Sponsor A Zera Shimshon Class.
About the Zera Shimshon
Rabbi Shimshon Chaim Nachmani z”tl, known as the Zera Shimshon, lived during the 1700s in Reggio, Italy. He was a close disciple of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh and was a great Talmid Chacham - Torah scholar.
Zera Shimshon wrote commentaries on the Torah & Scriptures. He even wrote a commentary on the Zohar - a book written by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai z”tl, on deep Torah thoughts and mysticism. However, Zera Shimshon felt other great Torah scholars wrote on it extensively that he asked for his teachings to be buried with him.
Rabbi Shimshon Chaim was blessed with only one son, who passed away at a young age during his lifetime. With no continuity of his family, Rabbi Shimshon Chaim published his teachings one year before he passed away in a book and called it Zera Shimshon - the seed (offspring) of Shimshon. He also published his teachings under the title Toldos Shimshon - the children of Shimshon.
Rabbi Shimshon Chaim passed away on the 6th of Elul, 1779, in Reggio, Italy. At his levaya - eulogy/funeral, he was revered as the sage of the generation for his knowledge of Torah and his great love for the Jewish people. Many great Rabbi’s, such as the CHIDA - Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, wrote many great things in his honor and wisdom.
The Promise of the Zera Shimshon
"Rabbi Shimshon Chaim had only one child, a son, who died at a young age—upon this, Rabbi Shimshon Chaim decided to dedicate his 'Sefarim' to the memory of this child who had no continuity of a family.
At the beginning of his book, Rabbi Shimshon Chaim wrote that he needed to leave some memory in this world because he had no continuity. That’s why he wrote the book and named it Zera Shimshon, which means the Seed of Shimshon. Rabbi Shimshon Chaim published the book one year before he passed away (on the 6th of Elul in 1779)."
"Rabbi Shimshon Chaim placed a lot of his energy during his lifetime that people should learn from his Sefarim (Torah books). Zera Shimshon also emphasized that after his Neshama (Soul) leaves this world, people should continue to learn from his Sefarim.”
What is most unusual for a Tzadik of this stature is that he made a promise.
That promise is that anyone who takes it upon themselves to learn from his writing/teachings, he promises "children, praise, health, 'Parnasa,' (wealth), & 'honor."
Rabbi Shimshon Chaim passed away in 1779 on the 6th of Elul, in Reggio in Itlay. During his funeral, there were many words of praise, not just for his extreme knowledge of the Torah but also for his love for the Jewish people.
The communities in Italy and abroad considered Rabbi Shimshon Chaim their Rebbi.
In his generation, Major Rabbis wrote terrific things in his honor and wisdom. One of the outstanding rabbinical figures, the 'Chida' (Rabbi Haim Yosef David Azulai ben Rabbi Rephael Yitzhak Zerachia) had testified on Rabbi Shimshon Chaim's praise in Kedushah (holiness) and wisdom and also knowledge in studying Kabalah and practical Kabalah. Rabbi Shimshon Chaim lived in the time of the Ohr ha-Chaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ben Atar ben Rabbi Moshe) and was in friendship with him.”
The summary of the segula was taken from Rabbi Benyamin Paskesz and Rabbi Yisroel Zilberberg's website https://www.zerashimshon.co.il/en/home/
Many have written to them, and those stories were published along with the Zera Shimshon Chidushim (Novel Torah Interpretation) in the two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion, as well as in the Eishes Chayil book also published by Artscroll.
Tehillim - Psalms
David Hamelech (King David) mainly composed Sefer Tehillim - the book of Psalms. These songs were Divinely inspired. David Hamelech wrote them at different stages in his life; at times, he praised and thanked G-d, and other times, he cried out to G-d to save him. Throughout Jewish history, the Jewish people have turned to their Tehillims and recited chapter after chapter in times of great danger and in times of joy. Tehillim is so prevalent in our day-to-day lives. We find various chapters throughout our siddur - prayer book in our daily prayers.
Currently, Israel and the Jewish people all over the world are fighting a war. While some are physically battling, many of us are reciting Tehillim as much as we can.
Knowing how special the teachings of Rabbi Shimshon Chaim zt”l are, we looked to see if any of the tzaddiks teachings on Tehillim were published - they were! We decided to dedicate the next few months, with G-d’s help, to share the teachings of the Zera Shimshon on Tehillim.
There are many videos in English and Hebrew on YouTube going through each chapter of Tehillim in detail, going through each verse, and explaining each chapter’s deeper and hidden meaning.
We decided to take a different approach. G-d willing, we plan to summarize what the chapter is about. We picked out a few verses to expound upon, sharing commentary of various Rabbinical scholars such as Rashi, Radak, the Metzudos David, etc., and, of course, the teachings of the Zera Shimshon. Unfortunately, not every chapter has a lesson by the Zera Shimshon in the Tehillim that we have. Therefore, the lessons we will share on the chapters that don’t have a lesson on the Zera Shimshon will have a lesson on the Zera Shimshon from either the Parsha of the week or other works that the tzaddik wrote about.
We aim to make the videos ten to thirty minutes long, depending on the chapter’s size. We might have one chapter per YouTube video, while others might be combined.
We know firsthand what great merit it is to spread the teachings of Rabbi Shimshon Chaim and have witnessed our own miracles in learning the Torah lessons of the Tzaddik and sharing the lessons with others. We have heard stories firsthand from people who took on the task of learning and sharing the teachings of the Tzaddik and have merited receiving their salvation.
Creating such video lessons takes a lot of time and resources, so we offer sponsorship opportunities to partner with us! Not only can you help spread these teachings for as little as $8 or as much as $180 (or more if you wish :)), per lesson, but you can dedicate the lesson to someone in need of salvation. A bonus for those in the United States and Israel*: anyone who sponsors a lesson for $80 or more will receive a gift! A random Zera Shimshon book in English will be sent to you so you can study the tzaddiks lessons independently. If you wish, you can create your own Zera Shimshon learning group once or twice a week, studying from the book you’ll receive, G-d willing, and spreading the Tzaddik’s Torah lessons even further.
*Currently, we can only ship the books to these two countries. We are doing our best to find ways to have the books shipped to other countries as well. Please check the website periodically as we update the countries to which we can send these gifts.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Contribute any amount you are comfortable with and you may dedicate the class in honor of an individual needing salvation, i.e., health, zivug, children, parnassa, etc., or for an Iluy Nishmas. You are entitled to have the class dedicated in honor of two (2) individuals.
A contribution of $80 or more will receive a gift, an English book on lessons of the Zera Shimshon. The book can be on a Megilla, Eishes Chayil, or any other translated work. A random book will be selected as a gift.* You are also entitled to have the class dedicated in honor of five (5) people.
A contribution of $180 or more will receive a gift, an English 2-volume set of Zera Shimshon on the weekly Parsha.* You are also entitled to have the class dedicated in honor of ten (10) people.
Are you a business? You can sponsor a class and have your business advertised at the beginning of the class. Your logo will be displayed on the screen, and your website will be added to the class description on YouTube. We will only display up to 4 business sponsors per video. Please send an email (no calls, please) to Atarah Malkah at ZeraShimshon5784@gmail.com, and a form will be sent to you to see if it makes sense to have your company sponsor a lesson(s).
* Please keep in mind that these GIFTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL. We are currently exploring options to provide gifts to those in other countries, and updates will be posted on our website.