Forty Days at the Kotel
By: Rabbi Ari Enkin
There is a somewhat widespread belief that praying at the Kotel for forty consecutive days is an effective segula for ensuring that one’s prayers and requests will be answered. There are a number of other segulot which are based on a forty day sequence, as well. Among them are: reciting the entire book of Tehillim every day for forty days, reciting Shir Hashirim every day for forty days, and guarding one’s mouth from lashon hara for forty days.
It is unclear, however, what the basis or credibility of these “forty-day” segulot truly are. It is suggested that one of the sources for the idea of praying for something for forty days straight derives from Noach. The Torah tells us that Noach first opened the window of the ark in order to see what the world looked like “forty days” after the waters of the flood had ceased. Some commentators suggest that it was actually God who opened the window in response to Noach, who had been praying for such – for the previous forty days.[1]
Another precedent for praying for something for forty days straight derives from Moshe. The Torah tells us that Moshe prayed to God that He forgive the Jewish people for having worshipped the Golden Calf. His prayers were answered after forty days.[2] Based on Moshe’s precedent and experience, our sages advise us not to pray for a single request for longer than forty days. It is taught that if God desires to grant a request, He will do so within a forty day period.[3]
Although there are a number of precedents for a segula of forty days of continuous prayer, there does not seem to be any classical source which points specifically to the Kotel as the station for it. The emergence of the Kotel as the focus for the segula of forty consecutive days of prayer is likely only of recent vintage, when visiting the Kotel had become easier then ever before in 1967. It is reported that the somewhat mystical Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Fischer was among those who subscribed to this segula and advised people in need to pray at the Kotel for forty consecutive days. In contrast, as Rafi G. points out, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv dismisses the authenticy of this segula. [4]
It may just be that it is not the Kotel which is the strategic component of this segula, but rather, it is the added merit of performing the forty days of prayer at a holy site. We are taught that praying at a holy site contributes to the efficacy of one’s prayers and increases the chances of them being answered. One who desires to have a go at this segula but is unable to travel to the Kotel for forty consecutive days can substitute the Kotel for any holy site, such as a synagogue or the tomb of a righteous individual.
[1] Beit Aharon (Karlin);Noach
[2] Devarim 9:18
[3] Sifri Behalotecha 47
[4] See: http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2009/11/interesting-psak-form-rav-elyashiv-40.html
“Forty” is also Tanach-talk for “a lot.” We see similar things with four hundred and so on. Many meforshim have remarked on this.
As to the Kotel, there’s nothing intrinsically special about it. It’s a retaining wall of the Har HaBayit, one of four, all of which are standing (and the others in better shape and more exposed than the Kotel). That it’s become a center of pilgrimage is due to historical coincidence, important as that admittedly is.
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, told a talmid that “if you daven for 40 days in yeshiva you will also have your tefilos answered”
Segulos are on the slippery slope to avoda zara. Judaism is about Jews serving God; not about tricking God into serving us. At least this one involves a mitzvah of prayer.
I fear that Orthodox Judaism is descending to the empty ritual the Neviim complain about so vociferously, as we see ever increasing devotion to stringency bein adam lamakom and attempts to invoke Divine protection by segulos and the like, while ignoring mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro and the requirement to set up a just society according to Torah principles and laws.
Rabbi Enkin, can you provide a source for this?
“We are taught that praying at a holy site contributes to the efficacy of one’s prayers and increases the chances of them being answered. ”
Thanks!
Jenny-
It’s based loosely on OC 90:9, Chayei Adam 17:1, Shulchan Aruch Harav 90:17, Mishna Berura 90:55, though there are more exact sources in other sefarim (eg. Degel Machane Ephraim to Vayeishev).
Ari Enkin
“As to the Kotel, there’s nothing intrinsically special about it. It’s a retaining wall of the Har HaBayit, one of four, all of which are standing (and the others in better shape and more exposed than the Kotel). That it’s become a center of pilgrimage is due to historical coincidence, important as that admittedly is.”
Perhaps that the Kotel is the closest wall to the kodesh hakodishim made it the gathering point.
“I fear that Orthodox Judaism is descending to the empty ritual the Neviim complain about so vociferously, as we see ever increasing devotion to stringency bein adam lamakom and attempts to invoke Divine protection by segulos and the like, while ignoring mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro and the requirement to set up a just society according to Torah principles and laws”
Agreed-sadly I’ve even heard drashos that the important thing about YomKippur is how loud one davens-not a word about tshuva. Sadly, davening and the schul has become a homiletical avodah Zarah for many. Tfilah zibbur is important but it is not the be all and end all of yahadus.
Bein adam lchaveiro and choshen mishpat are ignored. One can see demonstrations and mass gatherings on behalf of a convicted felon who engaged in crimes. Not getting into the issue of severity of crimes and US punishment system but such a person is not a Zaddik IMHO-the fact that some leaders in the chareidi world treat such a person as a Zaddik is disgusting.
The MO world may not have gone to such an extent but it certainly honors convicted felons both before and after 120. It seems that the chareidi world which is just much more open about it.
EDITED BY MODERATOR
“One who desires to have a go at this segula but is unable to travel to the Kotel for forty consecutive days can substitute the Kotel for any holy site, such as a synagogue or the tomb of a righteous individual.”
One whose authority do you recommend this? Are you now in the practice of recommending segulos? Despite the sources for the practice, davening at Zadikim’s graves raises serious theological issues, not mention that in practice it can often involve avodah zarah. Why get involved in promoting this stuff?
Indeed, why promote segulot at all? they are a true opiate of the masses.
Moshe-
As I answered Jenny, above, there are sources that suggest going to a kever or synagogue – I just cant find them right now. But I can assure you, I dont make this stuff up.
No. I dont beleive in segulas, but I do like researching and writing about them from time to time. Especially ones that are rampant in the Beit Shemesh – Jerusalem corridor. ;-)
I dont promote. I educate.
Ari Enkin
There is a minhag kadum to daven at Kivrei Tzadikim. Calev ben Yefuneh davened at Ma’arat Ha-Machpelah (Sotah 34b and Rashi on Bemidbar 13:22), Rachel was buried on the road for precisely this purpose (Bereshit Rabbah 82:1 and Rashi on Bereshit 48:7)and we just read a kinah on Tisha Be-Av how Yirmiyahu did so as well. Although some poskim warn against “doresh el ha-meitim” while there, Rav Enkin’s point is that it is discussed by virtually every posek and is a minhag kadum.
R Enkin,
You being unclear. Do you think you have a source for the 40 consecutive days of prayer at a kever or a shul, or just the fact that prayer in these locales are generally efficacious?
I dont think any reasonable reader of this post would ever get the sense that you are not in favor of segulos. It very much gives the impression that you beleive in them in general, and indeed you recommend a practice for those who with to do this segulah but lack access to the kotel.
Whether you intend it or not, I think this piece promotes segulos.
If you dont approve of that, you need to edit the post.
For people who really like segulos, I heartily recommend the newest from Kupat Ha’ir; for $516 they will say tehillim 516 times (one more than Moshe Rabbeinu!!) consecutively over 40 days at the kotel! Wow, that is like killing 3 bird with one stone.
And if you don’t like segulas, NEVER open a mailing or pamphlet from Kupat Hair, as it might make you vomit.
Yeyasher kochacho R. Ari!
I would like to point out that you could add to your list 1) saying perek shirah for forty days, 2) forty days at Amukah (which itself is seemingly a manufactured shidduchim segulah as pointed out by R. Meir Wunder, cited by R. Nosson Kamenetsky in MOAG, and 3) placing a newspaper ad along lines of ‘I said perek shirah for forty days and had a yeshuah’, which, has been observed is suspiciously similar or identical to ads that preceded it (it’s appearance in the Jewish press) in non-Jewish papers saying things like (chas vesholom, just giving ‘nusach’ to make the point)’I prayed to St. Jude for forty days and was saved’.
A guaranteed segulah for earning a small fortune? Starting out with a large fortune.
The prayer thing-imho we may be looking at the wrong correlation (e.g. noting that peo[ple with yellow teeth have higher mortality and figuring that tooth whitening will help vs. realizing smoking is the cause of both)-prayer at the kotel or kvarim or shul may work better because we are inspired to more meaningful prayer….
KT
R’ Enkin,
I’m sure you meant to say ‘can substitute any holy site for the Kotel.’ Anyway, you have forty days to make the correction :-)
For those interested in Tefilos as Kivrei Tzadikim, as opposed to Segulos of questiuonnable and dubious origins and purposes, the Ministry of Defense published both in Hebrew and English a gorgeous coffee table sized work on the subject complete with Psukim from Tanach and Maamarei Chazal.I agree with Nycroft’s comments re the seemingly over emphasis on Tefilah as the key to YK, as opposed to Teshuvah. All of the heartfelt tefilos in the world cannot have the same effect as a a teshuvah prompted by the elements of teshuvah,whether MeAhavah or MeYirah.
More 40 day nonsense:*
http://www.tfilot4you.com/forty-days.asp
Ari Enkin
*word used in order to ensure that Moshe Shoshan doesnt think I am advocating 40 day segulas
R. Enkin,
thank you :)
I heard there is someone who will do the segulla for you, not sure exactly of their website, but something like westernwallprayers.org or maybe .com.
I have heard of many success stories from people who had prayers done through them.
Dayan Yisrael Yaakov Fisher ZT”L of he Badatz who was one of the leading poskim used to recommend to unmarried women to go 40 days to the Kotel and make only one request.
The zvill Rebbe used to also recommend this
Rav Elyashiv was asked about this topic.
He said there’s no basis. Rather every time a person davens at the kotel he is answered.
[...] (somewhat continued from here: http://torahmusings.com/2010/07/forty-days-at-the-kotel.html) [...]
i think the segula needs 80 dayd of prayer because moshe prayed for 40 days and 40 nights 2 times and also maybe it 160 days of prayer because 1 time during the day and 1 time during the night x 80 days = 160 or maybe the segula needs to be 96 million prayers because moshe is like all the jews combined or maybe you need 600,000 jews pray for 40 consecutive days and nights
Yeah, but that only works if the Girgashites and Amalekites join in as well.
A