Segulot of Rabbi Chaim Palagi During Epidemics
Some 150 years ago, the great
Rabbi Chaim Palagi taught that during an epidemic, the spiritual force sent to bring punishment moves from place to place in search of a target. It first focuses on a person's forehead, because a person's spiritual state is revealed there (information about a person's deeds remains on the forehead for 40 days).
Segulot:
1. During a severe epidemic, if you go outside, try to cover your forehead;
2. During an epidemic, the most dangerous thing is to become angry—anger is recorded on the forehead;
3. Do not worry—worry leads to depression and despair, which are also recorded on the forehead. This indicates a lack of emunah (faith) and serves as a magnet for impure spiritual forces;
[Interestingly, after Kiddush on Shabbat, the Mekubalim advise looking into the wine glass at the reflection of one's forehead and, at the same time, having the kavanah that the gematria of the word
מצח - “metzach” (forehead) in Hebrew is equal to the gematria of the word
הצלחה “hatzlachah” (success)—
138].
4. Strengthen your faith in G-d—if you do not have faith in Him, you place yourself in the hands of nature (
“teva”), according to the laws of nature: what you think about is what you attract—the principle of a magnet;
5. Study more Torah—surround yourself with the light of
“Or”, a protection from all negativity;
6. Recite berachot—the
100 blessings of King David—details here:
7. One should not sit where a person infected with an epidemic is present—it is transmitted more easily;
8. During an epidemic, one should not remain in darkness with an infected person—the same applies, as it is easily transmitted.
Rabbi Chaim Palagi transmitted in the name of the great
Ramban that reciting the account of the 42 encampments through which the Jews traveled in the wilderness is so powerful that during a plague or any other epidemic, anyone who reads this passage every day will be spared from the epidemic, and it will not affect the place where he lives.
The Arizal (zechuto yagen aleinu) taught that an epidemic comes for the sake of teshuvah—for returning to Hashem.
Chief Rabbi of Bavaria, Rabbi Shmuel Aharon Brodman, drawing on the teachings of the Mekubalim of previous generations, highlights the key prayers for confronting an epidemic in our time:
1) “Pitum HaKetoret”
The Order of "Pitum HaKetoret" According to the Arizal - Prayer Text with Transliteration
In the Torah, we find that there was an epidemic when Korach and his men rebelled against Moshe and Aharon. It ended only after Aharon performed the Ketoret offering.
2. The prayer of Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli concerning the 42 encampments/journeys
42 Encampments in the Wilderness — the Segula of Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol
3. 100 blessings a day according to David HaMelech
Давид а мелех и 100 брахот в день
4. Tzedakah
5. Psalm 91—it has the power to help against an epidemic.
6. Psalm 70 before going to sleep—as recommended by the Gadol HaDor, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky.
7. Psalm 100—daily, according to the following principle:
“Whoever recites Psalm 100 every day will not have to recite Psalm 20:
- “May the L-rd answer you on the day of distress.”
Tehillim 100 – Three Spiritual Laws of the Psalm of Thanksgiving
(based on a lesson by Rabbi Yisrael Yakovov; based on a lesson by Rabbi Shmuel Aharon Brodman—Chief Rabbi of Bavaria and Munich)
