13 Ways to Obtain Forgiveness for Sins According to the Pele Yoetz
In “Pele Yoetz,” Rav Eliezer Papo zt”l lists multiple segulos from “Tziporen Shamir” by Rav Chaim Yosef David Azulai zt”l (known as the Chida) that can help people obtain forgiveness for their sins.
Below is original text from the Pele Yoetz, accompanied by headings, English translations, and occasional additional commentary.
Just a quick note: As mentioned at the bottom of this page, the segulos on this website are meant to complement Teshuva, not replace it.
Answer “Amen, Yehei Shemei Rabbah…” With All Your Might:
כל העונה אמן יהא שמה רבא בכל כחו (פרוש בכל כונתו ובתנועת איבריו הפנימיות) אפלו היה בו שמץ מינות מוחלין לו (שבת קיט, ב)
Anyone who answers out loud “…אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא” with all his strength, meaning with all his kavanah (intention) and with the trembling of his limbs, even if he had a hint of heresy, is forgiven. (Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Shabbos 119b)
Note: Some interpret “with all his strength” literally, suggesting that one should say it as loud as one can.
Observe Shabbos Properly:
כל השומר שבת כהלכתו אפלו עבד עבודה זרה כדור אנוש מוחלין לו (שם קיח ב)
Anyone who observes Shabbos according to its laws, even if he practiced idolatry like the generation of Enosh, is forgiven.
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Shabbos 118b)
Let Things Go:
כל המעביר על מדותיו מעבירין לו על כל פשעיו (יומא כג א)
“Anyone who is “maavir al middosav”, all his transgressions are overlooked.”
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Yoma 23a).”
Rashi (Rosh Hashanah 17a) says that “maavir al middosav” refers to one who doesn’t insist on exacting retribution from those who distress him, but rather lets go of his grievances and moves on.
It is also clear from Yoma 87b that being “maavir al middosav” includes forgiving those who wrong you.
In fact, the Chafetz Chaim wrote:
לא יהיה אכזרי מלמחול – דכל המעביר על מדותיו מעבירין לו על כל פשעיו ואם הוא לא ירצה למחול גם לא ימחלו לו
One should not be cruel and refuse to forgive – for anyone who is “maavir al middosav”, (Hashem) overlooks all his transgressions. And if he does not wish to forgive, he will also not be forgiven.
(Mishnah Berurah 606:8)
Answer “Amen, Yehei Shemei Rabbah…” During Kaddish After a Shiur:
כל השומע אגדה מפי הדורש ועונה אמן יהא שמה רבא מכפרין לו עוונותיו (שוחר טוב משלי פ”י)
Anyone who hears an Aggadah shiur from a Rav and responds “Amen. Yehei Shmei Rabbah…” (when Kaddish is recited after the shiur) is forgiven for his sins.
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Midrash Shocher Tov on Mishlei, Perek 10)
The Gemara in Sotah 49a emphasizes the significance of responding with “Amen Yehei Shemei Rabbah…” when the Kaddish is recited after an Aggadah shiur. It notes that this response is one of the foundations upon which the world stands.
וְאֶלָּא, עָלְמָא אַמַּאי קָא מִקַּיַּים? אַקְּדוּשָּׁה דְסִידְרָא, וְאַ״יְּהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא״ דְּאַגַּדְתָּא
Sefer Chareidim mentions a similar segulah for obtaining forgiveness: to listen intently to the words of the Rav when he teaches about the Fear of Heaven and shares inspirational stories from Chazal. Thus, by attentively heeding the Rav’s teachings on Torah and Mussar, and then fervently reciting “אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא” with full intent during the subsequent Kaddish, one can access multiple segulos for the forgiveness of sins.
Recite “Az Yashir” with Joy:
כל האומר שירת הים בשמחה ובעצמו שער כאלו הוא נצול ופרעה וחילו נטבעו ואומר שירה מכפרין לו עוונותיו
Anyone who recites the Shiras HaYam (Az Yashir) with joy, imagining as if he himself was saved while Pharaoh and his army drowned, and sings the song accordingly, has his sins forgiven.
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah)
This is also found in Mishnah Berurah 51:17, which states:
ויאמר שירת הים בשמחה וידמה בדעתו כאלו באותו היום עבר בים והאומר בשמחה מוחלין לו עונותיו
He recites Shiras HaYam (Az Yashir) with joy and imagines in his mind as if he himself crossed the sea on that very day. And one who recites it with joy is forgiven for his sins.
Mourn Over the Death of a Righteous Person:
כל מי שבוכה ומתאבל על אדם כשר מוחלין לו על כל עוונותיו
(שבת קה, ב)
Anyone who cries and mourns over the death of a righteous person is forgiven for all his sins.
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Shabbos 105b)
Say Vayechulu on Friday Evening:
המתפלל בערב שבת ואומר ויכלו שני מלאכי השרת אומרים לו וסר עוונך וחטאתך תכפר (שבת קיט ב)
“Anyone who davens on Friday evening and recites the passage of Vayechulu, two ministering angels say to him “and your intentional sins will be removed, and your unintentional sins will be atoned”
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Shabbos 119b)
(Some add that you should have kavanah to testify that Hashem created the whole world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day.)
Suffering Cleanses a Person’s Sins. Accept it with Love:
יסורין ממרקין עוונותיו של אדם ואם קבלם מאהבה יראה זרע יאריך ימים וחפץ ה’ בידו יצליח (ברכות ה, א)
“Sufferings cleanse a person’s sins, and if he accepts the suffering with love, he will see offspring, he will prolong his days, and succeed in carrying out the will of Hashem”
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Berachos 5a).”
The Chida continues in Tziporen Shamir:
ואפשר דהיסורין דין והוא מקבלם באהבה חסד ומתמתקין הדינין והיה שכרו בני חיי ומזוני דבמזלא תליין ובמ״א הארכתי בס״ד
“And it’s possible that these afflictions are a form of divine judgment, but when one accepts them with love, they transform into divine kindness, and the judgments are sweetened (e.g., mitigated). His reward will be in the form of children, longevity, and sustenance, all of which are tied to one’s mazal. I’ve expanded on this topic elsewhere.”
Similarly, Rabbeinu Yonah wrote:
ואם תמצא את החוטא תלאה, ותקרה עליו צרה, ויצדיק עליו את הדין ויקבל המוסר באהבה, יהיה זה לו למגן מן היסורין הרבים הראוייין לבוא עליו
And if the sinner finds himself in distress, and misfortune occurs to him, and he admits the righteousness of the judgement and accepts the rebuke with love, this will act as a shield against the many sufferings that were meant to come upon him.
(Shaarei Teshuvah 4:12)
יסורין (Suffering) is discussed in Arakhin 16b and can include even minor inconveniences, such as receiving a garment that doesn’t fit or reaching into your pocket for three coins but only grasping two. So, when יסורין occur, make sure to have in mind to accept them with love and that they should be a kapara for your sins.
Recite the Seder Korbanos and Make Sure You Understand It:
כל העוסק בסדר קרבנות כאלו הקריבם ומוחלין לו על כל עוונותיו (תענית כז, ב)
Whoever engages in the recitation or study of the Seder Korbonos it is like he offered the Korbonos, and he is forgiven for all his sins.
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Taanis 27b)
Note: The word העוסק is translated here as “engages in the recitation or study,” since this idea appears in two slightly different contexts: in Taanis 27b, which speaks about the recitation of the korbanot passages, and in Menachos 110a, which speaks about the study of their laws.
Learn Torah Lishmah:
כל העוסק בתורה לשמה עוונותיו מתכפרין (ברכות ה א), ורבו מעלותיו כמו שאמרו בפרק קנין תורה (אבות פ”ו)
Anyone who engages in Torah study for its own sake has his sins atoned for (Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Berachos 5a), and his virtues are many, as stated in the chapter “Acquisition of Torah” (Pirkei Avos ch. 6).
Additionally, Rabbi Daniel Glatstein quotes the Chida in his book, “The Mystery and the Majesty” (page 253), stating that those who study the Torah lishmah can achieve forgiveness through teshuvah and Torah study alone, without needing additional atonements like Yom Kippur, suffering, or death.
Wear a Tallis and Tefillin while Reciting Shema and Praying:
כל המתעטף בציצית ומניח תפלין וקורא קריאת שמע ומתפלל מוחלין לו על כל עוונותיו (טור או”ח סי’ לז)
Anyone who wraps himself in tzitzit, puts on tefillin, recites the Shema, and prays (the Amidah, i.e., Shemoneh Esreh) is forgiven for all his sins .
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Tur, Orach Chayim, section 37)
Here is the relevant text from the Tur, Orach Chayim, section 37:
ואמר רבא כל המניח תפילין ומתעטף בציצית וקורא ק”ש ומתפלל מובטח לו שהוא בן העוה”ב ואמר אביי מערב אני בו שאין אש של גיהנם שולט בו רב פפא אמר מערב אני בו שכל עונותיו נמחלין וכל מי שאינו מניחן הוא בכלל פושעי ישראל בגופן לכך צריך כל אדם להיות זריז בהן
And Rava said: “Anyone who puts on tefillin, wraps himself in tzitzis, recites the Shema, and prays (the Amidah, i.e., Shemoneh Esreh)… Rav Pappa said: “I guarantee about him that all his sins are forgiven.”
Mourn for Nadav and Avihu During the Yom Kippur Torah Reading:
כל המצטער ובוכה ביום הכפורים כשקורין פרשת אחרי מות על אבודיהון דצדיקיא, קדשא בריך הוא אכרז עליו וסר עוונך’ (זהר ויקרא דף נז.)
“Anyone who feels sorrow and cries on Yom Kippur when the portion of Acharei Mos is read, mourning the passing of the righteous (Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu), the Holy One, blessed be He, proclaims about him, “Your sin has been removed” (Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Zohar, Vayikra, page 57a).”
Sing a Song of Thanks and Praise to Hashem After Experiencing a Miracle:
כל מי שנעשה לו נס ואומר שירה בידוע שנמחלו לו עוונותיו (שוחר טוב תהלים פרק יח)
Anyone who experiences a miracle and recites a song of praise and thanks to Hashem, it is known that his sins are forgiven
(Pele Yoetz, entry Segulah, citing Midrash Shocher Tov on Tehillim, ch. 18).
Rav Papo ends the chapter by implying that these Segulos are not standalone remedies but should be undertaken alongside Teshuva, as he emphasizes:
ובלבד שיעזב רשע דרכו ולא ישוב לכסלה
“Provided that the wicked one abandons his ways and does not return to his folly.”
(Rabbi Daniel Glatstein frequently emphasizes this point in his online Shiurim. He asserts that, while these segulos can certainly augment Teshuva, they should be performed in addition to Teshuva. However, he does note that being maavir al middosav might potentially be effective even without Teshuva. Rabbi Glatstein presents multiple proofs in his shiurim to support his views.)
Finally, Rav Papo underscores that these Segulos offer profound satisfaction to Hashem and should be performed with pure intentions, for the sake of Heaven.
Update 11/20/2023:
The concept that these segulos should be paired with Teshuva is further emphasized in other sections of Pele Yoetz. Specifically, in the chapter titled “הגדה”, Rabbi Eliezer Papo ZT”L states:
הגדה – זו אחת מהדברים המועילים דרך סגלה לכלא פשע ולהתם חטאת, כשהחכם יושב ודורש בדברי הגדה ואומר קדיש ועונין אחריו אמן יהא שמה רבא, הקדוש ברוך הוא מוחל עוונותיהם של ישראל, כך אמרו רבותינו ז”ל (שבת קיט, ב) ובודאי שזהו אם יקדים להתחרט על העבר ויקבל עליו להשתדל שלא ישוב עוד לכסלה לעשות רשע גם ה’ נושא עון ועובר על פשע. ואף גם זאת צריך שיהא שומע הדרשה בחבה ועונה אמן יהא שמה רבא בכונה
Torah Lessons / הגדה – This is one of the things beneficial as a segulah to atone for sin and iniquity. When a sage sits and expounds on words of Haggadah and says Kaddish, and (people) answer after him “Amen, Yehei Shemei Raba,” the Holy One, Blessed be He, forgives the sins of Israel. This is what our Rabbis of blessed memory said (Shabbat 119b). Certainly, this is if one precedes it with repentance for the past and accepts upon oneself to strive not to return again to foolishness, to do evil. Also, Hashem pardons sin and overlooks transgression. And even this requires that one should listen to the shiur with affection and answer “Amen, Yehei Shemei Raba” with kavannah (intention).
(Pele Yoetz – הגדה)
Forgiveness and Mitzvos 