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)
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.
Reb Sholom of Belz says that whoever learns and completes Rashi on the Parsha each week is assured that he will be able to sit in the Mesivta of Rashi in Olam Habah.
The Rebbe of Pinsk-Karlin told over the following story:
There were a group of students traveling to Meron, and they flipped over, causing the death of 3 of them, R’L. The chavrusa of one of these students was extremely saddened by the death of his dear friend. One night this dead friend came to him in a dream and said: “Don’t be sorrowful. Remember how we used to learn chumash and Rashi, every week, with great diligence. Now, when I came to the Upper World, they judged that I should be admitted into the chamber of Rashi in Gan Eden, and therefore there is no need for you to be in sorrow”.
(Segulas HaBesht V'Talmidov)
R' Yosef Meir ben R' Shmuel Weiss, First Spinka Rebbe, Imrei Yosef (1909)
Talmid of the Sar Sholom of Belz, Divrei Chaim, Tzemach Tzadik of
Vizhnitz and R' Yitzchok Aizik of Zhidichov
R' Dov Berish Zeitlyn of Vilna (1920)
R' Yaakov Chaim Ben R' Yisroel Perlow, Stoliner Rebbe, was Rebbe in Detroit
(1946)
R' Menachem Mendel ben R' Avrohom Sholom Halberstam, Stropkover Rebbe (1955)
May I merit, with Your abundant mercy, to judge every person favorably, always. And even when I see a real rasha, I will search and query until I find there also good points, until I merit judging him favorably and bringing him over to the side of merit, truthfully, and returning him in complete teshuva, in truth, through this.
(Likutei Tefilos 90, based on Likutei Mohoran 282 (Azamra)
Reb Shayalay Kerestirer, Reb Yeshaya ben Reb Moshe Shteiner (1925) Talmid of
the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and the Ach Pri Tevua of Liska. Was known for the
yeshuas he helped bring. His picture is one of the most poular ones around -
it is known as a segula to keep mice away.
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.)
(Will update if possible)
The letters of אייר stand for many different things. Here are a few:
(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.
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."
We just went through the Yom Tov of Pesach. Seforim bring down that the letters of פרעה spell פה רע, bad mouth and that פסח means פה סח, the mouth speaks. From Pesach we learn that not only do we need to watch what goes into our mouth, but we also need to watch what comes out of our mouth. We are also now in the days of sefira, which is a time when we try to work on our interpersonal relationships. Therefore, now is an opportune time to start some sort of study of the laws of loshon hora, for those that aren’t already doing it. Just learning the laws is bound to have a least some effect on each person. You can get the sefer Chofetz Chaim (available in English) or there is also available, in English, the laws of loshon hora in a lesson a day format. See here for information on this, free telephone classes and for other ways of learning the laws of loshon hora. Learning the laws of loshon hora is a great zchus for everyone, and as the sforim teach us - when we judge others favorably then Hashem judges us favorably.
R' Yaakov Berav (1546)
R' Yaakov Emden ben R' Tzvi Hersh, the Yaavetz, son of the Chacham Tzvi (1776)I recently wrote a guest post for A Simple Jew about Shlisel Challah. In my research I came across many different reasons for this. (I already have enough material for next years post.) After all this, I think I finally have some idea what Shllisel Challah and other such segulas are all about. When I made and ate the challahs this year I thought about the reasons I had read about. These are a few of the thoughts I had:
1) I thought about how Hashem provides all parnasa and it comes only because He wills it. Just like he provided the mon he provides for everything. It has nothing to do with my business decisions, no matter how brilliant they seem, but only because Hashem wills it.
2) I thought about what the Yismach Yisroel says (reason #6); how the key alludes to Yiras Hashem, which we should have received from the matzos on Pesach. I thought about how I need to work on my Yiras Hashem so that the Torah will stay attached to me.
3) I thought about the word מפתח, key, representing the Rambam’s 8 mitzvos of Chometz U’Matza(reason #7) and how those mitzvos that separate us from chometz teach us that we need to separate from the real chometz, the yetzer hara, all year round.
4) I thought about conquering the yetzer hara with the yetzer tov and trying to use the days of sefira to work on my Avodas Hashem. (reasons 3& 9)
Those are just a few of the thought I had this past Shabbos; a full blown Mussar schmooze about emunah, bitachon and Avodas Hashem, from challah. Now, is that anything a religious Jew should make fun of?
That, I feel, is at least part of what tzadikim had in mind when they spoke about Shlisel Challah. It’s like hanging up a note in front of you as a reminder to work on bitachon, Yiras Shomayim and so on. Would anyone Rov object to someone leaving reminders for himself to work on himself? Coming out of Pesach, which is all about emunah, tzadikim wanted us to continue to work on our emunah and bitachon after Pesach. They wanted to remind us, just like a post-it note, of the things we need to work on. Instead of a post-it, we make the challahs differently as our reminder. I am not telling everyone that they need to make shlissel challah, but, even if it is not ones custom, is it not beneficial to make shlisel challah if it will do this for you?
If, however, one laughs and makes fun of a segula and says: “I’ll do it anyway - it can’t hurt”, then, perhaps, that is no different than a good luck charm, such as a rabbit’s foot, which is forbidden (besides the aveira of making fun of tzadikim and Minhag Yisroel). For those that do it without the knowledge of what it’s all about (though ideally they should learn the reasons), but don’t make fun of it and believe that the tzadikim had reasons for this, then through their emunas chachomim they can rely on the segula.
These are just some of my thoughts from this past Shabbos, which I learnt from some challah. Instead of sitting down to some challah like any other Shabbos, I sat there and thought: “Why are these challos different?” And I reminded myself again of all the important lessons of the shlisel challah. In every part of our lives we need reminders of how to work on ourselves and serve Hashem.
R’ Shabsei Sheftel Halevi Horowitz, son of the Shlah Hakadosh, R’ Yeshayah
R’ Shem Klingberg HY”D ben R’ Avrohom Mordechai, the Zaloshytzer Rebbe of
R’ Yichiyeh ben Yosef Tzalach, the Maharitz, founder of the Yeminite Baladi community and Dayan in Sanaa (1805).
R’ Yehoshua of Ostrova ben R’ Shlomo Yehuda Leib (1873), author of Toldos Adam, talmid of R’ Moshe of Kobrin (whose yahrzeit is tomorrow)
R’ Aaron ben R’ Yitzchok Menashe Hakohen Rosenfeld, Pinsk-Karliner Rebbe (2001)
R' Yeshayahu Asher Zelig Margulies, famous Yerushalayimer mekubal, author of
Kumi V'Roni
R' Levi Yitzchak Greenwald, Tzelemer Rov (1980).
R' Avigdor ben Yisroel HaKohen Miller (2001)
R' Sholom Moshe Ungar, Nitra Rav of Mount Kisco, Holocaust rescue worker in
Slovakia together with his brother-in-law Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl
R' Moshe ben R' Yaakov Halberstam, moreh tzedek of Badatz Eida Hachareidis -
First Yahrzeit
R' Efraim Navon, Rov of Constantinople, and author of Machaneh Ephraim
(1735)
R' Nachman of Tulchin ben R' Avrohom, Talmid of R' Noson of Breslov
R' Moshe ben R' Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, Satmar Rebbe - First Yahrzeit
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
See here for information about the yahrzeits of tzadikim.
14 Nisan - R’ Avrohom Yaffen, Rosh Yeshiva, Novardok (1970)
14 Nisan - R’ Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz ben R’ Eliezer Lipman (1845), son-in-law and successor of R’ Naftali of Ropshitz
15 Nisan - Yitzchak Avinu (also Birthday)
15 Nisan - Yehuda ben Yaakov Avinu
15 Nisan - Iyov
15 Nisan - R’ Yona ben R’ Yeshaya Tumim, author of Kikayon L'Yona (1669)
16 Nisan - Levi ben Yaakov Avinu
16 Nisan - R’ Nosson Ordman, Rosh Yeshiva - Eitz Chaim, London (1996)
16 Nisan - R’ Simcha Zissel Broyde, Rosh Yeshiva - Chevron (2000)
17 Nisan - R’ Avrohom Reuven of Prague ben Hoshke Hakohen, Yalkut Reuveni (1673)
17 Nisan - R’ Meir Abuchatzeira of
17 Nisan – R’ Yisroel Noach of Niezhin ben R’ Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch
17 Nisan - R’ Moshe Mordechai ben R’ Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel, Kapishnitzer Rebbe (1975)
17 Nisan - R’ Shlomo ben Moshe Wolbe, Mashgiach,Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov – Wrote Sefer Alei Shur (2005)
18 Nisan - R’ Moishe Ellinson, R’ Ohel Torah Manchester
18 Nisan - R’ Meir Halevi, author of Yad Ramah (1244)
19 Nisan - R’ Yehoshua Falk ben R’ Alexander Hakohen, author of Me'iras Einayim and D'risha & P'risha on the Tur(1614)
19 Nisan - R’ Aharon Hagadol of Karlin ben R’ Yaakov “the Nistar”(1772)
19 Nisan - R’ Menachem ben R’ Elazar Ziemba of Warsaw hy"d (1943)
19 Nisan - R’ Shmuel Alexander Unsdorfer of Montreal-Petach Tikva (2002)
20 Nisan - R’ Hai bar Sherira Hagaon, Rosh Yeshivas Pompedisa. The last of
the gaonim of Pumpedisa (1038)
20 Nisan - R’ Yitzchak Chori, Dayan in Djerba
20 Nisan - R’ Yechezkel Panet of Karlsberg ben R’ Yosef, Wrote Mareh Yechezkel
(1845)
20 Nisan – R’ Yaakov of Moglonitza ben R’ Elimelech of Lizensk, was called Tzadik Nistar” 21 Nisan – R’ Shmuel Shapiro (1989), Ziknei Breslov
21 Nisan - R’ Shimon Yisroel Posen, the Shoproner Rebbe
22 Nisan - R’ Yehuda Rosenes, author of Mishna Lamelech (1727)
22 Nisan - R’ Yisroel Yitzchak of Vorki ben R’ Shimon “Baal Rachmonis” Kalisch, (1848) Tenth generation from the Levush
22 Nisan - R’ Moshe ben Yosef Mitrani, Mabit (some say the 23nd) (1585)
22 Nisan - R' Shimon "Caftan" Shlisgal, Gabbai Tzedaka who the Chofetz Chaim said was a hidden tzadik
24 Nisan - R’ Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel Weinberg, the Slonimer Rebbe of Tel
Aviv (1978)
24 Nisan - R’ Chaim Yitzchak Chaikin, Rosh Yeshiva of Aix-les-Baines
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)
