10 Segulot of Rabbanit Batsheva Kanievsky

10 Segulot of Rabbanit Batsheva Kanievsky

When people asked the Gaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky for a segula (spiritual remedy) for their problems, he would say: “Speak to the Rabbanit about segulot.” Indeed, many stories circulated about her segulot, which brought salvation to people. But the Rabbanit always emphasized that a segula can help when accompanied by mitzvot and gemilut chasadim. Most of her segulot were spiritual rather than magical in nature. At the heart of her advice were prayer, reciting Tehillim, and taking on additional mitzvot. She advised people to begin by praying from the depths of their hearts and strengthening the areas in which they personally needed improvement.   Segula 1 – for protection from ayin hara Recite 11 verses after the morning prayer. Rabbanit Kanievsky quoted her grandfather, Rabbi Aryeh Levin, who brought from the Kabbalistic book “Le-Shem” the practice of reciting 11 verses beginning with the letter “nun” and ending with “nun sofit”, known as “Nega tzaraat…”. This is a prayer for protection from all forms of magic, the evil eye, harm, haters, and other negativity. (Then recite “Yehi ratzon”): Nega tzaraat ki tihyeh be-adam vehuva el ha-Kohenn. Nachnu naavor chalutzim lifnei Ad-nai eretz Kena'an, ve-itanu achuzat nachalatenu me-ever la-Yarden. Navi mi-kirbecha me-achecha kamoni yakim lecha Ad-nai Elokecha elav tishma'un. Nahar pelagav yesamchehu ir-Elokim kedosh mishkenei Elyon. Neged avotam asah fele be-eretz Mitzrayim sedeh Tzoan. Nachita katzon amecha beyad Moshe ve-Aharon. Nafti mishkavi mor ahalim ve-kinamon. Ner Ad-nai nishmat adam, chofes kol chadrei vaten. Nofet titofena siftotayich kalah, dvash ve-chalav tachat leshonech, ve-re'ach simlotayich ke-re'ach Levanon. Nudu mitoch Bavel u-me'eretz Kasdim tze'u, ve-hayu katudim lifnei tzon. Noshei keshet mayminim u-masmilim ba-ava'im u-vachitzim ba-keshet, me-achei Shaul mi-Binyamin. Yehi ratzon milfanecha Ad-nai Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu, shetitmale rachamim aleinu vetatzilenu lanu u-lechol bnei veitenu u-lechol Bnei Yisrael me-ayin hara, u-mi-kol minei kishuf, ve-ta'avir ha-yetzer hara ve-ha-Satan mimenu. U-keshem she-parasta kenafecha al avoteinu ba-midbar ve-hitzaltam me-ayin hara de-Bilam ha-rasha, ken tifros kenafecha aleinu be-rachamecha harabim, ve-niheyeh mechusim be-michsecha ve-nahegah bi-shmotcha ha-kedoshim. Amen netzach sela va'ed. Translation “If a person develops the affliction of tzaraat, he shall be brought to the Kohen. We shall cross over armed before the L-rd into the land of Canaan, and our inheritance will remain with us beyond the Jordan.” “A prophet from among you, from your brothers, like me, the L-rd your G-d will establish for you—you shall heed him.” “River streams gladden the city of G-d, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.” “You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moshe and Aharon.” “In the sight of their fathers He performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the field of Tzoan.” “I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.” “The candle of the L-rd is the soul of man; He searches all the innermost chambers.” “Your lips drip honey, O bride; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.” “Flee from the midst of Babylon and leave the land of the Chaldeans; go forth at the head of the flock.” “Archers, slingers from the right and the left, shooting arrows from bows—they are from the brothers of Shaul, from the tribe of Binyamin.” May it be Your will, L-rd, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, to fill us with mercy and save us and all the members of our households, and all Israel, from the evil eye and from every form of sorcery; remove from us the evil inclination and the Satan. Just as You spread Your shelter over our fathers in the wilderness and saved them from the evil eye of the wicked Bilam, so may You spread Your shelter over us in Your abundant mercy. May we be securely sheltered beneath Your protection and guided by Your holy Names. Amen forever!   After this, recite the verses that form the word “Avi” (My Father): Atah seter li, mi-tzar titzreni—ronnei falet tesoveveni selah. Bitchu ba-Ad-nai adei ad, ki be-Yah Ad-nai tzur olamim. Ad-nai oz le-amo yiten, Ad-nai yevarech et amo va-shalom. Segula 2 – to dispel fear The Rabbanit taught those who wished to remove fear from their lives—and this was the advice of her husband, the Gaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky (shlita), in serious situations or before childbirth—to visualize the letters of the Name of the Almighty and recite: “Ein Od Milvado” (There is none besides Him). Segula 3 – for happiness A segula for being happy throughout the day is to recite the three verses that appear in siddurim immediately after the prayer “Aleinu Leshabe'ach”: – “Al tira mi-pachad pit'om u-mi-sho'at resha'im ki tavo” – (Do not fear sudden terror or the calamity of the wicked when it comes.) – “Utsu etzah ve-tufar, dabru davar ve-lo yakum, ki imanu El” – (The enemies of Israel may devise plans, but they will be frustrated; they may conspire, but nothing will come of it—for G-d is with us.) – “Ve-ad ziknah ani Hu, ve-ad seivah ani esbol, ani asiti ve-ani esa, ve-ani esbol ve-amalet” – (Through old age I remain unchanged and will bear with the people of Israel; I made them and I will care for them, I will bear with them and I will save them.) Another piece of advice the Rabbanit gave was to drink a hot beverage after Shabbat and say: “A hot beverage after Shabbat is a remedy.” Segula 4 – for toothache Recite verses from the prayer “Kiddush Levanah.” This segula came from the Steipler Gaon, the father-in-law of Rabbanit Kanievsky: “Just as I dance before you (the moon) and cannot touch you, so may none of my enemies be able to harm me, and may I have no toothache.” Once, the Steipler’s wife—the elder Rabbanit Kanievsky—suffered from toothache, and he advised her to recite verses from “Kiddush Levanah.” The toothache disappeared immediately. However, the Rabbanit did not allow her son, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, to publicize this, lest people think that her husband was a miracle worker and distract him from his Torah study. Segula 5 – for stuttering The segula for stuttering is to bake challah. The practice is to hold two challahs that joined together during baking above the stutterer’s head, separate them, and at that moment ask Hashem to undo the closing of the person’s mouth. Segula 6 – for hair loss The Rabbanit received this remedy from her father-in-law, the Steipler Rav. The hair should be washed with a mixture of oils. Mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of castor oil, one egg yolk, and a few drops of lemon juice. First wash the hair with regular shampoo, then apply a mask made from this mixture for 20 minutes, and rinse. Repeat once a week until the hair’s condition improves. Segula 7 – for success Recite the phrase “Ein Od Milvado.” Anyone wishing to succeed in matters involving other people, legal proceedings, business transactions, or important meetings should say with great concentration: “Ein Od Milvado” (there is none besides Him). Segula 8 – for children The Rabbanit advised women who wished to derive nachat (satisfaction) from their children to concentrate during the following prayers: – in the blessing on the Torah: “Ve-ha'arev na”; – in the blessing before the Shema: “Ahavat Rabbah” (according to the Ashkenazi nusach), “Ahavat Olam” (according to the Sephardi nusach); – in the verse: “Ve-lo nevosh, ve-lo nikalem, ve-lo nikashel le-olam va'ed”; – in the Shabbat prayer “Yakum Purkan”—after the Torah reading. Segula 9 – for high blood pressure For any kind of pressure, the Rabbanit advised reciting Chapter 104 of Tehillim. Segula 10 – for healing The Rabbanit advised reciting the following words before taking any medication: “May it be Your will that taking this medicine bring about a complete recovery, for You alone are the Healer of all flesh.” The Rabbanit said that it had always been customary in her family to recite this short prayer.   Segula 11 – for pregnant women whose babies are in breech position The Rabbanit advised pregnant women whose babies were in a breech position to perform hafrashat challah and, while kneading the dough, turn it over while asking the Almighty to turn the baby in the womb into the proper position as well. Stories of Tzadikot The baby of Mrs. Sarah Vogel was in a breech position, and a cesarean section had already been scheduled for shortly before noon. Since the expectant mother had known the Rebbetzin since childhood and sat beside her in the Lederman Synagogue, she went straight to 23 Rechov Rashbam after her appointment with the doctor. The Rebbetzin told her to come the next day, before the scheduled surgery—they would perform hafrashat challah, and the Almighty would help her. During the hafrashat challah, the Rebbetzin recited several psalms together with Mrs. Vogel and instructed her to knead the dough and turn it upside down. She placed her hands on Mrs. Vogel’s abdomen for approximately three minutes and then said: “It seems that we have brought about וְנַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא - ‘ve-nahafoch hu’ (and everything was turned around).” The Rabbanit quoted this phrase from the Book of Esther (9:1), when, at the most difficult time for the Jewish people, “everything was turned around” in an instant for the good of Am Yisrael. The doctor was astonished to discover that the fetus had turned into a safe position. Two weeks later, Mrs. Vogel gave birth to a healthy baby! Eyewitnesses asked Rabbanit Batsheva: “What do you do to turn a baby out of the breech position? How does touching the mother’s abdomen help?” “I recite Tehillim with great kavanah, and sometimes the Almighty listens,” Rabbanit Batsheva replied.               (Based on the book The House of My Mother by Rabbanit Tzivion—translated by Sila Tehilim)