Segula-Shmirah for 96 Hours

Segula from the Hilula of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes to the Hilula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

From 14 Iyar—the Hilula of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes—to 18 Iyar—the Hilula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai—4 days. The Mekubalim of previous generations taught that these four holy days were granted to us by the Almighty so that the zechut of each of the Tanna'im HaKedoshim would serve as a source of help for their people. Take a heatproof glass bowl (large enough for two candles), fill it with pure olive oil (it may also be half-filled with water), and place two wicks in it—for Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes and for Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Light both candles while saying: “Hareini madlik nerot lichvod Tanna HaKadosh Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes ve-Tanna HaKadosh—Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, zechutam yagen aleinu.” These two candles (wicks) must burn continuously for 4 consecutive days—exactly 96 hours (make sure the wicks do not go out, and add oil as needed). While lighting them, one should have kavannah regarding HaShem’s four-letter ineffable Holy Name, understanding that both tzadikim were connected with it throughout their lives. Immediately after lighting, recite the pasuk from the Torah (Bereishit) with which Yaakov Avinu blessed Yosef: — “Hamalach hago'el oti mikol ra yevarech et hana'arim veyikare vahem shemi veshem avotai Avraham ve-Yitzchak veyidgu larov bekerev ha-aretz” — (The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, may he bless these lads; may my name and the names of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak, be declared upon them, and may they multiply abundantly in the midst of the Land.) Those versed in the secrets of the Torah teach that the Holy Name of the Malach Yaakov Avinu had in mind in this pasuk is Tzav (one of the host of “Tzevaot”). The gematria of צו “Tzav” is 96. In the pasuk itself, Yaakov simply calls him “ha-mal'ach”—המלאך, but this expression also has the gematria 96. The sefer “Ezer le-Yehuda” states that Yaakov Avinu says this pasuk because he himself is a “mal'ach”—as evidenced by the fact that his name, Yaakov, has the gematria 182, which equals twice 96. Yaakov Avinu is therefore, as it were, saying: “Hamalach hago'el...—the angel who was created from me and will be called by my name (the doubled gematria), as though I had been sanctified and were needed in this world, may he bless me and my sons.” Malachim are created by our mitzvot. The Arizal points to the teaching of the Sages in Pirkei Avot that whoever performs one mitzvah creates one defending angel for himself. When a person performs a mitzvah, HaShem says to His angels: “Place this mitzvah beneath My Throne”; and through this command (“tzav” in Hebrew), a “mal'ach” is created and brought into being (“tzav” and “ha-mal'ach” have the same gematria—96). This is why this segula is so powerful. When reciting the pasuk from Parashat “Vayechi,” one should have the kavannah that just as Yaakov Avinu blessed Yosef with these words, so may HaShem send a special bracha of Shmirah to our soldiers and to all of Am Yisrael throughout the world—Shmirah min HaShamayim. Throughout these 96 hours, the four days, one should have the kavannah that this Malach connects the neshamot of the two tzadikim during this time, bringing doubled strength.   (Based on a lesson by Rabbi Menachem Brosh)