Segulot of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu

Segulot of the great Rishon LeZion—Rav Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu

One of Israel’s greatest tzadikim—the Rishon LeZion (for someone like him, one cannot bring oneself to call him “former”)—an exceptionally profound and refined man, Rav Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu—left behind a tremendous legacy, including very powerful segulot that are “baduk u-menuseh” (segulot tested and proven over time). He saved and delivered countless people from extremely difficult situations. Segulot for Refuah Shleimah  1. On Shabbat, before Kiddush, add three drops of water to the cup of wine, for balance (wine, which is red, represents the power of “Gevurah” (judgment), while water, which is white, represents the power of “Chesed” (mercy)). Rav Mordechai Eliyahu taught that the cup of water from which the three drops were added to the wine is a great segulah for Refuah Shleimah; it is beneficial to drink from it during the meal for healing. 2. Before Shabbat, light two candles: one lechvod Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes, and the other for the Rashbi. Give tzedakah in the amount of “chai” shekels (18) and pray for Refuah; after Shabbat, apply the remaining oil to the afflicted area; 3. On Motzei Shabbat, the olive oil remaining from the Shabbat candles at the bottom of the candle holders is beneficial for healing: apply it to painful areas and rub it on the eyes. It is also good for cosmetic purposes. 4. The kever of the tzadik Rabbi Elazar ben Arach. Once, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu (may his merit protect us) advised a Jew suffering from a serious illness—a tumor on his head—to travel to the kever of Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, collect “chol” (sand) from the four “pinot” (corners) of his tziyun (it may be placed in a small bag), and put it on the afflicted area of his head; this is definitely “merape” (healing). He explained that Rabbi Elazar ben Arach was so poor that when he studied Torah, he did not even have a crumb of bread. Driven to desperation, he ate “chol,” sand, because of hunger. Then a Heavenly Voice proclaimed: “You eat sand—this sand will be a remedy for people.” Shabbat  1. Shabbat candles. Rav Mordechai taught that one should light the most beautiful candles for Shabbat, as it says, “Ki ner mitzvah ve-Torah or”—“For a mitzvah is a lamp, and Torah is light” (Mishlei 6:23). This is a segulah for parnasah tovah and for one’s children to become talmidei chachamim. Shidduch  1. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu taught that the greatest segulah for finding a shidduch is to pray Mincha, as Yitzchak Avinu did. It was specifically during Mincha that Yitzchak prayed for Rivkah and was answered. 2. A segulah at the first shidduch meeting: if a person wishes to know whether this is their bashert, before the meeting take a volume of Tehillim, open it to any page, and read ten consecutive chapters beginning from that page. Then recite the following prayer: “Yehi ratzon”, that the Almighty grant understanding: “Yehi ratzon milfanecha Hashem Elohai ve-Elohei avotai Avraham, Yitzchak ve-Yaakov, atov tikarev, ara tirchak. Ve-emtza chen ve-chesed be-einecha u-ve-einei kol ro’ai, amen ken yehi ratzon!” Parnasah Tovah  1. A segulah is to read Parashat HaMan on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. He explained that Hashem gave us water through “Be’er Miriam” (Miriam’s well) from the earth, while He gave the man (sustenance) from Heaven; conversely, rain comes from Heaven, while plants grow from the earth. By reading Parashat HaMan, we unite everything as one. Segulah for Having Children 1. Prayer on Rosh Chodesh. On Rosh Chodesh, in the addition to the prayer of “Ya’aleh ve-yavo,” we say: “Zochreinu Hashem Eloheinu bo letovah, u-fokdeinu bo livrachah, ve-hoshi’einu bo lechaim tovim”—“Remember us, Hashem our G-d, on this day for goodness, take note of us on this day for blessing, and save us for a good life” … Rav Mordechai Eliyahu taught that when we say “u-fokdeinu bo livrachah,” we should have in mind that “Hashem pakad et Sarah Imenu” (Hashem blessed Sarah Imenu). In this merit, we also ask Him to bless us; this is a segulah for conception and childbirth. 2. A cloth from a Sefer Torah Among Sephardic Jews, there is a custom on festivals, during the bringing out of the Torah, and at a Bar Mitzvah, to tie a cloth or kerchief around the Torah scroll. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu taught that it is beneficial for a woman who wishes to conceive to redeem such a cloth from the beit knesset for “pi four”—four times its value (for example, if it costs 10 shekels, redeem it for 40 shekels)—and tie it around her abdomen. If there is no cloth on the Sefer Torah, one should purchase one, tie it around the Sefer Torah during a festive occasion, and after some time redeem it and use this segulah. Segulot for an Easy Birth  1. A woman entering the maternity ward should remove all gold jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and the like. 2. When a woman enters the maternity ward, her husband should read Sefer Yonah from beginning to end. 3. A pregnant woman in her ninth month should immerse in a mikveh; this facilitates an easy birth. For Troubles and Afflictions 1. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu taught that the “Magid Meisharim” of Rav Yosef Karo (the author of the Shulchan Aruch) says: “Great is the power of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, so that one may rely on him in a difficult hour.” We always thought that hakafot are performed only on Simchat Torah or, according to the Ashkenazic custom, when a bride circles the groom. However, the mekubalim teach that any trouble can be averted at any time by making seven circuits around the kever of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai with lulavim. Protection from Witchcraft  Those who fear “kishuf” (witchcraft), or feel or know that something harmful has been done to them, should read Tehillim 91 every day, beginning with “Vihi Noam,” beside the mezuzah at the entrance door, once in the regular order and once in reverse order. In very difficult situations, read it seven times in each direction. A Segulah for Finding Favor in People’s Eyes Rav Mordechai Eliyahu’s segulah before an important meeting or hearing, in order to attain “metziat chen” (to be pleasing in people’s eyes and win their favor): that same day, it is beneficial to recite the following pasuk 17 times: — “Ve-Noach matza chen be-einei Hashem; ken nimtza chen ve-sechel tov be-einei Hashem ve-adam.” (Bereishit 6:8; Mishlei 3:4) A Powerful Segulah for Teshuvah and Ahavat Yisrael  By order of the Rishon LeZion, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, soap made from Jews and brought to the Holy Land from the collections of concentration camps was transferred to the tziyun of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai. The heart of the Sephardic rabbi was torn by the nightmare he witnessed and by everything his Ashkenazic brothers had endured. [photo from the kever of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai]   [The materials will be supplemented, since the great tzadik left behind a large number of effective segulot] Stories of Tzadikim  Saving an Aircraft During a Flight Across the Atlantic Stories of Tzadikim – A Miraculous Flight with Rishon LeZion Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu   Reburial of the Chida Stories of Tzadikim – Why Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and Rabbeinu Hida Were Buried Side by Side   Friendship with the Baba Sali  Stories of Tzadikim - Baba Sali and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu     (Based on video lessons by Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, lessons by his granddaughter Rachel Bazak, and the book “Gedulot Mordechai”)