Segula on Erev Shavuot for Improving Memory from the Gaon Rabbi Yeshayahu Pinto

Erev Shavuot is a time for improving memory—a segula from the Gaon Rabbi Yeshayahu Pinto (shlita)

In Kabbalistic tradition, the passage from Bereishit 36 about “the kings of Edom who reigned before any king reigned over the children of Israel” is connected with the concept of שבירת הכלים “the shattering of the vessels” and the subsequent tikkun (rectification). These verses list the ancient kings of Edom, of whom it is said that one king died and then another reigned: “And he died…and another reigned in his place.” According to Kabbalah, this alludes to spiritual states before the rectified order, when the light was great but the vessels could not contain it.

Shavuot is the time of receiving the Torah. And memory in Torah is the ability to retain the light of Torah within oneself, so that one can accept the Torah, understand it, and not forget what one has learned.

Therefore, there is a great segula on Erev Shavuot to read three times consecutively the passage from Bereishit (36:31–43)— the passage about the kings of Edom.

Ve-eleh hamelakhim asher malekhu be-eretz Edom lifnei meloch-melekh livnei Yisrael:

Va-yimloch be-Edom Bela ben Beor, ve-shem iro Dinhavah.

Va-yamat Bela, va-yimloch tachtav Yovav ben Zerach mi-Botzrah.

Va-yamat Yovav, va-yimloch tachtav Husham me-eretz ha-Temani.

Va-yamat Husham, va-yimloch tachtav Hadad ben Bedad,

ha-makeh et Midian bisdeh Moav, ve-shem iro Avit.

Va-yamat Hadad, va-yimloch tachtav Samlah mi-Masrekah.

Va-yamat Samlah, va-yimloch tachtav Shaul me-Rechovot ha-Nahar.

Va-yamat Shaul, va-yimloch tachtav Baal Hanan ben Achbor.

Va-yamat Baal Hanan ben Achbor, va-yimloch tachtav Hadar.

Ve-shem iro Pau, ve-shem ishto Mehetavel bat Matred bat Mei-Zahav.

Ve-eleh shemot Alufei Esav le-mishpechotam, limkomotam, bishmotam:

Aluf Timna, Aluf Alvah, Aluf Yetet,

Aluf Oholivamah, Aluf Elah, Aluf Pinon,

Aluf Kenaz, Aluf Teman, Aluf Mivtzar,

Aluf Magdiel, Aluf Iram—

Eleh Alufei Edom le-moshvotam be-Eretz Achuzatam.

Hu Esav, avi Edom.

These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel:

Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhavah.

Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.

Jobab died, and Husham from the land of the Temanite reigned in his place.

Husham died, and Hadad son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.

Hadad died, and Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.

Samlah died, and Shaul from Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.

Shaul died, and Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau, and the name of his wife was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab.

These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, their places, and their names:

Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,

Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,

Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,

Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram.

These are the chiefs of Edom according to their settlements in the land of their possession.

He is Esau, the father of Edom.