Today we will share some Segulot from Rav Chaim Pilaggi. Rav Chaim Pilaggi was the Chief rabbi of Izmir. He wrote close to 100 Sefarim, lived to the age of 93, lived through a cholera epidemic and has much experience and much Torah.
The Pele Yoetz writes that the concept of a segulah is that it’s not “the regular”. A mashal would be the use of conventional vs unconventional medicines.
Conventional medicine says that if someone has a cold, they take Tylenol. But others might say to have chicken soup. We don’t know exactly how it works, but it does.
In spirituality, he says, there is a similar concept. Of course,
we have to learn every day, and pray every day, and do kindness and keep mitzvot. But certain things are like salves. They are like herbs of sorts, that somehow work.
For example, I drink licorice tea, because they say it’s good for the upper respiratory system. We try these things.
There are things like this in spirituality as well and they are called Segulot.
We will go though some of these Segulot from Rav Chaim Pilaggi, which are taken from a soon-to be-published pamphlet by the Magen Abraham series. Eddie Betesh, may G-d bless him, and his son in law Rabbi Debbah are working overtime to produce these materials. They have already printed up a beautiful Ketoret pamphlet, and now they are working on these Segulot.
On Page 21, there is an excerpt from Rav Chaim Pilaggi’s Sefer Ateret Chaim, chapter 52
1- When a person finds himself in a crisis, he should focus on the fact that the word for crisis צרה- can be rearranged to spell רצה, which means favorable.
We have to believe that G-d can turn everything around.
The Kabbalists tell us that there are many words that can have both negative and positive connotations, depending on the way the letters are arranged. For example,
The word Oneg ענג means delight, and נגע means plague. The word פשע means sin whereas שפע means bounty. So too, as we said צרה is crisis, whereas רצה is to be favorable. G-d can turn everything around in a moment.
He says to read the following pesukim and believe them:
למען שמך ה׳ תחיני, בצדקתך תוציא מצרה נפשי ועת צרה היא ליעקב וממנה יושע
G-d, for Your sake, give me life,
Through your righteousness, save me from this crisis, this crisis of the people of Yaakov,
God should want to save me, save me fast.
So firstly, we must believe that G-d can turn Tzarah, crisis, into Retzeh, something favorable.
2- During this crisis, accept upon yourself that when Hashem saves you, you will say Nishmat in Hallel, with a minyan of 10 men.
We should all accept upon ourselves that when we get out of this quarantine, we will to shul, open the hechal and sing Nishmat until the words Yishtabach.
We will thank G-d. Study Nishmat now to prepare for that day.
3- Say the words אלהא דמאיר עניני two times
Elokai De’Meir Aneni
Elokai De’Meir Aneni
The G-d of Meir should save me.
What does this mean?
One explanation is that Rabbi Meir, known as Rebbi Meir Baal HaNess ( the overseer of Miracles) once said these words to save himself.
Throughout the ages, our community has always given money in times of crisis in the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal HaBess.
But why does he say, “The G-d of Meir should save me”? That sounds a little presumptuous.
And furthermore , why don’t we say “The G-d of Rabbi Meir should save me.” Why are we just calling him Meir?
One explanation is that when he said “ G-d of Meir” he wasn’t referring to himself, he was referring to “the G-d who brings light” G-d is light. He shines on the world.
The story is that Rebbi Meir was telling a gentile man to say those words to be saved. He didn’t mean himself.
Others say that “Meir” is referring to the light of Chanukah. Just like G-d made a miracle for Hanukkah, He can make a miracle for us today.
So these are thoughts to have in mind when we say it.
1-Simply, May the G-d of Meir save me
2- May G-d, who brings light, and the sun to shine outside, and is definitely involved in our lives, save me
3- May Hashem make miracles like in the times of Chanukah.
4- Give money to charity. Every day that we are in this crisis, we should be taking out four coins (such as quarters), and put them in the Sedaka box. At the end of this crisis, add up the money and write a check either to Tiberius or other Torah scholars learning, in the merit of Rebbi Meir Baal Ha Ness.
This is important.
We have many sick people in our community. Please see the link attached or at Itorah for a list of names to pray for.
Additionally, and specifically, there are a few people whom I know personally who need our tehilim. Three are on respirators, lo Alenu, and their lives are in danger:
-Rami Rachamim Ben Shoshana- The rabbi in our synagogue
-Shelomo Ben Shoshana a great man of our community, Mr Stanley Chera,
-Chana Bat Leah, (her name hasn’t been announced)
Also, Freddy Harary (didn’t yet get his Hebrew name)
They and everyone should have an immediate Refuah Shelemah. We should have them in mind in our prayers.
We have to be positive. The first man that got sick in New Rochelle came out of the coma and is off the respirator, talking to his wife.
We have to believe these people will get better. But we have to do something.
I mentioned the minimum of four quarters but it can be four dollars or four thousand. Whatever you can afford. Add up the money and give to charity.
Aharon Ben Leah
Amin Ben Chana ...
please have them in mind.
Do this everyday. We are home anyway. Let’s say some extra tehilim.
5-
Say the following words:
“Resolve with all your heart and soul to know My ways
(Hashem is saying to dedicate ourselves to know Him.)
Linger at the doors of my Torah
(Stay in places of Torah)
Guard My Torah in your heart.
Let awe of Me be before your eyes
(G-d is asking us to Dedicate ourselves to religion.)
I will be with you in every place- that’s what Rabbi Meir says, says Rav Chaim Pilaggi . And he says that when we say these things in the merit of Rebbi Meir, even if we aren’t there yet, if we try to dedicate ourselves more to religion, then G-d tells us He’ll be with us in every place, and protect us. We get credited as if we did it.
So we have to say to ourselves,
“I’m going to try to dedicate myself more to religion, and I believe that G-d will be with me, and be with those that need Him.”
6- dedicate yourself and believe
אין עד מלבדו
En Od Milvado
There is noOne else but Him
G-d is in charge of everything. Nothing else exists but Him
7- Say Akedat Yitzhak and the Ketoret (both in Shaharit) with Kavana/ concentration
Rav Pilaggi says Hashem, in His great mercy, will save the person from all his troubles and grant him a good and peaceful life. Amen.
We beg of everyone to please take these things seriously. We really need Yeshuot/salvations now.
We can and will make a difference with what we are doing.