Prayer for Deliverance by Rabbi Judah the Pious

Prayer for Deliverance by Rabbi Judah the Pious

Rabbeinu Chida writes in his book “Yosef B'Seder” that a tradition was received from Rabbi Judah the Pious (zechuto yagen aleinu)—a distinguished 12th-century Jewish sage and kabbalist, author of “Sefer Ha-Hasidim” (The Book of the Pious)—that anyone who recites these three verses daily, in the regular order and in reverse, will be saved from all troubles. The secret of these phrases is that their first letters form the word “Avi” (My Father), referring to our Father in Heaven—the Almighty. Reading them in both the regular and reverse order strengthens the prayer. Prayer “Atah seter li, mi-tzar titsreni—rannei falet tesov eveni selah. Selah tesov eveni falet rannei titsreni mi-tzar li seter Atah. Bitchu b'Ad-nai adei ad, ki be-Yah Ad-nai Tzur Olamim. Olamim Tzur Ad-nai be-Yah ki ad adei b'Ad-nai bitchu. Ad-nai oz le-amo yiten, Ad-nai yevarech et amo va-shalom. Va-shalom amo et yevarech Ad-nai yiten le-amo oz Ad-nai.” “Kaf HaChaim” (286:8) writes in the name of Rabbi Judah the Pious that if troubles befall someone, he should undertake to recite this segula together with “Nishmat Kol Chai”. After a person experiences deliverance, Rabbi Judah the Pious says, he should recite the prayer “Nishmat Kol Chai” in the presence of at least ten people, with gratitude and song before the Almighty. This is a tried-and-tested remedy.     (Maran Chida, “Yosef B'Seder,” ch. 8; Sefer “Segulot Yisrael” (90:20)