Faith
A Jewish book you open at a random page, and what is written there says something about you
A Jewish book you open at a random page, and what is written there says something about you
Question
Hello, honored rabbi.
I heard that there is some book in Judaism that, let us say, you open at a random page, and what is written there says something about you. If such a thing really exists, I would be glad to know what it is called.
Thank you very much
Answer
Shavua Tov,
I do not know of such a thing. However, something similar is mentioned: that when a person is unsure how to act, he may open a Chumash or Tanach and look for a verse that comes up first as a hint as to how he should act -
Thus wrote the Chida in Berkei Yosef, Yoreh Deah (section 179, letter 6) בשם the Maharikash, that according to everyone it is permitted to open the Torah to see the verse that comes up, because it is our life, and as we find regarding Yoshiyahu, who acted upon finding a Sefer Torah opened at that verse, and so is the common practice. He further brought that he found this as well in a handwritten pamphlet of Rabbi Meir Eliyahu HaKohen, may his memory be for a blessing, author of Shevet Mussar. See there further in his words.
And see further the Chida in She'eilat Chayim, part 2 (section 38, letter 41), that it is permitted to open the Torah to see the verse that comes up, and so we have seen among the elder rabbis, that when they were in distress they would open the book to see the first verse, like fate. And what the Rambam wrote, brought at the beginning of Sefer Maaseh Rokeach, that one should not open a Chumash by way of fate, applies when one goes around the doors to make lots for women and men in the manner of the gentiles. This was cited in Yabia Omer, volume 6 (Choshen Mishpat section 4, letter 6). And so did the Maharsham conduct himself, as brought in the book Maharsham - The Final Posek (page 6).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
