The Four Rivers of Gan Eden – Ha-Lavan's Segula for Salvation

The Four Rivers of Gan Eden – Ha-Lavan's Segula for Salvation

One day, the father of a sick child entered a kollel and saw his friend, Rami Abudi. Knowing that Rami was a student of the Mekubal Ha-Lavan—Rabbi Chaim Avishalom Ha-Kohen Perahia, known by the nickname “the Milkman”—he asked him to request that the Tzadik Ha-Lavan pray for his son, who was in intensive care and whose doctors were already saying that the child had only hours to live. The frightened father did not know where to turn for salvation, so he came to the kollel. Rami Abudi immediately called the farm from the kollel and asked to be connected with the Mekubal Ha-Lavan. He told him about the sick boy, for whom the doctors had no hope, and about the boy’s father, who was desperately seeking salvation for his son. After listening to Rami, Rabbi Chaim instructed the father to take a piece of paper, write the names of the four rivers flowing from Gan Eden—פישון - גיחון -  חידקל - פרת —and then place the paper in water for two minutes while saying: “Ribono Shel Olam. I am performing this segula al da'at of the Mekubal Rabbi Chaim Avishalom Ha-Kohen Perahia Ha-Lavan (the Milkman).” Then, after two minutes, the paper should be removed from the water, and two spoonfuls of this water should be given to the sick child. Be'ezrat Hashem, this will help the boy get back on his feet.” As soon as Rami conveyed the Ha-Lavan’s advice to his friend, the father did exactly as he had been instructed and gave the water to the child through a syringe—one drop at a time—exactly two spoonfuls of the water. A miracle occurred: an hour later, the child stood up and walked. After this story of the child’s miraculous recovery, the segula began to be passed from mouth to mouth, and today it is already “baduk u-menuseh” (tested by many). It is a good idea to promise that, bli neder, when (the name of the sick person and the name of his or her mother) has fully recovered, the person performing the segula will choose one of the following, according to his or her ability:

1. Travel to the Kever Tzadik in Jerusalem, in Sanhedria;
2. Hold a Seudat Hoda'ah Likhvod Tzadik;
3. Gather 40/50 women for a thanksgiving prayer, “Nishmat Kol Chai”, and, corresponding to the Korban Todah (the thanksgiving offering that was brought with 40 loaves), continue reciting it for 40 days; (the advice of the Gaon Ha-Rav Yanuka)

(Passed on by the students of the Mekubal Ha-Lavan (the Milkman))