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GL OBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS
GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi
R abbanit Y emima Mizrachi

Four Wonderful Segulot

for Shabbat Shira

he Shabbat after Tu BiShvat is she sings even before she receives her Rabbi Kalonymos Kalman Shapira, the
called Shabbat Shira, named bread. Rebbe of Piacezna, says: know, that
Tafter Shirat HaYam, which we Shirat HaYam is a “decree” (ה ָ ריֵז ְּג, also
read in Parashat BeShalach. It is an Give the birds breadcrumbs or grain meaning to split). A righteous person
before Shabbat. Show them that belief
episode full of potential and capacity and faith pay off. And if you don’t give decrees and G-d fulfils. When you say
for your own personal splitting of the Shirat HaYam you are essentially doing
sea – whether in health, in parnassah, them? They’ll be fine. The birds get by. as the Jews did at Yam Suf. They sang
or in relationships. Am Yisrael stand at But this segula comes to awaken your of the future, of the Beit HaMikdash:
faith, that you too have your daily por-
the edge of the Red Sea, surrounded “Bring them and plant them…” The
by desert. Behind them – Pharaoh, his tion of bread saved for you. Beit HaMikdash would only be built
army and his horsemen. The Jews cry in another few years, but they were
out and pray. G-d says to Moshe Rab- 2. Challot already singing about it, and by doing
beinu, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell An additional segula for blessed so, building the reality. Have kavanah:
the Israelites to go forward!” livelihood. In Parashat BeShalach, “I’m now decreeing that such should

“When Israel is in distress, it’s not HaKadosh Baruch Hu speaks for the happen – to me! ‘Who split apart Yam
the time for lengthy prayers,” explains first time about Shabbat, and we hear Suf – His lovingkindness is eternal’”
Rashi, “it’s the time to do something! about lechem mishneh, which can also (Tehillim 136:13). I believe that He Who
be interpreted as lechem meshuneh, dif-
When you feel stuck in a particular sit- ferent in its shape and taste. So, place decreed (gazar) then, can do so forever,
uation, take a step forward. Move! This six small challahs on each side of the always, and for me, as well.”
specific Shabbat, you have the power to table, i.e. 12 in all. Place three in the
change your destiny. shape of a the Hebrew vowel, segol ( 4. Sing!
Here’s your “homework” for the week ) and three more on top of them in On Shabbat Shira, sing. Every Shabbat
of Parashat BeShalach and for Shabbat the same way. This is a minhag of the is a song: “A song for the Shabbat day”
Shira: Arizal, who promises livelihood for the (Tehillim 92:1). But Shabbat Shira sings
coming 12 months, because this bread with you! The Chidushei HaRim says:
1. Feeding the birds draws so much blessing to you. “Sometimes, a person feels devotion, as
if he became a new being; this is what
A segula for faith and for an abundant 3. Say Shirat HaYam
livelihood. My favorite explanation for song is. And this is what makes Shab-
this is from Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz, the When you read Shirat HaYam, think of bat, because the Shabbat itself sings.”
Imrei Pinchas: in all of Creation, only the troubles and disturbances in your Sit around the table and sing Shabbat
man and birds sing. Birds rule the air. life. When the Egyptians drown, think, zemirot, and prune (in Hebrew, ּור ְ מְז ִּ ת,
A tune is created by air passing from “soon everything will pass. Hashem is sharing the same letters as the word “to
the lungs through the larynx, and many organizing my redemption.” At 'ה ע ׁ ַ שוּי ַ ו sing”) all of the bitterness from your life.
instruments generate sounds using אּוה ַ ה םוּי ַּ ב, be filled with true joy. What
the power of air as well. So too, Shirat happens when we read Shirat HaYam?
HaYam is written in columns – words The Zohar says that at that very
with ‘air’ in between them. Therefore, moment, every year, Moshe, Aharon
on Shabbat Shira, we feed the birds, and Miriam, and the whole generation
because they can sing, like man. And in of the Exodus, come down from Gan
the week of the parasha of manna too, Eden and sing Shirat HaYam with the
we throw food to the birds and look to Jewish people on Shabbat Shira, and
them who have no worries. The bird draw blessings down upon the Jews Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi is a popular
knows G-d will provide her food and from above. Israeli teacher, speaker and writer.

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