A segula ( Hebrew: סגולה, romanized: səḡullā, lit. ' talisman', pl. סגולות səḡulloṯ [1] [2]) is protective or benevolent incantation or ritual in Kabbalistic and Talmudic tradition. [3] [4]
In medieval magic, " sigil" ( /ˈsɪdʒɪl/) was commonly used to refer to occult signs representing various angels and demons the practitioner might summon. In this context, the term sigil derives from the Latin sigillum "seal." [5] Maimonides strongly urges against writing sigils on the back of a mezuzah, turning it into an amulet, in Mishneh Torah, "Laws of Tefilin and Mezuzzah", 5:4.
Hebrew: אֲבָל אֵלּוּ שֶׁכּוֹתְבִין מִבִּפְנִים שְׁמוֹת הַמַּלְאָכִים אוֹ שֵׁמוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים אוֹ פָּסוּק אוֹ חוֹתָמוֹת הֲרֵי הֵן בִּכְלַל מִי שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. שֶׁאֵלּוּ הַטִּפְּשִׁים לֹא דַּי לָהֶם שֶׁבִּטְּלוּ הַמִּצְוָה אֶלָּא שֶׁעָשׂוּ מִצְוָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁהִיא יִחוּד הַשֵּׁם שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאַהֲבָתוֹ וַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא קָמֵעַ שֶׁל הֲנָיַת עַצְמָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָלָה עַל לִבָּם הַסָּכָל שֶׁזֶּהוּ דָּבָר הַמְהַנֶּה בְּהַבְלֵי הָעוֹלָם:
Those, however, who write the names of angels, other sacred names, verses, or forms, on the inside [of a mezuzah] are among those who do not have a portion in the world to come. Not only do these fools nullify the mitzvah, but furthermore, they make from a great mitzvah [which reflects] the unity of the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, the love of Him, and the service of Him, a talisman [Hebrew: קמע, romanized: qāmēʿ, lit. 'amulet'] for their own benefit. [6]
Segula appears in the Hebrew Bible in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6, where God refers to the Jewish nation as his segula (treasure). The root of this word, segol, is the name of a Hebrew vowel-point represented by three dots. According to the Chaim ibn Attar, a segula is "a charm that supersedes logic". [7]
Following is a list of popular or well-known segulot.
Jerome [sɣolˈlɑː] 'prized possession' (Mal. 3.17)
<< The sages of the Midrash advise us to purchase a burial plot even while we are still alive and well.1 And it is commonly said that doing so will actually bless one with a long life >> (... where the footnote "1" lists many authoritative sources).
A segula ( Hebrew: סגולה, romanized: səḡullā, lit. ' talisman', pl. סגולות səḡulloṯ [1] [2]) is protective or benevolent incantation or ritual in Kabbalistic and Talmudic tradition. [3] [4]
In medieval magic, " sigil" ( /ˈsɪdʒɪl/) was commonly used to refer to occult signs representing various angels and demons the practitioner might summon. In this context, the term sigil derives from the Latin sigillum "seal." [5] Maimonides strongly urges against writing sigils on the back of a mezuzah, turning it into an amulet, in Mishneh Torah, "Laws of Tefilin and Mezuzzah", 5:4.
Hebrew: אֲבָל אֵלּוּ שֶׁכּוֹתְבִין מִבִּפְנִים שְׁמוֹת הַמַּלְאָכִים אוֹ שֵׁמוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים אוֹ פָּסוּק אוֹ חוֹתָמוֹת הֲרֵי הֵן בִּכְלַל מִי שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. שֶׁאֵלּוּ הַטִּפְּשִׁים לֹא דַּי לָהֶם שֶׁבִּטְּלוּ הַמִּצְוָה אֶלָּא שֶׁעָשׂוּ מִצְוָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁהִיא יִחוּד הַשֵּׁם שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאַהֲבָתוֹ וַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא קָמֵעַ שֶׁל הֲנָיַת עַצְמָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָלָה עַל לִבָּם הַסָּכָל שֶׁזֶּהוּ דָּבָר הַמְהַנֶּה בְּהַבְלֵי הָעוֹלָם:
Those, however, who write the names of angels, other sacred names, verses, or forms, on the inside [of a mezuzah] are among those who do not have a portion in the world to come. Not only do these fools nullify the mitzvah, but furthermore, they make from a great mitzvah [which reflects] the unity of the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, the love of Him, and the service of Him, a talisman [Hebrew: קמע, romanized: qāmēʿ, lit. 'amulet'] for their own benefit. [6]
Segula appears in the Hebrew Bible in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6, where God refers to the Jewish nation as his segula (treasure). The root of this word, segol, is the name of a Hebrew vowel-point represented by three dots. According to the Chaim ibn Attar, a segula is "a charm that supersedes logic". [7]
Following is a list of popular or well-known segulot.
Jerome [sɣolˈlɑː] 'prized possession' (Mal. 3.17)
<< The sages of the Midrash advise us to purchase a burial plot even while we are still alive and well.1 And it is commonly said that doing so will actually bless one with a long life >> (... where the footnote "1" lists many authoritative sources).