Segulot for Infertility from Rav Moshe Sternbuch

Infertility Is Not a Sentence.

It is known from Jewish tradition that the Jewish Matriarchs were infertile because G-d desired their prayers. One must pray to the Creator and understand that everything He does is for the best. Based on the advice of Rav Moshe Sternbuch, we have compiled a selection of segulot and prayers that have helped many couples have children. 1. All the mezuzot in the home should be checked, and men should have their tefillin checked; 2. The ketubah (marriage contract) should also be checked to ensure that the names are written correctly; 3. It is desirable that at least two Kohanim have this couple in mind during Birkat Kohanim, so that G-d will send them children; 4. Before the brit milah , the mohel (the person who performs the circumcision) and the sandek (the person who holds the baby on his lap during the brit) should mention the names of the childless couple; 5. The passage of Ketoret, which we recite at the beginning of the morning and afternoon prayers, should be read from parchment (one should obtain the Ketoret prayer written on parchment); 6. One should be even more diligent in performing the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (the mitzvah of hospitality); Hachnasat Orchim – Segulot 7. Before lighting the Shabbat candles, the woman should recite Hannah’s Prayer (the second part of the Book of Samuel, chapter 2, verses 1–10); Prayer of Hannah (Transliterated) 8. Before immersing in the mikveh, the woman should set aside tzedakah for those who study Torah and pray to the Creator. 9. The husband should undertake that, if a child is born, he will recite the prayer Nishmat Kol Chai with great kavanah; The “Nishmat Kol Chai” Prayer - Text with the Segula of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid 10. It is also very helpful for the woman to adopt greater stringency in tzniut (modesty), as written in the Zohar. In addition to the fact that a modestly dressed woman brings blessing to the home, this is especially helpful for the birth and upbringing of children; 11. If the man has problems with his sperm, he should sit in cold water for ten minutes before relations. It is also helpful to eat roasted garlic that evening (many people eat fish with garlic); 12. Both husband and wife should keep away from smokers—nicotine harms conception; 13. There is a tradition of boiling aravot (willow branches) that were raised on Sukkot in water and drinking the decoction, since the word ערבה «aravah» has the same gematria, 277, as the word זרע «zera» (seed). One should drink at least a revi'it (approximately 89 milliliters) and pray to G-d that He send children; 14. In the event of a miscarriage, before the Torah reading in the synagogue the husband should say: “Ve’atem hadvekim ba-Adonai Eloheichem chaim kulchem hayom” — (But you who cleave to G-d, your L-rd, are all alive today). It is also beneficial, in the event of a miscarriage, to recite Psalm 1; 15. A pregnant woman should be especially careful not to eat anything non-kosher. 16. According to the Arizal (may his merit protect us), one must be especially careful before and after Shabbat—to add to Shabbat rather than wait until the last moment to light the Shabbat candles, and after Shabbat not to begin working immediately, but to extend the rest of Shabbat; The Segula of Accepting Shabbat 10 Minutes Early 17. In cases of infertility, Psalms 102 and 103 are recited. Tehillim 102 and 103 for Conception 18. G-d said: “If you fulfill the mitzvah of sending away the mother bird, I swear that you will have children.” As it is written: “Send away the mother, and take the young for yourself” (Midrash Tanchuma). “Shiluach HaKen” — Sod Torah 19. The birth of healthy and strong children is connected with taharat ha-mishpachah—observance of the laws of family purity. One should pay special attention to these laws and observe them precisely; 20. To merit the birth of a son, one should fulfill the mitzvah of ahavat Yisrael—love for all Jews—with special care. According to Kabbalah, generating love in the spiritual realm is a segulah for generating life in the physical realm; 21. The book Ta’amei HaMinhagim cites Rabbi Chaim Vital as saying that a diamond interferes with conception and obstructs childbirth (it seals the womb);

Kavanot During the Prayer for Conception

— During the first 3 days after the prescribed marital relations, one asks that pregnancy occur—that the fertilized egg implant in its proper place in the uterine wall. — From 3 to 40 days of pregnancy, one may ask that the child be born of the desired sex, since this matter is decided precisely on the fortieth day. Late requests will not be considered. — From 40 days to 3 months, one asks that all the child’s organs form and develop properly, with everything in its proper place. — From 3 to 6 months, one asks that the pregnancy proceed safely and not end in miscarriage. — From 6 to 9 months, one asks that the child enter the world healthy and beautiful, and that the birth be easy and successful. Prayer Yehi ratzon milfanecha Adonai Elohai ve-Elohei avotai, Tzur ha-olamim, tzaddik bechol ha-dorot, lema'an Shimcha ha-gadol ha-ne'elam mi-pasuk: “Adonai zecharanu yevarech, yevarech et Beit Aharon,” shetiten li zera zachar ratzui ve-hagun ve-tov ve-yafeh, metukan u-mekubal ve-raui lihyot u-lehitkayem bli shum avon ve-ashmah. Ve-titen li zera anashim u-tevarech bless me in Your Name, u-tevarech et beiti be-zichrecha, ve-eda ki shalom be-oholi. Ve-tashpia bo nefesh ve-ruach u-neshamah mi-makhsav tahor. U-tekhonen kol hachanotav kedei lehashlimo u-lekaymo u-leha'amido be-no'am u-ve-chen u-ve-chesed u-ve-rachamim, be-kavriut, be-ometz u-ve-tokef u-vi-gvurah. U-terachem alav be-asoto, be-yitzro et evarav. Ve-tatzigehu al boryo be-nafsho u-ve-rucho u-ve-nishmato, bi-kherav u-ve-yitzurav. Ve-lo yihyeh be-echad me-evarav lo nezek ve-lo chisaron, lo nega ve-lo choli. Ve-lo yechsar lo kol tuv kol yemei chayav. Ve-yivaled be-mazal tov u-ve-sha'ah tovah u-vracha ve-hatzlachah. Ve-yihyeh chayim tovim va'arukim u-leshalom, bein be-ruchaniyut bein be-gashmiyut, be-osher ve-osher ve-khavod bichlal amcha Yisrael. U-tevarech oti ve-et zeri ve-zera zeri be-chol davar ha-mashlim da'atenu u-sechleinu ve-hasagateinu la'asot retzonecha. U-tevarech oti be-virchot shamayim me-al u-ve-virchot tehom rovetzet tachat birchot shadayim va-racham. Ana Adonai Tzevaot Elohei Yisrael yoshev ha-keruvim, tihyenah oznecha קשובות לקול תחנוניי, hashkifah mi-me'on kodshecha alai, hashkifah letovah ve-natata li zera anashim, mushpa be-neshamah kedoshah, ve-yihyeh oseik ba-Torah u-mekayem mitzvot. U-mi-birchot picha tevarech oti vi-varech beit avdecha im kol Beit Yisrael le-olam. Shema tefilati Adonai, ve-shavati ha'azinah. Ve-kayem bi kavanat yetzirat'ha ha-adam ba-olamcha, ki la-shevet otah Atah berata, ve-Atah yetzarta. Ve-natata li zera anashim kadosh ve-tahor be-neshamah chadashah, kedoshah u-tehorah min ha-otzar tavo, medubak be-nishmot kedoshei elyonim. Ve-atem neshamot ha-kedoshim asher heyitem ba-olam ha-zeh, chalu na penei El lemalot she'elati le-tovah, bi-zchutechem u-vi-zchut asher ani mit'aveh leha'amid ben zariz u-memuleh ba-Torah ve-hagun li-nevi'ut. Shema koli Adonai Elohim ve-kabel be-rachamim u-ve-ratzon et tefilati (and if one is near the graves of tzadikim, add: bi-zchut ha-tzadikim atmunim poh), ve-al teshiveini reikam mi-lefanecha u-temale she'elati le-tovah, va-agadlenu le-yirat Adonai kol ha-yamim ad olam, u-ve-nav banav be-kerev Yisrael, amen. Translation: May it be Your will, Ha-Shem, my G-d and the G-d of my fathers, Foundation of all worlds, righteous throughout all generations! For the sake of Your great, concealed Name, from the verse: “Ha-Shem has remembered us; He will bless us; He will bless the House of Aaron,” grant me a desired son—worthy, good, and beautiful, without physical or spiritual deficiencies, able to live and endure without any sin or transgression. Grant me a child, bless me with Your Name, bless my home with Your remembrance, and let me know peace in my dwelling. Direct into the embryo a soul—nefesh, ruach, and neshamah—from a pure source. Complete all the preparations needed to perfect him, sustain him, and bring him into the world well-formed, with grace, favor, and mercy, healthy, courageous, sturdy, and strong; and have mercy on him as You create him and form his limbs. Present him as complete in spirit, soul, internal organs, and bodily structure. May there be no defect, deficiency, ailment, or illness in any part of his body. May he lack nothing throughout all his days. May he be born at the proper time and in a favorable hour, safely and successfully. May he have a good, long, and peaceful life, spiritually and materially, in wealth, happiness, and honor, together with all Your people Israel. Bless me, my descendants, and my descendants’ children with everything that perfects our awareness, understanding, and comprehension, so that we may fulfill Your will. Bless me with the blessings of Heaven above and the blessings of the waters that fill the depths; bless my breasts and my womb. Please, G-d of Hosts, G-d of Israel, Who dwells among the cherubim, let Your ears attend to the voice of my supplications. Look upon me favorably from Your holy abode and grant me a child with a holy soul, who will be occupied with Torah and the fulfillment of mitzvot. Bless me with the blessing of Your lips, and may the house of Your maidservant be blessed forever, together with all the people of Israel. Hear my prayer, Ha-Shem, and heed my plea. Fulfill in me the purpose for which You created man in Your universe, for You created man to populate the earth. Grant me a child—holy and pure, with a new, holy, and pure soul descended from the treasury of souls, united with the souls of the holy tzadikim. And you, holy souls who lived in this world, please beseech G-d to fulfill my request for the good, in your merit and in the merit of my fervent desire to raise a son—swift, filled with Torah, and worthy of becoming a prophet. Hear my voice, Ha-Shem, my G-d, and accept my prayer with mercy and favor (and if one is near the graves of tzadikim, add: and in the merit of the tzadikim buried here). Do not send me away empty-handed from Your presence; fulfill my request for the good, and I will raise my son in the fear of G-d all his days, and his sons after him, among the people of Israel. Amen.

Hannah’s Prayer

“Vatitpalel Hannah va-tomar, alatz libi ba-Adonai, ramah karni ba-Adonai, rachav pi al oyvai, ki samachti bishuatecha, ein kadosh ka-Adonai, ki ein biltecha ve-ein tzur ke-Eloheinu. Al tarbu tedabru gevohah gevohah, yetzei atak mi-pichem, ki El de'ot Adonai, ve-lo nitkenu alilot. Keshet giborim chatim ve-ha-nichshalim azru chayil. Sevi'im ba-lechem niskaru, u-re'evim חדלו, ad akarah yaldah shivah ve-rabat banim umlalah. Adonai memit u-mechayeh, morid Sheol va-ya'al. Adonai morish u-ma'ashir, mashpil af meromem. Mekim me-afar dal, me-ashpot yarim evyon le-hoshiv im nedivim, ve-kisei kavod yanchilem, ki la-Adonai metzukei aretz, ve-yashet aleihem tevel. Raglei chasidav yishmor, u-resha'im ba-choshech yidamu, ki lo be-choach yigbar ish. Adonai yichatu merivav, alav ba-shamayim yar'em, Adonai yadin afsei aretz, ve-yiten oz le-malko, ve-yarem keren meshicho. Translation “And Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart exults in the L-rd; my strength is raised up by the L-rd. My mouth is opened against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation. There is none as holy as the L-rd, for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our G-d. Do not multiply arrogant words; let insolent speech not come from your mouths, for the L-rd is a G-d of knowledge, and deeds are weighed by Him. The bows of the mighty are broken, while those who stumbled gird themselves with strength. Those who were well-fed must hire themselves out for bread, while those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren woman bears seven, while the mother of many languishes. The L-rd puts to death and gives life; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The L-rd impoverishes and makes rich; He humbles and also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the refuse, to seat them with princes and grant them a throne of honor. For the pillars of the earth belong to the L-rd, and He set the world upon them.’ Master of the Universe! Just as You heard Hannah’s prayer in her distress, so may You hear my prayer in my distress, which has now befallen me (personal request), and grant me sons who will be healthy and strong, occupy themselves with Your holy Torah, and cleave to You like the prophet Samuel, as it is said of him: ‘And the boy Samuel grew and was good both with the L-rd and with people.’ May no envy or hatred attach itself to them, and may they be protected from the evil eye. Grant me strength and health to raise them with ease and bring them to marriage, until the time when they can guard themselves from sin and cleave to You forever with clear and pure faith. May their descendants never be unfit. Grant me the merit of seeing grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Grant me and my husband long and happy years, and may our descendants and their descendants bring us only joy, always and forever, for all eternity. Amen!’   (Based on materials from the “Sila Tehilim” group on Odnoklassniki; the advice of Rav Moshe Sternbuch was also used—http://www.torahone.com/docs/childless.htm)