A segula ( he, סגולה, pl. סגולות, ''segulot'', "remedy" or "protection") is protective or benevolent charm or

ritual A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized ...

in Kabbalistic and

Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...

ic tradition.

Etymology

The word ''segula'' appears in the Hebrew Bible i
Exodus 19:5
an

where God refers to the Jewish nation as his ''segula'' (treasure). The root of this word, ''

segol Segol (modern he, סֶגּוֹל, ; formerly , ''səḡôl'') is a Hebrew niqqud vowel sign that is represented by three dots forming an upside down equilateral triangle "ֶ ". As such, it resembles an upside down therefore sign (a becau ...

'', is the name of a Hebrew vowel-point represented by three dots. According to the Chaim ibn Attar, Ohr Hachaim, a ''segula'' is "a charm that supersedes logic".

List of ''segulot''

Following is a list of popular or well-known ''segulot''.

Fertility and childbirth

*Distributing ''Lag BaOmer#Chai rotel, chai rotel'' (about 54 liters) of drink at the grave of Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai, Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, Israel on Lag BaOmer is considered a propitious remedy for infertility, as well as for helping a person find his mate or recover from serious illness *Acting as ''Brit milah#Kvatter, kvatterin'' for a baby boy at his ''brit milah'' is a ''segula'' for childless couples to have children of their own * studying of works of Kabbalist ''Zera Shimshon'' (his only child predeceased him) *Eating an etrog or etrog jam facilitates an easy childbirth *Drinking from the waters of Sataf, Ein Sataf in Israel prevents a breech birth *Wearing a ruby helps prevent miscarriage and eases birth. Ingesting ground up rubies enhances the chance of pregnancy.

Protection from harm

*Wearing a Red string (Kabbalah), red string cut from a longer length that has been wound around Rachel's Tomb is an ancient tradition that protects the wearer from danger The only classic source which does mention the red thread expressly forbids its use, saying that tying a red thread on one’s fingers is an idolatrous practice ("darkei emori"). *Giving ''tzedaka'' (charity) money to a traveler to donate when he arrives at his destination helps protect the traveler from harm *Concentrating on the phrase ''Ein Od Milvado'' ( he, אין עוד מלבדו, "There is none but Him [God]") shields a person from danger

Marriage

*Praying at the grave of Rabbi Jonathan ben Uzziel in Amuka, Israel is considered propitious for finding one’s mate within the coming year *Praying at the Western Wall for 40 consecutive days is considered a ''segula'' for finding one’s mate *Holding the jewelry of a bride while she is escorted to her chuppah is a ''segula'' for finding one’s own mate

Other

* Buying a burial plot is a segula for a long life *Placing a pigeon on a person’s navel is efficacious for curing jaundice *Giving ''tzedaka'' in the merit of Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes is a ''segula'' for finding a lost object *Buying a new knife for Rosh Hashanah is a propitious remedy for livelihood *One can hang a special note around the neck of a chicken and use it to identify a thief

References

{{reflist

External links

What Are Segulos and How Do They Work?
Kabbalistic words and phrases Hebrew words and phrases in the Hebrew Bible Talmud concepts and terminology