Segula (Kabbalah)

A segula (Hebrew: סגולה, pl. סגולות, segulot, "remedy" or "protection"[1]) is protective or benevolent charm or ritual in Kabbalistic and Talmudic tradition.[2][3]

## Contents

* 1 Etymology
* 2 List of segulot
* 2.1 Fertility and childbirth
* 2.2 Protection from harm
* 2.3 Marriage
* 2.4 Other
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## Etymology

The word segula appears in the Hebrew Bible in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6, where God refers to the Jewish nation as His segula (treasure). The root of this word, segol, is the name of a Hebrew vowel-point represented by three dots. According to the Ohr Hachaim, a segula is "a charm that supersedes logic".[4]

## List of segulot

Following is a list of popular or well-known segulot.

### Fertility and childbirth

* Distributing chai rotel (about 54 liters[5]) of drink at the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, Israel on Lag BaOmer is considered a propitious remedy for infertility, as well as for helping a person find his mate or recover from serious illness[6]
* Acting as kvatterin for a baby boy at his brit milah is a segula for childless couples to have children of their own[7]
* Eating an etrog or etrog jam facilitates an easy childbirth[8]
* Drinking from the waters of Ein Sataf in Israel prevents a breech birth[9]
* Wearing a ruby helps prevent miscarriage and eases birth. Ingesting ground up rubies enhances the chance of pregnancy.[10]

### Protection from harm

Wearing a red string

* Wearing a red string cut from a longer length that has been wound around Rachel's Tomb is an ancient tradition that protects the wearer from danger[11][12]
* Giving tzedaka (charity) money to a traveler to donate when he arrives at his destination helps protect the traveler from harm[13]
* Concentrating on the phrase Ein Od Milvado (Hebrew: אין עוד מלבדו, "There is none but Him [God]"[14]) shields a person from danger[15]

### Marriage

* Praying at the grave of Rabbi Jonathan ben Uzziel in Amuka, Israel is considered propitious for finding one’s mate within the coming year[16]
* Praying at the Western Wall for 40 consecutive days is considered a segula for finding one’s mate[17][18]
* Holding the jewelry of a bride while she is escorted to her chuppah is a segula for finding one’s own mate[19]

### Other

* Buying a burial plot is a segula for a long life[20]
* Placing a pigeon on a person’s navel is efficacious for curing jaundice[2][21]
* Giving tzedaka in the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes is a segula for finding a lost object[22]
* Buying a new knife for Rosh Hashanah is a propitious remedy for livelihood[23]
* One can hang a special note around the neck of a chicken and use it to identify a thief[24]

## References

1. ↑ Afilalo, Raphael (2006). Kabbalah Glossary: Clarification of terms and concepts of the Kabbalah. Kabbalah Editions. p. 251. ISBN 292324107X. https://books.google.com/books?id=gp7jySeW2HkC&pg=PA251&dq=segulah+kabbalah&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Vx9mT9aIOomg0QWr5r2GCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=segulah&f=false.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rosner, Fred; Bleich, J. David; Brayer, Menachem M. (2000). Jewish Bioethics. KTAV Publishing House. p. 59. ISBN 0881256625. https://books.google.com/books?id=AcJCO74_MUIC&pg=PA59&dq=segulah&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vRNmT5yYDYWq0QWjo8yrCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=segulah&f=false.
3. ↑ Finkelstein, Baruch; Finkelstein, Michal (2005). The Third Key: A Jewish couple's guide to fertility. Feldheim Publishers. p. 124. ISBN 1583303901. https://books.google.com/books?id=CJmHbcrpq_cC&pg=PA124&dq=segulah&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vRNmT5yYDYWq0QWjo8yrCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=segulah&f=false.
4. ↑ Chrysler, HaRav Eliezer. "Parshas Yisro: A Treasured Nation". shemayisrael.com. http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/chrysler/archives/yisro63.htm. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
5. ↑ Lebovits, Moishe Dovid. "Lag BaOmer". Halachically Speaking. p. 6. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:WnlBzF-0qXIJ:www.thehalacha.com/attach/Volume3/Issue16.pdf+chai+rotel&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgMsWA0AAfJgnA6sH5vMn6mb8MS_pxkHJeRfJEudDSfJ3_fyNxGHCu3-QJ2ncuEtt2heSqBML-AjWd3C6hKEm3BpA_rl_gbQTOJW-Umv0tCxA7jF1qMR6Lbbt1MBZhu8TOT7Rlb&sig=AHIEtbSdOrq3Cfhmi6D0qb-W1PAXBWYazA. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
6. ↑ Lev, Barukh ben David (2003). There Is No Such Thing As Coincidence: And other stories of Divine Providence. 2. Feldheim Publishers. pp. 45-46. ISBN 1583306153. https://books.google.com/books?id=sTFSN_rsREwC&pg=PA45&dq=segulah&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SxtmT874AuOQ0AW60ZmCCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=segulah&f=false.
7. ↑ Finman, Rabbi Herschel (2012). "What is the Function of the Kvatter?". Chabad.org. http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/569,2070064/What-is-the-function-of-the-kvatter.html. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
8. ↑ Weisberg, Chana (2004). Expecting Miracles: Finding meaning and spirituality in pregnancy through Judaism. Urim Publications. p. 134. ISBN 9657108519. https://books.google.com/books?id=cCWnRJg9S_IC&pg=PA134&dq=segulah&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sBhmT4OTGMeo0AWq8vWMCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=segulah&f=false.
9. ↑ Alpert, Yair (26 January 2010). "Rav Fischer’s Segulah Miraculously Works By Not Working - Saves Life of Baby". matzav.com. http://matzav.com/rav-fischers-segulah-miraculously-doesnt-work-saves-life-of-baby. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
10. ↑ Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher, commentary to Parshas Tetzaveh (Shmos 28:15) notes "...Reuven's stone was the ruby, a red stone, red like blood, and its Segulah is that any woman that carries [or wears] it will never miscarry a child. It is also said that it is beneficial for a woman who has a hard time giving birth [to have this stone].If this stone is ground up and added to food or drink [of a woman] it is extremely beneficial to help her become pregnant..."
11. ↑ Tannenbaum, Rabbi Gershon (10 February 2012). "The Red Strings of Kever Rochel". The Jewish Press. http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/community/my-machberes/my-machberes-11/2012/02/10/?print. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
12. ↑ Rossoff, Dovid (October 1997). "Tomb of Rachel". The Jewish Magazine. http://www.jewishmag.com/2mag/israel/israel.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
13. ↑ Epstein, Donneal (2000). Halachos for the Traveler. Feldheim Publishers. p. 4. ISBN 1583304398. https://books.google.com/books?id=fltQaoNFXX4C&pg=PA4&dq=segulah&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sBhmT4OTGMeo0AWq8vWMCA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=segulah&f=false.
14. ↑ "Devarim 4:35". http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0504.htm#35. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
15. ↑ Goldberger, Rabbi Moshe. "Learn the Secret: Discovering Hashem's constant presence in our lives". Targum Press. http://www.targum.com/excerpts/goldbergersecret.html. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
16. ↑ "The Mystical Power of Amuka". Hamodia. 18 June 2009. http://torahideals.com/2009/06/18/the-mystical-power-of-amuka/. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
17. ↑ Kiel, Dvora (2007). When the Time is Right: Manifestations of Divine Providence in everyday life. Feldheim Publishers. p. 486. ISBN 9657371295. https://books.google.com/books?id=peGw2sZVN5QC&pg=PA486.
18. ↑ "Origin of the 40 Days". westernwallprayers.org. 2012. http://westernwallprayers.org/aboutwwp/originofthe40days.html. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
19. ↑ "It's a Segulah". Jewish Treats. 25 February 2009. http://www.jewishtreats.org/2009/02/its-segulah.html. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
20. ↑ Moss, Aron. "Should I Buy a Burial Plot?". Chabad.org. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170629190120/http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3397762/jewish/Should-I-Buy-a-Burial-Plot.htm. Retrieved September 24, 2017. "<< The sages of the Midrash advise us to purchase a burial plot even while we are still alive and well.1 And it is commonly said that doing so will actually bless one with a long life >> (... where the footnote "1" lists many authoritative sources)."
21. ↑ Rosner et al. (2000), pp. 59-62.
22. ↑ Lev (2003), p. 81.
23. ↑ Danzinger, Rabbi Eliezer (2012). "Purchasing a New Knife for Rosh Hashanah". Chabad.org. http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/561075/jewish/Purchasing-a-New-Knife-for-Rosh-Hashanah.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
24. ↑ "Old Jewish Book Outlines how to Turn Copper into Gold". http://jewishnews.com/2015/09/27/old-jewish-book-outlines-how-to-turn-copper-into-gold/. Retrieved 2015-09-27.

## External links

* Segulos and Tefillos (Shidduchim)

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