A Segula for Memory from the Mekubal Rabbi Moshe Stroll

A Segula for Improving Memory Using Nuts from the Mekubal Rabbi Moshe Stroll

In the book “Mifalot Elo-him”, folio 16b, citing the book “Amtahat Binyamin”, which quotes the great master and teacher Rabbi Moshe Stroll, may his merit protect us, it says: “If you wish to acquire a good memory, here is what I received from many ancient sages who revealed the secret of remembering, and a sign for you: “Vayavo Yaakov Luza” (and Yaakov came to Luz). (Bereishit 35:6) When the “luz” nuts (hazelnuts) ripen—which naturally occurs in this region during the month of Elul—go alone to this tree and recite three times: “How can a young man keep his way pure...” through the words “...I will not forget Your word.” (Tehillim 119:9–16)   ב ט בַּמֶּ֣ה יְזַכֶּה־נַּ֭עַר אֶת־אָרְח֑וֹ לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ׃ י בְּכָל־לִבִּ֥י דְרַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אַל־תַּ֝שְׁגֵּ֗נִי מִמִּצְוֺתֶֽיךָ׃ יא בְּ֭לִבִּי צָפַ֣נְתִּי אִמְרָתֶ֑ךָ לְ֝מַ֗עַן לֹ֣א אֶֽחֱטָא־לָֽךְ׃ יב בָּר֖וּךְ אַתָּ֥ה יְהוָ֗ה לַמְּדֵ֥נִי חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃ יג בִּשְׂפָתַ֥י סִפַּ֑רְתִּי כֹּ֝֗ל מִשְׁפְּטֵי־פִֽיךָ׃ יד בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ עֵדְוֺתֶ֥יךָ שַׂ֗שְׂתִּי כְּעַ֣ל כָּל־הֽוֹן׃ טו בְּפִקֻּדֶ֥יךָ אָשִׂ֑יחָה וְ֝אַבִּ֗יטָה אֹרְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃ טז בְּחֻקֹּתֶ֥יךָ אֶֽשְׁתַּעֲשָׁ֑ע לֹ֭א אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח דְּבָרֶֽךָ׃ Bet — ב “Bameh yezakke na'ar et orcho, lishmor kidvarekha. 10. Bekhol libi derashtikha, al tashgeni mimitzvotekha. 11. Belibi tzafanti imratekha, lema'an lo eḥeta lakh. 12. Barukh Atah Ado-nai, lamdeni ḥukekha. 13. Bisfatai siparti, kol mishpetei fikha. 14. Bederekh edvoteikha sastí, ke'al kol hon. 15. Befikudekha asiḥa, ve'abita orḥotekha. 16. Beḥukotekha eshta'asha, lo eshkaḥ devarekha.” (How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word! (10) With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. (11) I have treasured Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You. (12) Blessed are You, O L-rd; teach me Your statutes! (13) With my lips I have recounted all the ordinances of Your mouth. (14) I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches. (15) I reflect on Your precepts and consider Your paths. (16) I delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word!) [Then recite]: אגל"א השם הנכבד יהי רצון מלפניך למען קדושתך שיהיו הלוזים הללו מה שאקח ואלקוט מזה האילן לעזור ולהועיל ולהושיע לי שאזכור כל מה שאלמוד וכל מה שאשמע אמן סלע AGULA — Ha-Shem ha-nekhbad, yehi ratzon milfaneikha lema'an kedushatekha, she-yihyu ha-luzim ha-eleh, mah she-ekakh ve-elkot mi-ze ha-ilan, le-ezer u-leho'il u-lehoshia li, she-ezkor kol mah she-elmad ve-khol mah she-eshma. Amen. Sela. (AGULA [the Name of the Almighty]—the exalted Name—may it be Your will, for the sake of Your holiness, that these nuts, which I will take and gather from this tree, help me, benefit me, and come to my aid, so that I will remember everything I learn and everything I hear. Amen. Sela.)   After this incantation, with great concentration and clean hands, quickly gather 283 luz nuts (hazelnuts), corresponding to the gematria of the word “zikaron” (memory)—neither fewer nor more than this number. Eat them before breakfast, immediately after prayer, nine nuts at a time—neither fewer nor more—until you have eaten all 283 nuts over 32 days. [The gematria of the word “memory” (זכרון) is 283. Since 283 is not evenly divisible by 9, this means the following: One should eat 9 nuts each day for 31 days, totaling 279 nuts. On the 32nd day, eat the remaining 4 nuts.] Before eating the nuts, always recite the following with kavanah and clean hands: יהי רצון מלפניך היושב על כסא רחמים שלא תסיר ממני אופן השמירה והזכירה מחמת אכילת הלוזים. לו"ז מספרו ג"ם אנכי לא אשכח ברוך אתה ה' נותן התורה לעמו ישראל “Yehi ratzon milfaneikha. Ha-yoshev al kisei Rachamim, she-lo tasir mimeni ofen ha-shmirah ve-ha-zekhira maḥamat akhilat ha-luzim. Luz misparo gam: ‘Anokhi lo eshkaḥ.’ Barukh Atah Ado-nai, noten ha-Torah le-amo Yisrael.” (May it be Your will, Who sits upon the Throne of Mercy, that You not remove from me the protection and memory associated with eating luz nuts. The numerical value of “luz” is the same as that of the word “gam” [“also”] in the verse: “Yet I will not forget.” Blessed are You, O L-rd, Who gives the Torah to His people Israel.) After all this has been done and completed, at the conclusion of Shabbat, after Havdalah, [it is apparently meant that the 32nd day of this segula should fall on Shabbat, so that the concluding part of the segula can be performed after Havdalah at the end of Shabbat. This means that the nut regimen should begin on Wednesday morning. Only in this way can the 32nd day of the segula fall on Shabbat] recite: אגף שגף נגף Agaf, Shagaf, Nagaf [Then recite seven times: “Eliyahu ha-Navi,” followed by:] יהי רצון מלפניך היושב על כסא רחמים שלא תסיר ממני אופן השמירה והזכירה מחמת אכילת הלוזים. לו"ז מספרו ג"ם אנכי לא אשכח ברוך אתה ה' נותן התורה לעמו ישראל “Yehi ratzon milfaneikha. Ha-yoshev al kisei Rachamim, she-lo tasir mimeni ofen ha-shmirah ve-ha-zekhira maḥamat akhilat ha-luzim. Luz misparo gam: ‘Anokhi lo eshkaḥ.’ Barukh Atah Ado-nai, noten ha-Torah le-amo Yisrael.” (May it be Your will, Who sits upon the Throne of Mercy, that You not remove from me the protection and memory associated with eating luz nuts. The numerical value of “luz” is the same as that of the word “gam” [“also”] in the verse: “Yet I will not forget.” Blessed are You, O L-rd, Who gives the Torah to His people Israel.)   Explanations Several points should be noted regarding this segula, so that it does not conflict with halachah or with the customs observed during the month of Tishrei: 1. The segula cannot be begun in Elul immediately after gathering the nuts, because anyone who begins the segula in Elul will have to eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah, and according to Kabbalah, it is customary not to eat any nuts during these days. 2. The two days of Rosh Hashanah are followed by the Fast of Gedaliah, and a week later by Yom Kippur. Since the segula requires eating nuts for 32 consecutive days, it may be begun only on 11 Tishrei, so that it will not be interrupted. 3. The nuts should therefore be gathered and stored until 11 Tishrei. 4. In addition, the nuts must be shelled in advance for Shabbat, since shelling nuts on Shabbat is prohibited by the Torah.