A Segula for Salvation on Rosh Chodesh Adar, or When Jews Are Permitted to Draw
The book “Yalkut Avraham”, by the righteous Rabbi Avraham ben Shabtai, who lived 100 years ago, describes a beautiful and proven segula for Rosh Chodesh Adar for salvation and the improvement of one’s mazal, both personally and for the entire family.He writes that one should take a sheet of paper, write down what one would like to be rid of and all the wishes one would like to fulfill, and hang this drawing-poster on the door of the home.Since the mazal of the month of Adar is fish, it is good to draw a pair of fish (some people also add clowns—a Purim symbol).The source of this segula is the Talmudic saying: משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה מזל דגים—“mishenichnas Adar, marbin b'simcha—mazal dagim” (when Adar begins, we increase our joy).Why fish?The well-known blessing that Yaakov Avinu gave to his grandsons Ephraim and Menashe says:“May the angel who redeemed me from all evil bless these boys. May my name be perpetuated in them, and the names of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak, and may they become teeming multitudes upon the earth, like fish (Vayidgu).” (Bereishit 48:16)This blessing refers to two aspects of fish—multiplicity and concealment: that they should multiply and become numerous like fish, and that they should be protected from the “evil eye,” just as fish living underwater are hidden from all outside influences. Therefore, the image of a fish in Jewish tradition is a symbol of protection and fertility.This segula became widely known after a yeshiva student approached “Yalkut Avraham” and shared his distress about his sister, who had been unable to marry for many years, had passed the customary marriageable age, and had increasingly little hope that a shidduch would be arranged at her age.This took place on Rosh Chodesh Adar, and Rabbi Avraham ben Shabtai advised him to perform this segula. It worked, be'ezrat Hashem, and the woman went on to marry happily. Since then, the segula has become very popular.“Yalkut Avraham” teaches that whoever performs this segula on Rosh Chodesh Adar will witness salvation.Several generations ago, there was even a custom among Sephardic communities to draw posters featuring fish and clowns and hang them in synagogues.Those who received the desired result would leave the drawing-poster on the door of their home for the entire year, as a sign that Hashem had heard and answered their prayerful request.(based on a lesson by Anat ben Ari for silatehilim.com)
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