The Book of the Prophet Jonah – A Segula for Wealth

The Sefer of the Prophet Jonah – A Segula for Wealth

We know that the most prestigious aliyah (for which an auction is held) is Maftir Jonah on Yom Kippur. It is believed that whoever is called to the Torah for Maftir Jonah will be wealthy that year. One of the Gedolim explained that simply reading the Sefer Jonah is a segula for parnassah, while being called to the Torah is only intended to draw attention to this book (just as the practice of drinking four cups with the matzah being covered and uncovered during Passover serves this purpose). A dispute between the two Talmuds (the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds) concerning the «Sefer Jonah» leads to the conclusion that a prophet cannot be poor—the spirit of prophecy does not rest upon a poor person. Jonah was the wealthiest of the Prophets. This is also indicated by the «Sefer Jonah»: Jonah flees from Hashem to Tarshish, and a ship sailed there only once every three years; he waited until the ship was filled with merchants and then sailed back: - «And Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from before the L-rd; he went down to Jaffa, found a ship bound for Tarshish, paid its fare, and went down into it to sail with them to Tarshish from before the L-rd». The Sages explain that the words: «and paid its fare» mean that he purchased the entire ship. He was the only passenger aboard—Jonah and the sailors alone. From this, the Sages derive just how wealthy Jonah was: he could even afford to buy out every place on the ship. When Jonah sailed on the ship during one of the festivals of the regalim, his wife went to the Temple with a sacrificial animal, handed it over to the Kohanim, and herself stood in the women's section, on the balcony. The Kohanim raised the sacrificial animal for her so that she could place her hands upon it—an indication of her status as a wealthy and distinguished woman. The Almighty sent Jonah to the city of Nineveh so that its inhabitants would repent. But Jonah, as a prophet, understood (as the Sages reveal) that while the non-Jews were sinning, the Accuser had work to do; once they repented, the Accuser would direct all his strength against Am Yisrael. Therefore, Jonah was in no hurry to go to that city, so that accusations against Am Yisrael would not arise. The Midrash then reveals why the fish spit out Jonah, who had spent three days and three nights inside it. Jonah addresses Hashem: «The waters encompassed me to my soul, the deep surrounded me, seaweed was wrapped around my head». - «The waters encompassed me»—Jonah began to cry, and water poured from his eyes as tears, so the fish cast him out and spat him up. The Second Targum on «Megillat Esther» relates that when Esther came before Ahasuerus, she said: «Just as Jonah's tears in the belly of the fish… caused it to cast him out…, so bring us out into an open space». The fish that swallowed Jonah—«dag gadol»—is «daga» in Aramaic (despair, distress); the Sages reveal that this state signifies poverty. The Sefer Jonah is divided into four chapters, but in truth it contains three sections—and the second section (verse 11) is the central one, the heart of the «Sefer Jonah», stating: «And the L-rd spoke to the fish, and it cast Jonah onto dry land». The Holy Zohar explains the word for fish, «daga», as poverty—and when the fish casts Jonah out, he returns from poverty to his familiar state: wealth. The Sages further reveal that if one takes the word «dag» and looks at its letters in reverse order, one sees the word «gad» (success). Thus, if «daga» in Aramaic means worry, despair, and poverty, in Hebrew «gad» means success and good fortune. Hashem prepared for Jonah a «dag gadol» («gad gadol»—great success). Therefore, the Sages conclude that the Sefer Jonah is a great segula for parnassah. Other Segulot from the Sefer Jonah 1. An easy childbirth (the husband should read the entire «Sefer Jonah» for his wife before the birth); 2. At a Brit Milah—for the child's health—read immediately after the Brit Milah meal;

Sefer Jonah

Chapter 1 א וַיְהִי, דְּבַר-יְהוָה, אֶל-יוֹנָה בֶן-אֲמִתַּי, לֵאמֹר. ב קוּם לֵךְ אֶל-נִינְוֵה, הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה--וּקְרָא עָלֶיהָ: כִּי-עָלְתָה רָעָתָם, לְפָנָי.ג וַיָּקָם יוֹנָה לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה, מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה; וַיֵּרֶד יָפוֹ וַיִּמְצָא אֳנִיָּה בָּאָה תַרְשִׁישׁ, וַיִּתֵּן שְׂכָרָהּ וַיֵּרֶד בָּהּ לָבוֹא עִמָּהֶם תַּרְשִׁישָׁה, מִלִּפְנֵי, יְהוָה. ד וַיהוָה, הֵטִיל רוּחַ-גְּדוֹלָה אֶל-הַיָּם, וַיְהִי סַעַר-גָּדוֹל, בַּיָּם; וְהָאֳנִיָּה, חִשְּׁבָה לְהִשָּׁבֵר. ה וַיִּירְאוּ הַמַּלָּחִים, וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אֱלֹהָיו, וַיָּטִלוּ אֶת-הַכֵּלִים אֲשֶׁר בָּאֳנִיָּה אֶל-הַיָּם, לְהָקֵל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם; וְיוֹנָה, יָרַד אֶל-יַרְכְּתֵי הַסְּפִינָה, וַיִּשְׁכַּב, וַיֵּרָדַם. וַיִּקְרַב אֵלָיו רַב הַחֹבֵל, וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מַה-לְּךָ נִרְדָּם; קוּם, קְרָא אֶל-אֱלֹהֶיךָ--אוּלַי יִתְעַשֵּׁת הָאֱלֹהִים לָנוּ, וְלֹא נֹאבֵד. ז וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ, לְכוּ וְנַפִּילָה גוֹרָלוֹת, וְנֵדְעָה, בְּשֶׁלְּמִי הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת לָנוּ; וַיַּפִּלוּ, גּוֹרָלוֹת, וַיִּפֹּל הַגּוֹרָל, עַל-יוֹנָה. ח וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו--הַגִּידָה-נָּא לָנוּ, בַּאֲשֶׁר לְמִי-הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת לָנוּ: מַה-מְּלַאכְתְּךָ, וּמֵאַיִן תָּבוֹא--מָה אַרְצֶךָ, וְאֵי-מִזֶּה עַם אָתָּה. ט וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם, עִבְרִי אָנֹכִי; וְאֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם, אֲנִי יָרֵא, אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה אֶת-הַיָּם, וְאֶת-הַיַּבָּשָׁה. י וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה, וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו מַה-זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ: כִּי-יָדְעוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, כִּי-מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה הוּא בֹרֵחַ--כִּי הִגִּיד, לָהֶם. יא וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו מַה-נַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ, וְיִשְׁתֹּק הַיָּם מֵעָלֵינוּ: כִּי הַיָּם, הוֹלֵךְ וְסֹעֵר. יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, שָׂאוּנִי וַהֲטִילֻנִי אֶל-הַיָּם, וְיִשְׁתֹּק הַיָּם, מֵעֲלֵיכֶם: כִּי, יוֹדֵעַ אָנִי, כִּי בְשֶׁלִּי, הַסַּעַר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה עֲלֵיכֶם. יג וַיַּחְתְּרוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, לְהָשִׁיב אֶל-הַיַּבָּשָׁה--וְלֹא יָכֹלוּ: כִּי הַיָּם, הוֹלֵךְ וְסֹעֵר עֲלֵיהֶם. יד וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל-יְהוָה וַיֹּאמְרוּ, אָנָּה יְהוָה אַל-נָא נֹאבְדָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה, וְאַל-תִּתֵּן עָלֵינוּ, דָּם נָקִיא: כִּי-אַתָּה יְהוָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתָּ עָשִׂיתָ. טו וַיִּשְׂאוּ, אֶת-יוֹנָה, וַיְטִלֻהוּ, אֶל-הַיָּם; וַיַּעֲמֹד הַיָּם, מִזַּעְפּוֹ. טז וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה, אֶת-יְהוָה; וַיִּזְבְּחוּ-זֶבַח, לַיהוָה, וַיִּדְּרוּ, נְדָרִים. Transliteration (1) Va-yehi devar Adonai el Yonah ven Amitai lemor: (2) Kum lekh el Nineveh ha-ir ha-gedolah u-kera aleha ki altah ra'atam lefanai. (3) Va-yakom Yonah livroakh Tarshishah mi-lifnei Adonai va-yered Yafo va-yimtza aniyah ba'ah Tarshish va-yiten sekharah va-yered bah lavo imahém Tarshishah mi-lifnei Adonai. (4) Va-Adonai hetil ruakh gedolah el ha-yam va-yehi sa'ar gadol ba-yam ve-ha'oniyah khishvah lehishaver. (5) Va-yiru ha-malachim va-yizaku ish el elo-hav va-yatilu et ha-kelim asher ba-oniyah el ha-yam leha-kel me-aleihem ve-Yonah yarad el yarketei ha-sfinah va-yishkav va-yiradam. (6) Va-yikrav elav rav ha-khovel va-yomer lo: mah lekha nirdam? Kum, kera el Elo-heikha ulai yit'ashet ha-Elo-him lanu ve-lo noved. (7) Va-yomru ish el re'ehu: lekhu ve-naפילah goralot ve-neda be-shelmi ha-ra'ah ha-zot lanu. Va-yapilu goralot va-yipol ha-goral al Yonah. (8) Va-yomru elav: «Hagidah na lanu ba-asher le-mi ha-ra'ah ha-zot lanu mah melakhtekha u-me-ayin tavo mah artzekha ve-ei mi-zeh am atah». (9) Va-yomer aleihem: «Ivri anokhi ve-et Adonai Elo-hei ha-shamayim ani yare asher asah et ha-yam ve-et ha-yabashah». (10) Va-yiru ha-anashim yirah gedolah va-yomru elav: «Mah zot asita?», ki yadu ha-anashim ki mi-lifnei Adonai hu voreakh, ki higid lahem. (11) Va-yomru elav: «Mah na'aseh lakh ve-yishtok ha-yam me-aleinu ki ha-yam holekh ve-so'er. (12) Va-yomer aleihem: «Se'uni va-hatiluni el ha-yam ve-yishtok ha-yam me-aleikhem ki yode'a ani ki ve-sheli ha-sa'ar ha-gadol ha-zeh aleikhem». (14) Va-yikre'u el Adonai va-yomru: «Ana Adonai al na noved be-nefesh ha-ish ha-zeh ve-al titen aleinu dam naki ki Atah Adonai ka-asher khafatzta asita». (15) Va-yisu et Yonah va-yatiluhu el ha-yam va-ya'amod ha-yam mi-zapo. (16) Va-yiru ha-anashim yirah gedolah et Adonai va-yizbekhu zevakh la-Adonai va-yidru nedarim. Translation (1) The word of the L-rd came to Jonah son of Amitai, saying: (2) “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim concerning it, for their wickedness has risen before Me.” (3) Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from before the L-rd. He went down to Jaffa, found a ship bound for Tarshish, paid its fare, and went down into it to sail with them to Tarshish from before the L-rd. (4) But the L-rd cast a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty storm at sea, so that the ship was about to break apart. (5) The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his deity. They cast the cargo aboard into the sea to lighten their burden, while Jonah had gone down to the hold of the ship, lain down, and fallen into a deep sleep. (6) The shipmaster approached him and said: “Why are you sleeping? Arise, call out to your G-d. Perhaps G-d will think of us, and we will not perish.” (7) They said to one another: “Come, let us cast lots and find out on whose account this calamity has come upon us.” They cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. (8) They said to him: “Tell us, please, on whose account this calamity has come upon us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your land, and of what people are you?” (9) He said to them: “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the L-rd, the G-d of Heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land.” (10) The men were greatly afraid and said to him: “What have you done?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from before the L-rd, because he had told them. (11) They said to him: “What shall we do with you so that the sea will become calm for us? For the sea grew increasingly stormy.” (12) He said to them: “Lift me up and cast me into the sea, and the sea will become calm for you, for I know that this great storm has come upon you because of me.” (14) They called out to the L-rd and said: “Please, L-rd, let us not perish because of this man's life, and do not hold us accountable for innocent blood, for You, L-rd, have done as You desired.” (15) They lifted Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging. (16) The men feared the L-rd greatly, offered a sacrifice to the L-rd, and made vows. Chapter 2 א וַיְמַן יְהוָה דָּג גָּדוֹל, לִבְלֹעַ אֶת-יוֹנָה; וַיְהִי יוֹנָה בִּמְעֵי הַדָּג, שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה לֵילוֹת. ב וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל יוֹנָה, אֶל-יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו, מִמְּעֵי, הַדָּגָה. ג וַיֹּאמֶר, קָרָאתִי מִצָּרָה לִי אֶל-יְהוָה--וַיַּעֲנֵנִי; מִבֶּטֶן שְׁאוֹל שִׁוַּעְתִּי, שָׁמַעְתָּ קוֹלִי. ד וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מְצוּלָה בִּלְבַב יַמִּים, וְנָהָר יְסֹבְבֵנִי; כָּל-מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ וְגַלֶּיךָ, עָלַי עָבָרוּ. ה וַאֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי, נִגְרַשְׁתִּי מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ; אַךְ אוֹסִיף לְהַבִּיט, אֶל-הֵיכַל קָדְשֶׁךָ. ו אֲפָפוּנִי מַיִם עַד-נֶפֶשׁ, תְּהוֹם יְסֹבְבֵנִי; סוּף, חָבוּשׁ לְרֹאשִׁי. ז לְקִצְבֵי הָרִים יָרַדְתִּי, הָאָרֶץ בְּרִחֶיהָ בַעֲדִי לְעוֹלָם; וַתַּעַל מִשַּׁחַת חַיַּי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי. ח בְּהִתְעַטֵּף עָלַי נַפְשִׁי, אֶת-יְהוָה זָכָרְתִּי; וַתָּבוֹא אֵלֶיךָ תְפִלָּתִי, אֶל-הֵיכַל קָדְשֶׁךָ. ט מְשַׁמְּרִים, הַבְלֵי-שָׁוְא--חַסְדָּם, יַעֲזֹבוּ. י וַאֲנִי, בְּקוֹל תּוֹדָה אֶזְבְּחָה-לָּךְ, אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתִּי, אֲשַׁלֵּמָה: יְשׁוּעָתָה, לַיהוָה. {ס} יא וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, לַדָּג; וַיָּקֵא אֶת-יוֹנָה, אֶל-הַיַּבָּשָׁה. {פ} Transliteration (1) Va-yeman Adonai dag gadol livroa et Yonah va-yehi Yonah bi-mei ha-dag sheloshah yamim u-sheloshah leilot. (2) Va-yitpalel Yonah el Adonai Elo-hav mi-me'ei ha-dagah. (3) Va-yomer: “Karati mi-tzarah li el Adonai va-ya'aneni; mi-beten Sheol shivati, shamata koli. (4) Va-tashlikheni metzulah bilvav yamim ve-nahar yesoveveni; kol mishbarekha ve-galekha alai avaru. (5) Va-ani amarti: nigrashti mi-neged einekha, akh osif le-habit el heikhal kodshekha. (6) Afafuni mayim ad nefesh, tehom yesoveveni; suf khavush le-roshi. (7) Le-kitzvei harim yaradti, ha-aretz be-verikheha va'adi le-olam; va-ta'al mi-shakhat hayai, Adonai Elo-hai. (8) Be-hit'atef alai nafshi et Adonai zakharti, va-tavo elekha tefilati el heikhal kodshekha. (9) Mesh amrim havlei-shav, khasdam ya'azovu. (10) Va-ani be-kol todah ezbekhah lakh, asher nadarti ashalemah; yeshuatah la-Adonai. (11) Va-yomer Adonai la-dag va-yake et Yonah el ha-yabashah. Translation (1) The L-rd appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah remained in the fish's belly for three days and three nights. (2) Jonah prayed to the L-rd his G-d from the fish's belly. (3) And he said: “I called out to the L-rd from my distress, and He answered me; from the belly of the grave I cried out, and You heard my voice. (4) You cast me into the depths, into the heart of the sea, and the current surrounded me; all Your breakers and waves passed over me.” (5) I said: “I have been banished from before Your eyes, yet I shall again look toward Your holy Temple. (6) The waters encompassed me to my soul, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. (7) I descended to the roots of the mountains; the earth closed its bars over me forever. But You, L-rd my G-d, brought my life up from the pit. (8) As my soul fainted within me, I remembered the L-rd, and my prayer came to You, to Your holy Temple.” (9) Those who cling to worthless vanities forsake their kindness. (10) But I, with a voice of thanksgiving, shall sacrifice to You; what I vowed I shall fulfill. Salvation belongs to the L-rd. (11) The L-rd spoke to the fish, and it cast Jonah onto dry land. Chapter 3 א וַיְהִי דְבַר-יְהוָה אֶל-יוֹנָה, שֵׁנִית לֵאמֹר. ב קוּם לֵךְ אֶל-נִינְוֵה, הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה; וּקְרָא אֵלֶיהָ אֶת-הַקְּרִיאָה, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי דֹּבֵר אֵלֶיךָ. ג וַיָּקָם יוֹנָה, וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל-נִינְוֵה--כִּדְבַר יְהוָה; וְנִינְוֵה, הָיְתָה עִיר-גְּדוֹלָה לֵאלֹהִים--מַהֲלַךְ, שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים. ד וַיָּחֶל יוֹנָה לָבוֹא בָעִיר, מַהֲלַךְ יוֹם אֶחָד; וַיִּקְרָא, וַיֹּאמַר, עוֹד אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, וְנִינְוֵה נֶהְפָּכֶת. ה וַיַּאֲמִינוּ אַנְשֵׁי נִינְוֵה, בֵּאלֹהִים; וַיִּקְרְאוּ-צוֹם וַיִּלְבְּשׁוּ שַׂקִּים, מִגְּדוֹלָם וְעַד-קְטַנָּם. ו וַיִּגַּע הַדָּבָר, אֶל-מֶלֶךְ נִינְוֵה, וַיָּקָם מִכִּסְאוֹ, וַיַּעֲבֵר אַדַּרְתּוֹ מֵעָלָיו; וַיְכַס שַׂק, וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל-הָאֵפֶר. ז וַיַּזְעֵק, וַיֹּאמֶר בְּנִינְוֵה, מִטַּעַם הַמֶּלֶךְ וּגְדֹלָיו, לֵאמֹר: הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה הַבָּקָר וְהַצֹּאן, אַל-יִטְעֲמוּ מְאוּמָה--אַל-יִרְעוּ, וּמַיִם אַל-יִשְׁתּוּ. ח וְיִתְכַּסּוּ שַׂקִּים, הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה, וְיִקְרְאוּ אֶל-אֱלֹהִים, בְּחָזְקָה; וְיָשֻׁבוּ, אִישׁ מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה, וּמִן-הֶחָמָס, אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם. ט מִי-יוֹדֵעַ יָשׁוּב, וְנִחַם הָאֱלֹהִים; וְשָׁב מֵחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ, וְלֹא נֹאבֵד. י וַיַּרְא הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת-מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, כִּי-שָׁבוּ מִדַּרְכָּם הָרָעָה; וַיִּנָּחֶם הָאֱלֹהִים, עַל-הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר לַעֲשׂוֹת-לָהֶם--וְלֹא עָשָׂה. Transliteration (1) Va-yehi devar Adonai el Yonah shenit lemor: (2) “Kum lekh el Nineveh ha-ir ha-gedolah u-kera eleha et ha-keriah asher Anokhi dover eleikha. (3) Va-yakom Yonah va-yelekh el Nineveh ki-dvar Adonai ve-Nineveh hayetah ir gedolah le-Elohim mahalakh shloshet yamim. (4) Va-yakhel Yonah lavo va-ir mahalakh yom ekhad va-yikra va-yomar: “Od arba'im yom ve-Nineveh nehefakhet.” (5) Va-ya'aminu anshei Nineveh be-Elohim va-yikre'u tzom va-yilbeshu sakim mi-gedolam ve-ad ketanam. (6) Va-yiga ha-davar el melekh Nineveh va-yakom mi-kiso va-ya'aver adarto me-alav va-yekhas sak va-yeshev al ha-efer. (7) Va-yazek va-yomer be-Nineveh mi-ta'am ha-melekh u-gedolav lemor: ha-adam ve-ha-behemah ha-bakar ve-ha-tzon al yit'amu me'umah, al yir'u u-mayim al yishtu. (8) Ve-yitkasu sakim ha-adam ve-ha-behemah ve-yikre'u el Elohim be-khazkah ve-yashuvu ish mi-darko ha-ra'ah u-min ha-khamas asher be-khappeihem. (9) Mi yode'a yashuv ve-nikham ha-Elohim ve-shav me-kharon apo ve-lo noved. (10) Va-yar ha-Elohim et ma'aseihem ki shavu mi-darkam ha-ra'ah va-yinakhem ha-Elohim al ha-ra'ah asher diber la'asot lahem ve-lo asah. Translation (1) The word of the L-rd came to Jonah a second time, saying: (2) “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I shall tell you.” (3) Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the L-rd. Now Nineveh was a great city before G-d, a three-day journey. (4) Jonah began to enter the city, covering a day's journey, and proclaimed: “Forty more days, and Nineveh shall be overturned!” (5) The people of Nineveh believed in G-d, proclaimed a fast, and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. (6) The matter reached the king of Nineveh. He rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on ashes. (7) He had a proclamation made throughout Nineveh by decree of the king and his nobles: “Let neither man nor beast, cattle nor sheep, taste anything; let them not graze, and let them not drink water. (8) Let people and animals alike be covered with sackcloth, and let them cry out to G-d forcefully. Let everyone turn back from his evil way and from the violence in his hands. (9) Who knows? Perhaps G-d will relent and turn back from His fierce anger, and we will not perish.” (10) G-d saw their deeds, that they had turned back from their evil way, and G-d relented concerning the calamity He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not bring it. Chapter 4 א וַיֵּרַע אֶל-יוֹנָה, רָעָה גְדוֹלָה; וַיִּחַר, לוֹ. ב וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֶל-יְהוָה וַיֹּאמַר, אָנָּה יְהוָה הֲלוֹא-זֶה דְבָרִי עַד-הֱיוֹתִי עַל-אַדְמָתִי--עַל-כֵּן קִדַּמְתִּי, לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה: כִּי יָדַעְתִּי, כִּי אַתָּה אֵל-חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב-חֶסֶד, וְנִחָם עַל-הָרָעָה. ג וְעַתָּה יְהוָה, קַח-נָא אֶת-נַפְשִׁי מִמֶּנִּי: כִּי טוֹב מוֹתִי, מֵחַיָּי. {ס} ד וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, הַהֵיטֵב חָרָה לָךְ. ה וַיֵּצֵא יוֹנָה מִן-הָעִיר, וַיֵּשֶׁב מִקֶּדֶם לָעִיר; וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ שָׁם סֻכָּה, וַיֵּשֶׁב תַּחְתֶּיהָ בַּצֵּל, עַד אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה, מַה-יִּהְיֶה בָּעִיר. ו וַיְמַן יְהוָה-אֱלֹהִים קִיקָיוֹן וַיַּעַל מֵעַל לְיוֹנָה, לִהְיוֹת צֵל עַל-רֹאשׁוֹ, לְהַצִּיל לוֹ, מֵרָעָתוֹ; וַיִּשְׂמַח יוֹנָה עַל-הַקִּיקָיוֹן, שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה. ז וַיְמַן הָאֱלֹהִים תּוֹלַעַת, בַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר לַמָּחֳרָת; וַתַּךְ אֶת-הַקִּיקָיוֹן, וַיִּיבָשׁ. ח וַיְהִי כִּזְרֹחַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, וַיְמַן אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ קָדִים חֲרִישִׁית, וַתַּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עַל-רֹאשׁ יוֹנָה, וַיִּתְעַלָּף; וַיִּשְׁאַל אֶת-נַפְשׁוֹ, לָמוּת, וַיֹּאמֶר, טוֹב מוֹתִי מֵחַיָּי. ט וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-יוֹנָה, הַהֵיטֵב חָרָה-לְךָ עַל-הַקִּיקָיוֹן; וַיֹּאמֶר, הֵיטֵב חָרָה-לִי עַד-מָוֶת. י וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה--אַתָּה חַסְתָּ עַל-הַקִּיקָיוֹן, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-עָמַלְתָּ בּוֹ וְלֹא גִדַּלְתּוֹ: שֶׁבִּן-לַיְלָה הָיָה, וּבִן-לַיְלָה אָבָד. יא וַאֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס, עַל-נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה--אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ-בָּהּ הַרְבֵּה מִשְׁתֵּים-עֶשְׂרֵה רִבּוֹ אָדָם, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדַע בֵּין-יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ, וּבְהֵמָה, רַבָּה. Transliteration (1) Va-yera el Yonah ra'ah gedolah va-yikhar lo. (2) Va-yitpalel el Adonai va-yomar: “Ana Adonai, halo zeh devari ad heyoti al admati; al ken kidamti livroakh Tarshishah, ki yadati ki Atah E-l khanun ve-rakhum, erekh apayim ve-rav khesed, ve-nikham al ha-ra'ah. (3) Ve-atah Adonai, kakh na et nafshi mimeni, ki tov moti me-khayai. (4) Va-yomer Adonai: “Ha-heitev kharah lakh?” (5) Va-yetze Yonah min ha-ir va-yeshev mi-kedem la-ir va-ya'as lo sham sukkah va-yeshev takhteha ba-tzel ad asher yireh mah yihyeh ba-ir. (6) Va-yeman Adonai Elohim kikayon va-ya'al me-al le-Yonah lihyot tzel al rosho le-hatzil lo me-ra'ato va-yismakh Yonah al ha-kikayon simkhah gedolah. (7) Va-yeman ha-Elohim tola'at ba-alot ha-shakhar la-mokhorat va-takh et ha-kikayon va-yייבash. (8) Va-yehi ki-zroakh ha-shemesh va-yeman Elohim ruakh kadim kharishit va-takh ha-shemesh al rosh Yonah va-yitaleif va-yishal et nafsho lamut va-yomer: “Tov moti me-khayai.” (9) Va-yomer Elohim el Yonah: “Ha-heitev kharah lekha al ha-kikayon?” Va-yomer: “Heitev kharah li ad mavet.” (10) Va-yomer Adonai: “Atah khasta al ha-kikayon asher lo amalta bo ve-lo gidalto, she-bin laylah hayah u-vin laylah avad. (11) Va-Ani lo akhus al Nineveh ha-ir ha-gedolah asher yesh bah arba me'ot esrim ribo adam asher lo yada bein yemino li-smolo u-vehemah rabah.” Translation (1) Jonah was greatly distressed, and he was angry. (2) He prayed to the L-rd and said: “Please, L-rd! Was this not my statement when I was still in my own land? That is why I hastened to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate G-d, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and relenting concerning calamity. (3) Now, L-rd, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (4) The L-rd said: “Are you so deeply grieved?” (5) Jonah left the city and sat east of the city. He made himself a sukkah there and sat beneath it in the shade, until he would see what would happen in the city. (6) The L-rd G-d appointed a kikayon plant, which grew up over Jonah to provide shade over his head and save him from his distress; and Jonah rejoiced greatly over the kikayon. (7) G-d appointed a worm at the rising of the dawn the next day, and it attacked the kikayon, so that it withered. (8) When the sun rose, G-d appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down upon Jonah's head, and he fainted. He asked for death and said: “It is better for me to die than to live.” (9) G-d said to Jonah: “Are you so deeply grieved over the kikayon?” He replied: “I am deeply grieved, to the point of death.” (10) The L-rd said: “You took pity on the kikayon, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it appeared overnight and perished overnight. (11) Should I not take pity on Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and much cattle?” (Based on a lesson by Rabbi Alexander Tzvi Sypkov, “The Book of Jonah—a Segula for Wealth”)

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Tags: Segulot, The Book of the Prophet Jonah – A Segula for Wealth, Sefer Yonah, Maftir Yonah, A Segula for Wealth, The Prophet Jonah

13 Feb 2024