Segulot with the Names of Angels from “Kishur Merkavah”

Segulot with the Names of Angels from “Kishur Merkavah”

In the prayer “Kishur Merkavah,” we pronounce the names of the four angels of the Heavenly Chariot of G-d. מימיני מיכאל ומשמאלי גבריאל מלפני אוריאל מאחורי רפאל ועל ראשי שכינת אל  “Mi-yamini Michael, u-mi-smoli Gavriel, mi-lefanai Uriel, mi-achorai Raphael, ve-al ha-rosh sheli Shechinat El” — (To my right is Michael, to my left Gavriel, before me Uriel, behind me Raphael, and above my head is the Shechinah of G-d.) Read more here: “Kishur Merkavah” – a prayer for salvation The renowned sage Rabbi Yehoshua Horowitz notes in his book “Ateret Yehoshua” that in this prayer we say, “Before me is Uriel,” because this angel symbolizes, as it were, “the face of G-d,” as it is written: “In the light of the King’s countenance there is life” (Mishlei 16:15). He writes that the angel Raphael sends healing to the sick, while the angel Uriel gives a person the vitality needed to prevent illness from approaching him. Shlah HaKadosh, citing the holy book of the Zohar (Pinchas, 225a), writes in his book “Shnei Luchot HaBrit” that all worlds consist of four elements: water, fire, air, and earth. In the world of Asiyah (where we live), these elements are material, while in the world of Yetzirah they are spiritual. Water in the world of Yetzirah is represented by the angel Michael; Fire in the world of Yetzirah is represented by the angel Gavriel; Air in the world of Yetzirah is represented by the angel Uriel; Earth in the world of Yetzirah is represented by the angel Raphael. The book of the Zohar (Bereishit, 236) states that the angel Uriel possesses two attributes: Chesed (kindness) and Gevurah (the attribute of judgment). Therefore, he has two names: Uriel (Chesed) and Nuriel (Gevurah). Rabbi Avigdor Kara of Prague cites in his book “Sefer HaPeliah” a remarkable insight: the gematria of the names of the angels of the four elements in the world of Yetzirah—Michael מיכאל, Gavriel גבריאל, Nuriel נוריאל and Raphael רפאל—equals 955. The gematria of the four elements of this world—water מים, fire אש, air רוח, earth עפר—also equals 955. The number 955 is not accidental. Moshe Rabbeinu taught that there are 955 gates leading to the Heavenly Throne. Sefer Devarim contains 955 verses—corresponding to the 955 Gates of Prayer. Read more here: Sefer Devarim on Shabbat – 955 P'sukim Corresponding to the 955 Gates of Prayer   The great Kabbalist Rabbi Natan Neta Shapira writes in his book “Megaleh Amukot” (Chayei Sarah) that the angel Uriel leads the soul of a righteous person to Gan Eden. Segulot:  1. For a good and successful day After waking up and getting out of bed, one should place the right foot on the floor, followed by the left, and repeat Uriel seven times while exhaling (after first taking a deep breath). 2. A segula for fear of heights — pronounce the names of the two angels three times (they may be recited): Uriel – Tzuriel, Uriel – Tzuriel, Uriel – Tzuriel. 3. For passing exams The Biala Rebbe, Rav Matityahu Rabinovich, gives the following segula for success in examinations: One should rise in the morning, without speaking to anyone, perform the ritual hand washing, and say seven times: “ha-malakh Uriel.” Afterward, one should give tzedakah, and when leaving the house, kiss the mezuzah and say: וְנֹחַ מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה — “Ve-Noach matza chen be-einei Ado-nai” — (Noach found favor in the eyes of G-d). (Bereishit 6:8) 4. Protection from enemies and those who hate you The renowned sage Rav Eliyahu Gutmacher cites in his book “Tzafnat Paneach” another segula connected with the name of the angel Uriel. He writes that many prayer books cite the Ramban as saying that if a person sees someone who hates him, he should whisper the name Uriel seven times, or the angel’s other name, Nuriel, seven times—and that person will then develop positive feelings toward him. 5. A segula involving water Pronouncing the name of the angel Uriel aloud over water before reciting the bracha conveys positive energy to the water in the vessel. One should say “Uriel” seven times in succession and then drink a glass of water. (Based on the book “The Wisdom of Solomon” by Moshe Abramovich, and the teachings of Rav Yisrael Yakovov)