The Secrets of Ezov – Za’atar

The Secrets of Ezov – Za’atar

“Ezov” – אזוב Ezov is formed from the letters זו (“this”) and אב (“Av”)—a hint that the month of Av contains many troubles. Rabbeinu Chida wrote about ezov in his book, citing both the Arizal HaKadosh and Rabbi Moshe Zacuto – Ramaz. According to Kabbalah, the scent of ezov possesses many wondrous protective properties. In Arabic, ezov is called “za’atar”. Ibn Ezra writes that the weekly Torah portion of Metzora says: “And he shall take for the purification of the house two birds, cedar wood, crimson thread, and ezov…” Rabbi Saadia Gaon taught that in Spanish this is oregano. Maimonides, however, reveals that “za’atar” is actually “tsa’atar”—over the course of many years, one letter was replaced, and instead of saying “tsa’atar,” people began saying “za’atar.” And “tsa’atar” is “tzaraat”. When the Children of Israel wished to cross the Yam Suf and the sea opened before them, they walked on dry land within the sea. It is precisely this moment that is described in Shirat HaYam: אימתה ופחד בגדל זרועך “Eimata ve-fachad bigdol zero’acha”—(fear and dread will fall upon them at the might of Your arm)—the rashei teivot, the initial letters of this verse, form the word “ezov.” When a person places “za’atar” on the table, it is as though he sees that very light of Hashem which was revealed when the Children of Israel crossed the Yam Suf—and he consumes harmful forces and possesses tremendous strength. Carry with you a packet of pure ezov – za’atar (not a seasoning mixed with sesame and other ingredients). Rabbeinu Chida, Kaf HaChaim, Baba Meir, and other mekubalim advised leaving the house with a packet of ezov, so that no negative forces could cause harm. 1. It is beneficial to keep ezov on the table at home, and it is also beneficial to carry it with you (in your pocket). 2. The Arizal HaKadosh teaches that ezov is beneficial for protection from harmful forces and severe kelipot, for healing, and for peace in the home. He said that in order to prevent witchcraft from taking effect, one should carry “shoresh ezov” (za’atar). 3. Ezov drives away evil spirits; it is beneficial to smell ezov several times a day. 4. Rabbi Moshe Zacuto writes that whoever carries ezov with him will not be affected by witchcraft, and it will not harm him. 5. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef would tell his family, when they had joyful family occasions, to go into the garden, pick ezov, and place it in their pockets before attending events with many people. This helps protect against ayin hara and mekatrегim (prosecuting angels), and saves one from harmful forces. 6. Rabbi Avraham Galanti, a student of the Arizal HaKadosh, said that placing ezov on the table brings salvation from mazikim. It may also be consumed as food. 7. Rabbi Shimon also taught that ezov is particularly effective against “mekatrегim” (prosecuting angels), for banishing all forms of evil, ayin hara, all kinds of spells, and more. 8. Ramchal cites a verse from Tehillim (51:9) on this subject: תְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִי בְאֵז֣וֹב וְאֶטְהָ֑ר תְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִי וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג אַלְבִּֽין – “Techat’eni ve-ezov ve-ethar, techabbseni u-mi-sheleg albin” – (Cleanse me with ezov and I shall be pure; wash me and I shall become whiter than snow). 9. The mekubalim transmit that during the days of Shovavim, one should wash the hands and feet in water in which ezov has been boiled. This water is considered capable of nullifying all forms of sin involving Pegam HaBrit (violation of the covenant) and protecting a person from every kind of harmful force. 10. It is beneficial to carry ezov during the negative months of “Tammuz and Av”; this protects a person. 11. Rabbi Shalom Buzaglo writes in his book that ezov corresponds to “Yesod”; one who has fallen in Yesod can be healed through ezov. 12. It is beneficial to place a packet of ezov/za’atar under the mattress to ward off bad dreams and negative thoughts. An allergy sufferer may place it in two packets. 13. Baba Sali would place za’atar on the table and cover it with a tablecloth before receiving people. 14. Baba Meir, the son of Baba Sali, gave every child in the household a packet of ezov to put in their pocket when leaving the house. 15. We see in four places in Tanakh that za’atar purifies ritual impurity, “tumah”:

• In Egypt, before the plague of the firstborn, Hashem told the people of Israel to take a bundle of ezov, dip it in blood, and apply it to the doorposts near the mezuzah, so that the Angel of Death would pass over their homes and the plague would not affect them.
• A metzora is purified with ezov;
• The impurity of the dead is also purified with ezov;
• The “Parah Adumah” (ashes of the red heifer) also purify through ezov.

16. “Kaf HaChaim” also held this view regarding ezov—that one should carry it to protect against harmful forces. 17. Joshua bin Nun sent two angels to Jericho and told them to go to the “beit ishah zonah veshmah Rachav”—the rashei teivot form “ezov,” and the power of ezov saved them. 18. Ezov drives fear away from a person, as well as heresy and much more. 19. Ezov has a gematria of 16, as does “odaya,” which also equals 16. 20. The Arizal HaKadosh advised placing “ezov” beside the salt on Shabbat. 21. Ben Ish Chai taught that every Friday one should take “za’atar”, add it to water, bring the water to a boil, then cool it and wash one’s face, hands, and feet with it. This removes ayin hara and helps with Tikkun HaBrit (together with repentance). 20. “Za’atar”—rashei teivot: ז –   זיתים – zeitim (olives) ע -  ענבים – anavim (grapes) ת – תאנים – te’enim (figs) ר - רימונים – rimonim (pomegranates) A hint regarding the order of precedence for blessings.  

A segula for healing a broken heart, depression, and sadness, and for rectifying violations of the covenant

Tehillim 147:3 says: הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃ – “Harofe lishvurei lev, u-mechabesh le-atzvotam” – (He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds); – “U-mechabesh le-atzvotam”—if the letters of the word “u-mechabesh” are rearranged in reverse order, they form שחבו—that is, ש (Shem) חב׳׳ו—the Name חב׳׳ו (the 72-letter Name); We also encounter this Name in the Amidah: “Mekbetz nidhei amo Yisrael”—the third letter of each word forms בח׳׳ו. This Name rectifies a person’s sins involving violations of the covenant. The gematria of the Name בח׳׳ו is 16. 16 is the gematria of the word “ezov”—in Hebrew, “za’atar,” the herb that removes all negative forces. This Name is connected with the herb “ezov.” The herb “ezov” helps heal a broken heart.  

Verses from Tanakh containing ezov

Tehillim 32:8 – אזוב אַשְׂכִּֽילְךָ֨ ׀ וְֽאוֹרְךָ֗ בְּדֶֽרֶךְ־ז֥וּ תֵלֵ֑ךְ אִֽיעֲצָ֖ה עָלֶ֣יךָ עֵינִֽי – “Askilcha, ve-orecha be-derech zu telech, i’atzah alecha einai” – (I will make you wise and show you the way you should go; I will advise you, keeping My eye upon you);   Tehillim 22:6 – אזוב אֵלֶ֣יךָ זָעֲק֣וּ וְנִמְלָ֑טוּ בְּךָ֖ בָטְח֣וּ וְלֹא־בֽוֹשׁוּ׃ – “Elecha za’aku ve-nimlatu, becha vatchu ve-lo voshu” – (They cried out to You and were saved; they trusted in You and were not shamed); Tehillim 51:9 תְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִי בְאֵז֣וֹב וְאֶטְהָ֑ר תְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִי וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג אַלְבִּֽין – “Techat’eni ve-ezov ve-ethar, techabbseni u-mi-sheleg albin” – (Cleanse me with ezov and I shall be pure; wash me and I shall become whiter than snow);   Shemot 15:16  A verse from Shirat HaYam: אימתה ופחד בגדל זרועך “Eimata ve-fachad bigdol zero’acha” – (fear and dread will fall upon them at the might of Your arm)—the rashei teivot of this verse form the word “ezov.”   The blessing for Ezov: If it is consumed (added to tea or sprinkled on pita), one recites:   – “Baruch Atah Ado-nai, Eloheinu Melech ha-Olam, bore minei besamim” – (Who creates various kinds of spices). If one only inhales its aroma, the blessing is:   – “Baruch Atah Ado-nai, Eloheinu Melech ha-Olam, bore isvei besamim” – (Who creates fragrant herbs).   (Based on a lecture by Rav Menachem Brosh, “The Secrets of Ezov,” and by Rav Yisrael Yakovov for Sila Tehilim, “The Secrets of Ezov”)