to teshuva and purify ourselves (the word “sapir” can mean purify). And if one can’t purify himself, even on the last day, then he has no choice but to attach himself to the Tzadik Emes, and he will lift him up and purify him. Through his attachment to the Tzadik Emes, he will be able to do teshuva. (Divrei Dovid)

The Magid of Koznitz says: Before the receiving of the Torah the men were commanded in Shemos (19:15) אַל-תִּגְּשׁוּ, אֶל-אִשָּׁה – don’t come near your wives. Male is a “giver” and female is an “receiver”. The Mishana (Avos 1:3) says that we should serve Hashem without any intention of receiving reward. That’s what this alludes to; we shouldn’t be in bechinas isha, in other word an acceptor, wanting to receive reward, but should accept the Torah and fulfill the mitzvas lishma. (Avodas Yisroel)

Segulas for Children

There is a segula for one that wants a son to separate 91 perutahs on Erev Shavuos and then add more till he gets to 104, the gematria of 2 times ben, and then give it to a humble, worthy talmid chacham. (R’ Yaakov Falagi, Father of R’ Chaim Falagi)

Shevuos is a good time to daven for barren woman. It is brought down from mekubolim that when the Mishna in Roshana says that we are judged on fruits of the tree, it refers to children, because man is called a tree and the fruits are the children produced.

Tikkun Leil Shevuos

There is a custom to stay up all night on Shavuos learning Torah. The Arizal and the Shela put together an order of learning called Tikkun Leil Shevuos which many (among them Chida, Yesod Veshores Ha’Avodah and Kav HaYosher) say one should learn Shavuos night, because it accomplishes great tikkunim. The Gra used to do this also. Other’s, however, learn Gemara or other subjects with a chavrusa or listen to shiurim. Although the seforim hakedoshim emphasize the importance of saying Tikkun, it would seem that if one can’t do this that any method of learning is good.

The main thing is that one shouldn’t waste away the time. If one is going to engage in frivolous conversation then it is better to go to sleep, as the Pela Yoetz says “the sleep is good for him and good for the world”.

Arizal says that one who stays up learning Torah Shavuos Night, without wasting time, will live out the year.

It is a tikun for forbidden things one has seen with his eyes. (Pela Yoetz)

R’ Chaim Palagi says that one who awake learning Shavuos night, his Mazel will not sleep, he will clive out the year, will have sons and grandsons that are Talmidei Chachomim, is a tikin for the Shechina and is a tikun for looking at forbidden things. (Moed L’kol Chai)

The Tikun Leil Shavuos of the Rizhiner

Someone was sitting by the Tish of Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin, Shavuos night, thinking to himself that he should really be in the Beis Medrash learning Tikkun Keil Shavuos. The Rizhiner perceived what this individual was thinking with his ruach hakodesh and said the first letters of “tarich lifonei shulchon” (set before Me a table) are the same as Tikun Leil Shavuos. The man understood the message. This story could be understood through another story.

The Rizhiner ate very little, just enough to sustain him. One time, when they were reciting Birchas Hamazon, someone said to his friend that the Rebbe really isn’t allowed to bentch, because he ate less then an olive sized piece of bread. (Torah law requires one to be fully satisfied, but the Rabonon said that one should bentch on even an olive sized piece of bread.) The Rizhiner perceived the thoughts of this man and said that although the general law is that one bentches after eating an olive sized piece of bread, according to Torah law one bentches when they are satisfied on any amount of bread, and he is fully satisfied with a small piece. (I heard something very similar in the name of the Chasam Sofer.) We can see how lofty was the simple eating of the holy Rizhiner, he ate exactly what he needed, with all the proper thoughts. Now we can understand what he meant by saying that “tarich lifonei shulchon” has the same first letters as Tikun Leil Shavuos.

Mikvah
The mikvah of Shavuos morning (for men), shortly before Alos Hashachar, daybreak (some say 15 minutes before; some say 30 minutes before), purifies us from the seven weeks of sefira. There are great tikunim involved. It is the Mikvah of the 50th gate of binah, and of great lovingness and mercy. Mikvah saves from all troubles. (See Breslov Center's article on this and see Likutei Mohoran 56:7 for more on this.)

Segula For Everything - Davening 40 Days Straight

There is a well known segula for one who needs a yeshua for anything (shidduch, health, parnasa, etc.) to daven at the Kosel Hamaravi for forty days in a row. Rav Moshe Shternbuch shlita of the Batatz Eidah Chareidas (descendant of the Vilna Gaon) says (Teshuvas VeHanhogos 4:61) that this could be done even if one doesn't have access to the Kosel. One can go to a any specific Shul or Beis Medrash for forty days straight to daven for a particular need and will have the same segula. He says that one should give 18 "prutos" tzedaka to those that toil in Torah before each of these 40 tefilos.

Segulas For Good Children

This Thursday is Yom Kippur Koton, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan. There is a well known minhag to say a tefila for one’s children that they should go in the proper derech, on that day. The source for this is the Shlah HaKodosh (Mesechta Tamid, Ner Mitzva), where he says:

“There is an obligation to daven and ask from Hashem every need we have, at any time, because it all comes from Him. People should be especially careful to daven for their children to be “kosher” forever. My heart tells me that an auspicious time for this is Erev Rosh Chodesh of Sivan, because that is the month we received the Torah and we are called “children of Hashem our G-d. It is worthy for man and wife to fast and do teshuva.” (It is actually Yom Kippur Koton. Some daven a special Mincha with slichos, and some also fast a whole or half day and read Vayichal from a Sefer Torah, like on a Taanis Tzibur.)

The tefila the Shlah lists was written by Reb Shabsei Sofer of Premishla, a talmid of the Levush, and can be found here.

The Shlah says one should also have in mind their children by Birchas HaTorah (v’nihiye anachnu v’tzetzoeinu), Ahava Rabbah (v’sein bilibeinu) and Uva Litzion (l’maan lo nega lorik v’lo neled l’beholo)

Tanna Devei Eliyahu says one should constantly ask for mercy from Hashem that his children shouldn’t sin.

Sefer Chasidim says one should daven for their children and grandchildren.

Rabbeinu Yonah in Iggeres HaTeshuva says a woman should daven for her children, night, morning and afternoon, that they should fear Hashem and be successful in Torah. He says she should also do this while giving tzedaka and light Shabbos candles.

Many of the great tzadikim (from all segments, Sephardim, Ashkenazim, Litvish, Chassidish) said that all of the success of their children came about because they constantly davened and cried to Hashem for that their children should go in the proper derech.

Other Segulas For Good Children

There are many segulas for good children; I will list a few here.

It is brought down in many places that tznius is a great segula for good children. The Mishna Berura quotes the Gemara in Yoma that says a very modest woman name Kimchis, merited having many sons who became Kohanim Gedolim because of her great modesty.

Making sure that people who serve Hashem have parnasa is a segula that one’s children won’t be swayed to bad influences. (Sefer Hamidos)

R’ Yissachor Dov of Belz told someone whose son was straying a bit from the ways of his father, to bring guests into his house.

Serving meat at a Bris is a segula for the child to grow up properly. (Divrei Yechezkel)

See here for a segula to do after a child is born.

Learning Sefer Degel Machane Ephraim is a segula for good children. See A Simple Jew for the source. You can get a PDF of the sefer here.

Reb Nachman of Breslov says that if a boy comes to him before the age of 7, he will be saved from sin. (Chaye Mohoran/Tzadik) Reb Avrohom B'Reb Nachman Chazan says that this also applies these days, after Reb Nachman's passing. (Kochvey Ohr) Many people, even ones that aren't "Breslovers", take their sons to Uman at various times during the year, before they turn 7.

I've heard in the name of tzadikim that washing a childs hands, negel vaser, before the age of 3, even though not halachically required, is a segula for the child's yiras shomayim.

Lag BaOmer - Segulas & Minhagim

Lag BaOmer is the yahrzeit, Yom Hilula, of the Tanna HaKodosh, Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), who is “Reb Shimon” in the Gemara and authored the Zohar HaKodosh. The Chida says we are joyous in honor of Rashbi, because that is what he wanted. (Avodas HaKodesh)

Why do we mourn on 7 Adar, the yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu (many people used to fast on this day), but celebrate on the yahrzeit of Rashbi? Because the Gemara says (Temuros 16a) that 3000 halachos were forgotten during the mourning for Moshe Rabbeinu, therefore, we mourn. On the day Rashbi left this world, however, so man secrets of the Torah were revealed, making it a day of joy and celebration. (Ner Yisroel)

The days of Iyar are mesugal for refuah, especially the days of hod, and more so Lag BaOmer, which is hod sheb’hod.

The Arizal says that Rashbi blesses all those that come to Meron to celebrate on his Yom Hilula. (Hilula D’Rashbi)

The Tzemach Tzedek points out that the first letters of מ׳לך ר׳ופא נ׳אמן ו׳רחמן spell מרון, meaning in the merit of the tzadik at rest in Meron, Hashem will heal the sick.

The posuk (Yeshaya 57:19) says שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב, אָמַר ד׳-וּרְפָאתִיו – peace, peace to those far and those near, says Hashem, and I will heal him. ורפאתיו is the same gematria as שמעון בר יוחאי. The allusion from this is that even those who couldn’t come to Meron for Lag BaOmer can have their prayers answered, wherever they are (as the posuk says “to those far and those near”), and receive a yeshua in the merit of Rashbi. (Hilula D’Rashbi)

Similarly, Mesechta Pesachim (51b) says one can rely on Rashbi, if you’re in front of him or if you’re not in front of him. This alludes that one can receive a yeshua on his Yom Hilula “in front of him”, praying by his tzion, or “not in front of him”, meaning, any other place you may be on Lag BaOmer. (Kol Aryeh)

R' Avrohom of Kalisk would say, when he went to the mikvah on Lag BaOmer morning, that he accepts upon himself the kedushah of Yom Tov.

R’ Chaim Elazar of Munkach points out an allusion from the second mishna in Rosh Hashona. It says on Rosh Hashana all the people pass by Hashem “kibnei maron”. This can be read as on Rosh Hashana, passes by Hashem, the merits of all the people mibichinas Meron, where Rashbi and his son, Rebbi Elazar, are buried. Through this merit the world continues, as it says, the tzadik is the foundation of the world. (Shaar Yisaschor)

It is brought down that Lag BaOmer is also a day of salvation for everything. (Shaar Yisaschor)

The light of Kabalas HaTorah starts on Lag BaOmer, therefore, the most important part of the day is Torah. (Bnei Yisaschor) It is especially good to learn the story of Rashbi starting on Shabbos daf 33b (That is daf "lag"), or other Gemaras with Rashbi.

R’ Yaakov of Husyatin says that it is a day to pray for material and spiritual things, because this is the day the mon started to fall, opening up a pipe of parnasa, not just for that generation, but for all generations after. Each and every year there is a renewal of the light of this great and holy day.

Sfas Emes heard from his grandfather, the Chidushei HaRim, that on Lag BaOmer one can merit Yiras Hashem.

R’ Yehoshua of Kaminka said the following to the Divrei Yechezkel of Shiniva: Lag BaOmer is the “aspect” of Yom Kippur, because on Yom Kippur the avodah could only be done by Ahron, who was the aspect of hod. So too, Lag BaOmer, which is hod sheb’hod, one is able to receive good yeshuas, just like on Yom Kippur.

There is a custom to light bonfires in honor of Rashbi. The souls of all the tzadikim are there when the fire is lit.

R’ Avrohom Yaakov of Sadiger says tens of thousands of neshomas get tikunim from the lighting of bonfires in honor of Rashbi.

R’ Moshe Mordechai of Lelov says just saying over the name of the city, Miron, where Rashbi is buried, can bring yeshuas. This can be learned from the mishna in Yoma 3:1 which says they asked if the sky was lit up till Chevron. The Yerushalmi and Rav Ovadiah Bartenura explain Chevron is mentioned to bring about Zchus Avos, since the Avos are buried in Chevron. Similar to this, the Sadigerer said just saying the name of the city, Berdichev, brings rachamim from heaven, since R' Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev was always defending Klal Yisroel.

The Kedushas Zion of Bobov HY”D, in a letter told someone who wanted a child to donate Chai Rotel Mashke (about 54 liters of drink) for the people in Miron, in honor of Rashbi. (Taamei Minhagim) This is also done as a segula for many different things. See Tzidkas Rashbi to participate and send a kvitel. They have a video you can watch of Lag BaOmer in Miron and Chai Rotel in action.

There is a custom to put olive oil in the fire and to burn clothes in the fire. The Rizhiner used to send silk garments to Miron to be burnt in the bonfire. Tzadikim of Eretz Yisroel say this is a segula for success, materially and spiritually.

Reb Mendel of Rimanov says that the reason we use Bows and Arrows is because no rainbows were seen while Rashbi was alive and the bow symbolizes the rainbow. (Bnei Yisaschor)

A segula for one to have a boy is to shoot a bow and arrow on Lag BaOmer. (Sefer HaMidos) This is alluded from a posuk in Divrei HaYomim 1 8:40 וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי-אוּלָם אֲנָשִׁים גִּבּוֹרֵי-חַיִל דֹּרְכֵי קֶשֶׁת וּמַרְבִּים בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, shooters of bows (archers), and had many sons, and sons' sons. (Tcheriner Rov)

There is a minhag to cut a boys hair for the first time, if he is near the age of 3. There are many different customs related to this. See Nitei Gavriel who has a very thorough volume dedicated to this, listing every imaginable minhag of Upsherin.

Zohar & Tikunei Zohar

Many tzadikim say one should read Zohar or Tikunei Zohar, even if you don’t understand anything, because it is beneficial to the neshama. (This applies any day, but more so on Lag BaOmer) Among those that said this or similar statements to this are: Chida, R’ Yaakov Koppel, Degel Machane Ephraim, Shearis Yisroel, Komarna, Pela Yoetz, R’ Moshe of Kobrin, Shomrei Emunim and others.

R’ Pinchas of Koritz says reading Zohar is good for parnasa.

Many tzadikim say to read Tikunei Zohar, especially, from the beginning of Elul until Yom Kippur. (Sichos HaRan, Mateh Ephraim)

See A Simple Jew for Shem Mishmuel on Lag Baomer.

Segulas Of Shnayim Mikrah V'Echod Targum

1) One who reads the week's parsha - shnayim mikrah v'echod targum, in a timely manner (finishing before the Shabbos day meal), will have his days and years lengthened. (Berachos 8a-b, Orach Chaim 285 and many commentators)

2) Doing this specifically on Friday is a segula to be able to connect one's thoughts to his words in his davening on Shabbos. (Bas Ayin)

3) It is said over from tzadikim that reading the parsha - shnayim mikrah v'echod targum is connected to parnasa, therefore, if one does it without any interruption he will have parnasa without interruption.

4) It is accepted among Chabad Chasidim to learn every day Chumash and Rashi from that week's parsha. The Rebbe's of Chabad say that reading the parsha twice and targum once is halacha. Rashi, however, is for Yiras Shomayim since the Shulchan Aruch says "Yirei Shomayim read targum and Rashi, meaning, Rashi is a segula for Yiras Shomayim. (Segulas HaBeShT)

More Segulas From Mishnayos

Segulas From Learning Gemara & Mishnayos can be found here. Here are a few additional segulas related to Mishnayos:

1) At the end of the night, the Arizal says that the best thing to learn is Mishna because it is good for the neshama since both words have the same letters. (Ba'er Heitiv 1:6, Siddur Arizal of Reb Yaakov Koppel, Mishna Berura 1:3)

2) The Chida says that Asher the son of Yaakov Avinu stays by the entrance to Gehenom and saves those people who learnt Mishnayos. This is why the posuk says מֵאָשֵׁר שְׁמֵנָה לַחְמוֹ the word שמנה has the same exact letters as משנה. (Avodas Hakodesh -Moreh Be'etzba)

3) Someone once saw the Tzvi LaTzadik, the first Bluzhever Rebbe, walking around the room saying Mishnayos "Baal Peh", in the manner of little schoolchildren in those days. The Rebbe sensed that this person found this strange and said to him that when the Malach Hamoves comes for someone they have a terrible pachad (fear), however, one who knows 10 Mishnayos by heart does not have to worry about this pachad. A short time later the Rebbe passed away.

Tefilas & Segulas From Tazria-Metzora

As a segula to be able to raise one’s children properly, on day 41 after one has a boy or day 81 after a girl (Segulas Yisroel, Derech Pekudecha, Tevuas Shor)or day 40 and 80(Keser Nehora –Berdichiver Siddur P.31) she or her husband should read the first 8 pesukim of Parshas Tazria (Chapter12:1-8) Keser Nehora –Berdichiver Siddur says this should be said only if the woman already went to the mikva, after childbirth, otherwise she should wait till after going to say it. After, one should say the following tefila: Ribon Ha’olomim, Yehi rotzon Milfonecha A-donai E-loheinu veloH-ei avoseinu shetehei amirah zu choshuv umikubol Lefonecha ki’ilu hikravti korban yoledes.

According to Keser Nehora –Berdichiver Siddur P. 31, on the day after a nidah goes to the mikvah, she or her husband should read from the last 9 pesukim of Parshas Metzora (Chapter 25-33), about a zavah (which she may have been) and then say the following: Ribon Ha’olomim, Yehi rotzon Milfonecha A-donai E-loheinu veloH-ei avoseinu she’im(because it’s a sofeik whether or not the woman was a zivah)) ani michuyeves bikorban zavah yechoshev lifonecha kriosi zeh ki’ilu hikravti korban zavah. (If the man says it, then the wording should be adjusted.)

See here for a comprehensive list of segulas from pregnancy through after childbirth, from the forthcoming book, 9 Spiritual Months: A Treasury of Jewish Insights for Pregnancy, Birth, & beyond.

Iyar - Month Of Refuah - Segulas For Refuah & Sefiras HaOmer

(Will update if possible)

The letters of אייר stand for many different things. Here are a few:

א׳ני י׳י׳ ר׳ופאך

א׳ברהם י׳צחק י׳עקב ר׳בקה (בני יששכר) - One of the reasons why we learn Pirkei Avos during this period.

(ליקותי מוהר׳ן) אֹ׳יְבָי יָ׳שֻׁבו י׳ֵבֹשׁוּ רָ׳גַע - Interestingly enough Reb Nachman connects this posuk, from Tehilim 6, with a posuk from Tehilim 67, which is connected to Sefiras HaOmer.

Since Iyar is associated with healing we will list some segulas for refuah, in addition to other segulas associated with sefiras haomer.

Reb Pinchos of Koritz says that he rains that falls between Pesach and Shevuos is a great refuah for diseases that have no cure, rachmana litzlon. One should let the rain fall on their head and open their mouth to let the rain go straight in (some places say to the right side of the mouth). We are not sure whether he means one should swallow the water or not.

It is brought down in Tefilos HaMarshal quoting Rashi Yoshon that one should say the tefilah of Chizkiyahu, which he received from shomayim. This consists of Yeshaya 38:9-20. It was revealed to him that a sick person or someone who is in a time of suffering should read it and he will be saved from all harsh judgments.

The following is from Breslov Weekday Customs (P.62):

The Rebbe states that in "Vayevarekh Dovid," when one recites the phrase "u-tzeva'ahhashomayim Lekha mishtachavim . . . The heavenly hosts prostrate themselves unto You" (Nechemiah 9:6), it is a favorable time for one to add a personal prayer. According to Kitzur Likkutei Moharan I, 231: "[At this moment] one may pray for everything, for then all the angels prostrate themselves and render homage to G-d, may He be blessed. Therefore, it is good to entreat that HaShem command them to transmit whatever one needs. For example, if one needs healing, one should meditate that HaShem command [the angels] to invest the spiritual powers of healing into one's bread and water, etc."

Reb Chaim Vital says that the days of Sefiras Omer are mesugal for Tikun HaBris (Bnei Yisaschar)

It is brought down from many of the sforim hakedoshim that one should say Tehilim 67, in the form of a menorah. (If you have it written on parchment it is even better). It is mesugal for many things. It is also brought down that one should say it after the Kohanim say Birchas Kohanim (in places where they do this) or while the shliach tzibur is saying Birchas Kohanim.

Lag BaOmer has many segulas associated with it. There will be a separate post for Lag BaOmer. If you are interested in the segula of Chai Rotel see one of the links below.

http://www.rashbimeron.org/chairotel.php

http://www.baryochai.com/chai_rotel.html

A Simple Jew: Guest Posting By A Talmid - Shlissel Challah

This is the first in a series about segulas connected to the days of Sefiras HaOmer.

Chag Sameach V'Kosher To All

Segulas For Pesach Updated Erev Pesach - Don't forget to read the letter of Reb Shimshon Ostropolier, Erev Pesach, available in Hebrew and English. For more on this see Segulas For Pesach. Note: If you miss it Erev Pesach it is good to say it any other time also.

Segula To Protect From Chometz

Matzos - Tzedaka Saves From Death

Segula To Protect From Chometz

The following is the most unused (but best) method of chometz prevention:

I was saying Likutei Tefilos and came across the passage below. This is a good way to accomplish the first thing written in Segulas For Pesach, and it is perhaps the biggest segula to keep us away from chometz. After all the cleaning, preparations and chumros one may have to keep themselves from chometz on Pesash I realized that the on thing that most people don’t do is ask Hashem to protect them from chometz. We can only do so much and we need to ask Hashem for His help. When was the last time you heard someone do this? That’s the beauty of Likutei Tefilos, there are tefilos for every occasion, and if there isn’t one that you can find, Reb Nachman taught to open your mouth and daven in your own words for any and everything you need – nothing is too big or small to ask Hashem for. The tefila below can be found here on page 26. Other tefilos for Pesach are from page 25 and on.

“And help us, save us and protect us, with Your abundant compassion, from the slightest trace of chometz or leaven, so that we should not find, in our boundaries or in our domains, the slightest of the slightest amount of leaven or chometz, all the days of Pesach. For it is revealed and known before You, Master of the entire world, that it isn’t possible for flesh and blood themselves to be watchful from the slightest trace of chometz, if not through Your salvation and compassion.”

(Likutei Tefilos 2:37)

Segulas For Pesach

The Arizal says one who stays completely away from the slightest amount of chometz the whole Pesach is assured they won’t sin a whole year. (Chometz is an allusion to the sitra acher. It is brought down from Reb Chaim Vital that any aveira one does on Pesach is worse than if done the rest of the year. We could assume that the reward for staying away from sin is also greater than the rest of the year. Putting these together, perhaps what the Arizal means is, if one stays away from the sitra acher, not sinning at all on Pesach (including not eating any chometz), then he has this assurance.)

Reb Naftali of Ropshitz in Zera Kodesh says that Pesach is a segula for parnasa since on Pesach the crops are judged. The Chidushei Harim says the same thing and adds another reason; because earning a living is considered as difficult as Krias Yam Suf, the splitting of the sea, which occurred on Pesach.

Erev Pesach

It is a good to burn arovos leftover from Hoshana Rabbah (though some aravos should be kept as a shmira) together with the chometz. This destroys “evil forces”. (Kav Naki to Kav Hayosher, based on Yesod Yosef)

There is a segula from Reb Shimson Ostropolier ZY”A (great-grandfather of Toldos Yaakov Yosef & R’ Lieber of Berdichev) to read a fascinating letter he wrote on the Arizal’s sefer about the 10 plagues of Egypt. The best time to read it is Erev Pesach in the afternoon, after reciting the order of the Korban Pesach (found in most siddurim & machzorim). He writes at the end that anyone who studies this, even once a year, especially Erev Pesach, will be saved from calamities for the year and you will have success in all your endeavors. Here is a link to this letter translated into English and here it is in the original Hebrew. Many hagadas have this letter printed. There are miraculous stories of people who read this and were saved during the holocoust.

Seder Night

Reb Nachman of Breslov says that a kezayis of maror on Pesach is a segula for parnasa. (Sefer Hamidos) Reb Nachman of Tcherin explains this is because it says in Masechta Eruvin that the dove sent by Noach said: “Ribbono Shel Olam yehiyu mezonosai marorem kezyais beYodecha” – “Master of the universe may my food be as bitter as an olive but dependent on You” (rather then sweet as honey but dependent on flesh and blood).

The Kav Hayoshor says that matza is a shmira like a mezuzah. There is a minhag to save a piece of the afikomen as a segula for shmira. The Orchas Chaim says that it protects from robbers and from “bad forces” because MaTzaH stands for M’kol T’zarah H’atzileinu (from all suffering save us), and it is even better if you save a piece from the matza that you recited 2 brochos on by Motzei Matzah.

Before the Mah Nishtanah it says in the hagada (and this is also what it says in Talmud Yerushalmi)“v’kan haben shoel”. This can be read as: “and here ask for a son”. This is a time that is mesugal for someone who has no children or only daughters to ask Hashem for a son, so that he can fulfill the mitzvah of “v’higadita l’bincha”, telling over to your son the story of the Hagada.

It is brought down in Sifrei Chasidus that the seder night is mesugal to speak to children about the Hagada and emunah even if they are little babies, since it goes into their neshama.

Meor V'Shemesh says that the eating of matzah on Pesach protects the neshama from being damaged by chometz during the year.

Shabbos After Pesach

It is a segula for parnasa to bake shlisel (key) challah for this Shabbos. The Ohev Yisroel explains one of the reasons is because it’s Shabbos Mevarchim Iyar, and Iyar is when the mon started to fall. There are customs as to how this is done including putting a key into the challah before baking, making the challah in the shape of a key, making a key out of dough and placing it on the challah or putting sesame seeds on the challah in the shape of a key. Reb Pinchos of Koritz says to make the challah flat to look like matzos. There will be a separate post about shlissel challah after Pesach. Here is that posting.