Segulot When Entering and Leaving the Synagogue of Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli
When Entering the SynagogueRabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli (zekhuto yagen aleinu) teaches in the sefer Dan Yadin (a commentary on the Zohar HaKadosh) that when a person enters a synagogue, kisses the mezuzah, then bows and recites this pasuk, it is considered as though he brings the Shechinah and blessing upon himself for the entire day and removes the evil eye from himself.
This pasuk contains profound spiritual meaning and can save a person from the evil eye, harsh decrees, and many forms of harm.
When a person feels that things are not going well and is experiencing problems, as the Gemara writes, it is most likely because of the evil eye.
When entering the synagogue, one should place the right hand on the mezuzah and recite the phrase:
- “Ani omer zot al daat Rav Huna” - (I am reciting these lines based on the words of Rav Huna (zekhuto yagen aleinu), and then recite the pasuk:
וַאֲנִי בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ- “Va’ani, berov chasdekha, avo veitekha, eshtachaveh el heikhal kodshekha beyiratekha” - (But I, through Your abundant kindness, will enter Your house; I will bow toward Your holy Temple in awe of You). (Tehillim 5:8)
When Leaving the Synagogue When leaving the synagogue, one should recite the following pesukim from Tehillim, which are known as a means of receiving abundant blessings and protection from all harm and evil. יְ־הֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה - “Ado-nai Tzevaot imanu misgav lanu Elohei Yaakov selah” - (The L-rd of Hosts is with us; the G-d of Jacob is our stronghold, selah); יְ־הֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵחַ בָּךְ - “Ado-nai Tzevaot ashrei adam bote’ach bakh” - (The L-rd of Hosts—fortunate is the person who trusts in You); יְ־הֹוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה הַמֶּלֶךְ יַעֲנֵנוּ בְּיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ - “Ado-nai hoshiah, hamelekh ya’anenu beyom kor’einu” - (L-rd, save us! May the King answer us on the day we call); Segulah Against Ayin Hara and All Forms of Evil Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli also advised reciting the pasuk from Tehillim 5:8 forty times over a person’s head if he is suffering from a severe evil eye or sorcery. וַאֲנִי בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ- “Va’ani, berov chasdekha, avo veitekha, eshtachaveh el heikhal kodshekha beyiratekha” - (But I, through Your abundant kindness, will enter Your house; I will bow toward Your holy Temple in awe of You).
This pasuk contains 10 words. Forty times 10 equals 400.
It is known that the Sitra Achra (realm of impurity) contains 400 forces, as indicated by the hidden meaning of the verse: “And behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men”. (Bereishit 33:1)
Four hundred is the gematria of “ayin hara”. 400 is also the gematria of the word רעעין (“envious,” “one who possesses an evil eye”).
Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli reveals the secret of this pasuk: encoded within it is one of the 72 Names of Hashem, which protects against “ayin hara” - האא and it is encoded in the words of Tehillim (5:8) “eshtachaveh el heikhal” – אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל-הֵיכַל - (I will bow toward Your holy Temple). (Based on a lesson by Rabbi Yisrael Yakobov, “The Hidden Meaning of Tehillim 5,” for Silatehilim; based on a lesson by the Yanuka Gaon)