Segula (Kabbalah)
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- For the Israeli moshav, see Sgula.
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
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 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
File:Red String.jpg
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]
Other
- 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]
- Placing a pigeon on a person’s navel is efficacious for curing jaundice[2][20]
- Giving tzedaka in the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes is a segula for finding a lost object[21]
- Buying a new knife for Rosh Hashanah is a propitious remedy for livelihood[22]
- One can hang a special note around the neck of a chicken and use it to identify a thief[23]
References
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- ↑ 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..."
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- ↑ Rosner et al. (2000), pp. 59–62.
- ↑ Lev (2003), p. 81.
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