There is a beautiful Sephardic segula for the period of Sefirat HaOmer, cited by Rabbeinu Chida.
On the first night of Sefirat HaOmer (16 Nissan), take a small bag of salt in your right hand and begin counting the Omer.
Rabbeinu Chida explains this segula by noting that salt is effective in warding off the ayin hara (evil eye).
Rabbi Baruch Asberg – "Minchat Moshe" writes that one who holds salt in his hands throughout the entire counting of the Omer will be protected from negative spiritual forces. After the counting of the Omer is completed, the bag containing a small amount of salt is carried at all times, like the afikoman.
Since the Omer period is a time of spiritual growth and refinement, the salt can protect against those negative forces that will inevitably try to hinder this growth.
The Order for Counting the Omer
Before counting the Omer, recite Tehillim 122, 131, and 133 – they are very beneficial for protection from negative forces. This is followed by the recitation of the following prayer:
וידבר ה` אל משה לאומר: דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אליהם כי תבואו אל הארץ אשר אני נותן לכם וקצרתם את קצירה והבאתם את עומר ראשית קצרכם אל - הכן: והניף את העומר לפני ה` לרצונכם ממחרת השבת יניפנו הכן: יהי רצון מלפניך ה` אלקינו ואלוקי אבותינו, בזכות ספירת העומר אשר ציותנו בתורתך ובזכות שמותיך הקדושים והטהורים היוצאים הממזמורים האלו, היוצאים מראשי תיבות וסופי תיבות של הפסוקים הקדושים האלו ובזכות אבותינו הקדושים והטהורים אברהם יצחק ויעקב, שיהיה זה המלח לי לשמי פב"פ ,או לשם מי שארצה ולכל מי שיישא המלח הזה עליו , יהיה לו למגן וצינה מדבר, ממגפה, מעין דבר רע, אמן כן יהי רצון.“And the L-rd spoke to Moshe, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you come into the land that I am giving you, you shall reap its harvest and bring the omer of the first portion of your harvest;
May it be Your will, Ha-Shem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that in the merit of the counting of the Omer, which You commanded us in Your Torah, and in the merit of Your holy and pure Names, which are concealed in the prayer for counting the Omer, and in the merit of our holy forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, this salt shall be for me (name), and for anyone who carries this salt, may it serve as protection and a shield against plague and pestilence, the evil eye, and every form of evil – amen; may it be Your will.”
Then take salt (any amount in a small bag) in your hand and count the Omer. The Sages caution that the salt must not be placed on the ground, but should be held in the hand during the blessing.
Once the counting of the Omer has been completed, the salt acquires power as a kind of amulet, which can be used for protection against all negative forces.
In addition, the Belzer Rebbe explains that salt is what connects the Heavenly Kingdom with the earthly realm. Therefore, when we hold salt while counting the Omer, we symbolize our struggle to cast off our animalistic, earthly qualities and cleave to Ha-Shem, developing within ourselves ever more G-dly qualities.
(Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar, author of the book “Magen Avot”, edited by Rabbi Emil Amtsalag)
