עברית
Faith
What Does a Snake in the House Symbolize?
Question
Dear Sir, A few months ago, my husband and I got married and moved into my house in the community. Every so often, something goes wrong in the house (there's not enough room, insects, the Shabbat clock has stopped working..), and today my husband found a snake in the tallit! After some time, we managed to get it out of the house, but we wanted to ask if it is known what a snake in the house signifies, especially in a tallit... Thank you very much in advance.
Answer
Hello
This reminds me of a story mentioned in the Talmud (Eruvin 54b) about a holy Tanna who was so immersed in his service to Hashem that he was always engrossed in it, going mad with love for it.
"It was said about Rabbi Elazar ben Paddat that he was sitting and studying Torah in the lower market of Tzipori, while his tallit lay in the upper market of Tzipori. Rabbi Yitzchak ben Elazar said that once a man came to take it and found a snake in it."
However, practically, I would suggest checking the mezuzot of the house by a qualified examiner; the very act of examination and re-evaluation, even if no disqualifications are found, strengthens the protection of the home, as there is a connection between the protection of the mezuzah and the presence of snakes, as explained in the book "Me'ulefet Sapir". Wishing you success and good fortune - Menashe Israel
