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“Success in all matters and never lacking parnasah” Segulos and Remedies in the Holy Handwriting of Rabbi Chaim Vital * A leaf written in the holy handwriting of the Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital (the Maharchu), foremost disciple of the Arizal, containing: divine names, amulets, incantations, medical prescriptions, and more. Among the wondrous segulos found on the present leaf is a segulah for livelihood, ensuring that one’s sustenance shall not be lacking, achieved through the recital of a divine name or its contemplation in thought (see section 403). Also appearing here are protections against the evil eye, thieves, remedies, and matters of chemistry. Aside from his holiness and greatness in the wisdom of truth, the Maharchu engaged in the wisdom of medicine, practical Kabbalah, and chemistry, composing a large and comprehensive work on these subjects (printed in 2010, with a new edition in 2014, under the title ‘Sefer HaPe’ulos’). This is a leaf written on both sides in Rabbi Chaim Vital’s holy handwriting, containing twenty complete sections. At the beginning of this portion (p. 171 in the printed edition), the Maharchu writes that he received these teachings “from the mouth of a reliable Maggid, who tested them and affirmed them to be true.” The supremely holy Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital (1543–1620) , who possessed a “lofty soul” as attested by the Chida, was the greatest disciple of the Arizal and the central pillar of the teachings of Kabbalas HaAri. At the outset of his studies, the Arizal gave him to drink from the ‘Well of Miriam, ’ thereby opening a gateway for his lofty soul to enter the halls of the wisdom of truth. From then on, he remained constantly by his teacher’s side and committed his teachings to writing. After the passing of the Arizal, the Maharchu became his spiritual heir, and gathered Kabbalists to whom he taught the fundamentals of the Arizal’s Kabbalah. He also became renowned as a miracle-worker, and many turned to him to drive out evil spirits, to banish dibbuks, as well as for distributing amulets and segulos and engaging in healing. On the Maharchu’s greatness in other sciences, Rabbi Yedidya Raphael Abulafia writes in his approbation to the sefer HaTechunah by the Maharchu (Jerusalem, 1866): “Apart from possessing great wisdom and being well-versed in ‘Pardes’ [all four methods of Torah study – pshat, remez, drash and sod], he also achieved expertise in various secular sciences, which act as compounds and are essential to the inner teachings of the Torah. Notably, he explored and expanded his knowledge in the science of astronomy, which brings splendor and honor to the chosen nation.” This manuscript is a section of Sefer HaPe’ulot, written entirely in the renowned handwriting of Rabbi Chaim Vital. It originates from the library of the illustrious kabbalist R. Shlomo Moussaief (1852–1922), later passing to his grandson, the distinguished philanthropist Shlomo Moussaief (1925–2015). Rabbi Chaim Vital’s distinctive script is likewise known from his Sefer Shemoneh She’arim and Sefer HaChizyonot, both matching precisely the handwriting in the present manuscript. For centuries, leading Sephardic sages have cited and drawn extensively from his writings. In Shorshei HaShemot, authored by the famed kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Zacuto (the Ramaz), entire passages appear verbatim from this very manuscript, with the author explicitly noting that they are taken from “the book of Rabbi Chaim Vital, in his own handwriting.” Sefer HaPe’ulot was first published from a photographic facsimile of the manuscript preserved in the collection of the National Library of Jerusalem. Size: 14 × 19 cm. Written on both sides. Two columns, approximately 41 lines per column, totalling 164 lines in his holy handwriting, containing twenty complete subjects. Condition: Good. See here the Sefer HaPe’ulos of Rabbi Chaim Vital (Jerusalem, 1954), letters 386–406, written according to this manuscript.