The "Great Segula"
In Parshas Pekudei, the Degel Machaneh Ephraim said that it was a great segula (סגולה גדולה) to learn Torah, no matter how small an amount, immediately after davening. In Parshas Ki Sissa [second paragraph], he also mentioned this practice, however, there he referred to it as an eitza (piece of advice). Does anyone know why the Degel specifically refers to this practice as a great segula in one place and as advice in another?
The Degel seems to be saying that learning any Torah could accomplish this. At the end of Parshas Pekudei, however, he taught that there were great secrets of the Torah hidden in the description of the Mishkan and its keilim. Is the Degel thus suggesting that we learn Parshas Pekudei immediately after davening as part of this segula?
The reason that I am interested in this is because the only other place I can recall the Degel mentioning a segula in his sefer is in the Likkutim section where he said that it is a segula to recite the words of the Zohar even if one does not understand the words.
I would greatly appreciate and welcome anyone's insight into these questions to help me better under stand "my sefer".
The Degel seems to be saying that learning any Torah could accomplish this. At the end of Parshas Pekudei, however, he taught that there were great secrets of the Torah hidden in the description of the Mishkan and its keilim. Is the Degel thus suggesting that we learn Parshas Pekudei immediately after davening as part of this segula?
The reason that I am interested in this is because the only other place I can recall the Degel mentioning a segula in his sefer is in the Likkutim section where he said that it is a segula to recite the words of the Zohar even if one does not understand the words.
I would greatly appreciate and welcome anyone's insight into these questions to help me better under stand "my sefer".
8 Comments:
If he had wished to indicate that one should learn Pekudei he would have said so. In any event, the gemara says to learn what one feels a desire for.
As for your question, I think it depends on the context.
In Ki Sisah, he discusses this as an eitzah to avoid a spiritual fall after davening. This is great advice to protect against the natural tendency to misuse the emotional charge built up during davening. In Pikudei he discusses this practice in the larger context of judgments that may have been aroused on a person due to his tefilah. Torah learned after davening is a segulah to sweeten such judgments.
Thank you so much for your response, Rabbi Golshevsky!
Blessings. thank you too R. although as a believing gentile much of the lessons/advice is not really meant for us, but knowing and understanding at our level only increases our faith and entrenches us deeply in the path of a noahide, as meant for us 70 nations.
I don't know the answer to your question. But I once heard from the Pshemishler Rebbe -- and I think he said this in the name oif the Baal Shem Tov, but am not 100% sure anymore -- that one should learn even a minimal amount after davenning to ground yourself again after the deveykus attained during the high point of tefillah. He said this could be from any sefer. Even a sentence or two.
The concept of "May Chail El Choyil" is accomplished by learning right after davening. I don't think the Degel is suggesting to learn Parshas Pikudei specifically, as was mentioned here already. Learning Torah at any time is a Segulah for all good things. Using the energy generated by one Mitzvah to fuel subsequent Mitzvos increases the effectiveness of that Segulah and the Mitzvos performed. Perhaps this is a reason why one should give Tzedaka before davening instead of after. (see Shulchan Aruch 92:10, Mishnah Berurah 36)
Doesn't it say b'ferush somewhere that you should go from the beis kneses to the beis medrash ?
Anon
I think it is a Gemara in Brochos, if I remember correctly.
Degel Machaneh Efraim, Parashas Ki Sissa:
"It is known in the name of my master, my father, my elder [the Baal Shem Tov] that after prayer, a person needs to be very careful about what he does, lest he fall, Heaven forbid, into anger or other things that are not appropriate. That is, if he prayed with the Attribute of Fear, he might fall afterwards into anger [the klipah around fear], Heaven forbid, or if he prayed in the Attribute of great Love, at times, he might fall afterwards into a love that is not necessary [a craving or addictive behavior]. This principle applies to each of the Attributes, as you will understand.
It is well-advised, immediately after prayer, to join it to Torah study or work. …[As it says in the] Mishnah (Avos 2): "All Torah that has not with it an occupation will in the end come to be nullified, and cause sin," as mentioned above. Understand this."
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