The Wonders of Harav Yitzchack Kadouri

296 The Rav wrote an amulet for women who suffered miscar- riages. It was worn or tied around the waist, hence it was called the chagurah (waistband or belt in Hebrew) . It protected the unborn child from all harm, and really worked. Sometimes, the Rav would write an amulet upon the picture of the bearer or the one who it was intended for. In these cases, others could not bene¿t from using that amulet, only the intended recipient, such as a soldier going into battle or one who was lost. Similarly, the Rav wrote amulets upon earthenware vessels. Those afÀicted with various ailments would drink from the ves- sels and be cured. Most of the amulets that the Rav wrote were of this type. A special amulet that the Rav wrote consisted of a series of seven papers. For seven days, the recipient was to drink water that these papers had been immersed in. Many ill people, especially depressed indi- viduals, bene¿ted from this form of amulet. Its origin traces itself back to the Rashash , who wrote such an amulet for a girl who expired after drinking poison and subsequently came back to life. The Rav once said why he merited living such a long life. He never got angry at anyone, his entire life. Those close to the Rav say that even in situations which perhaps others would display an angry outburst, the Rav would burst out in laughter, in order to dispel the inner impulse to be angry. Books on character improvement dwell on the terrible effects of becoming angry, and the Talmud likens it to serving foreign idols. One should not raise any animals in his home, said the Rav, even to adorn one’s home with. Fish, however, are okay, and even bene¿cial, to have around.