1. The 72 Letter Names

The permutations of the 72 Letters are found in both Talmudic as well as Kabbalistic texts.

Commentators say (Ba’al Haturim) that the name that was inside of the Choshen- חושן, the breastplate of the High Priest (called Orim V’tumim) was the 72 Letter Name combination.

The High Priest also had 72 bells studded on the bottom of his cloak called the Me’il- מעיל. We will soon see the connection of 72 with the priesthood and the side of Chesed - Divine kindness.

In the Machzor (the prayer book) of the High Holidays we find the words u’bechen- ובכן repeating it self. The Kabbalists teach that the numerology of this word is 72.

Like keys, there are many word combinations throughout the Siddur that have the specific names of the 72 Letters.

As discussed in our 2nd class on the Divine names that these 72 combinations are different than the name Av- עב which which has the hidden value of Yud and stems from the above the world of Atzilut.

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 מ״ה- The 45 Letter Divine Name

The 45 letter name of G-d is connected to the 72 letter name. The difference is in the intensity of the revelation. The Zohar says that the 72 letter name comes from the forehead of A”K Adam Kadmon- Primordial Man which is the dimension which includes everything that existed before creation and everything that will exist until the end of time.

The name Mah is “covered” by the forehead and therefore it’s revelation is limited and dimmed in comparison to the name Av. Also, the name Av is called an old name because it is interwoven with the Ain Sof- the Infinite Divine entity. While the name Mah is called a “new name” because it the name is for the sake of post existence and ultimately achieving the Tikun (fixing) within the finite world as we will see when we get into the combination of the names Mah and Ban.

The name Mah is composed of 45 letters and it’s primary hidden value is Aleph. יוד  קא ...

Permutations & Hidden Value

What are permutations?

In mathematics, permutation is the act of arranging the members of a set into a sequence or order, or, if the set is already ordered, rearranging (reordering) its elements—a process called permuting. Permutations differ from combinations, which are selections of some members of a set regardless of order. For example, written as tuples, there are six permutations of the set {1,2,3}, namely: (1,2,3), (1,3,2), (2,1,3), (2,3,1), (3,1,2), and (3,2,1).

In Kabbalah, permutations are combinations of words or numbers which illicit a deep truth about what a a person, place, or thing. Permutations are the hidden facets of the Hebrew Alpha-Bet. Based on the way the letters are arranged is how these letters convey the latent spiritual potential found within their combinations.

What are hidden values or מילוי (pronounced Milui) in Hebrew?

When we talk, there are the words we say which others hear. However, there is a deeper hidden...

The Name YKVK is the name which is the most associated with the infinite nature of G-d called Ain Sof (limitless).

Kabbalah explains that while the Divine names are modalities of which G-d allows himself to be constricted (and thereby known) within a finite dimension. Nevertheless, the name YKVK is connected with the light more the vessel.

In our previous class on the Divine names, we spoke about the contradiction of names in general. On the one hand a name captures the person, place or thing. Yet on the other hand, the name captures merely the externality of the thing it it describing. The intrinsically deep nature is of the essence of the matter can not be captures and contained within a finite description.

This is the novelty of the the name YKVK. It is a name which relates to the infinite nature of G-d. The other Divine names are more external descriptions, while the YKVK describes the infinite as much as possible.

It is for this reason that Kabbalists spent time meditating...

What Is In A Name?

There is a riddle which asks “what is is something that is yours which other people use more than you?”  The answer…. Your NAME.

A name is somewhat contradictory. On the one hand it captures the person, animal or thing which we are identifying. Yet on the other hand the essence of the thing which we are trying to identify remains illusive. The essence or SOUL of the person, animal or item which we are trying to capture is essentially unknowable.

Kabbalah explains that a name is like a shield which contains what is stored inside of it.

Ain Sof

How does this work out in terms of the Divine names of G-d?

G-d is called by the Kabbalists “Ain Sof”- unending, or Infinite.

Therefor, there is no real opportunity for us to have a relationship with G-d who is infinite. Unless, he makes himself known to us. In other words, by allowing himself to be limited and discribed via a name, we are able to have a relationship with him and...

"For man is like the tree of the field" (Devarim 20:19) 

The Talmud says that there are 4 heads of the year; According to Beit Shamai, “The first of Nissan is the Rosh Hashnah for kings and Holidays, the first of Elul is Rosh Hashanah for tithing of animals, the first of Tishrei is the Rosh Hashanah of the lunar calendar year and the first of Shevat is the Rosh Hashanah for the trees. According to Beit Hillel the Rosh Hashanah for the trees is on the 15th of Shevat” (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 2a). What is the inner significance of the 15th day of Shevat? We celebrate the 15t of Shevat by eating 7 species of fruit (which 5 are fruits) that the land of Israel was blessed with: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranate, olives and dates. Why specifically these fruit? The verse says “for man is like the tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 21,19). What is the comparison of the tree to man?

Tree and Man

The special character of trees, specially fruit trees...

Yichud means unification and comes from the root word יחד unified or one. A Yichud is a type of a kavana- special Kabbalistic intention.

Man's role consists in the restoration of the original harmony that was destroyed with the breaking of the Vessels; the unification of the name of G-d.

In other words, according to Kabbalah, our role is to achieve the “Tikun Olam”, rectifying the world through the spiritual intention of binding the spiritual and the physical realities as one.

The Arizal says that our role is to restore the connection between the two facets of G-d the Yud+Hey/ Vav +Hey, the intellectual and emotional parts of G-d’s names thereby uniting the above nature and nature realms.

This reuniting process are known as Yechidim, "Unifications".  A great many yechidim were taught. All involve the meditative contemplation of the letters of the various names of G-d.

Israel, Torah and G‑d are bound together in a complete unity, as the Zohar states...

Have you ever wondered what does prayer really mean? 

The word to pray in Hebrew means L’hitpalel. The question is asked is that it should say L’falel to pray. L’hitpalel literally translates as to become prayed (with a Y) which doesn't really make sense.

In Kabbalistic texts it is explained that the Sefirah of Malchut- Kingship is the seat of prayer. Therefor, the Sefirah it’s self prays.

Our prayers are reverberating the Sefirah of Malchut. In Kabbalistic prayer, similar to meditation, the physical is transcended and the soul is free to express it’ self.

This is the inner reason of the words in Psalms which we say before beginning the Amidah silent prayer “Hashem open up my lips and let me sing your praise”.

To understand prayer, we must first understand the centrality of the Sefirah of Malchut. In fact the entire book of the Tikunei Zohar, written by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and consists of the teachings of Elijah speaks about the...

 “These are the names of the Children of Israel. with Jacob each man and his household, coming (descending) into Egypt”

 A New King

The new King who “did not know Joseph” is the Yeter Hara - the negative inclination, called an old foolish king. This king has no knowledge of G-d (called Joseph), “and he told his nation”- the powers of negativity. “The nation of Israel is becoming great and mightier than us”, the Yeter tov- positive inclination is becoming mightier than us.

Pharaoh had to do something- quick!

The Israelites are summoned to build cities of storage for Pharaoh. Pharaoh has the letters of העורף- the nape. Unlike the face, the nape is desensitized and the inner (holier) motivation is unseen.  The pyramids -“let us build cities of storage, Pitom and Rameses”- let us subjugate the body within the powers of negativity.

Negative eating

Pitom- “the mouth of the abyss” has the letters פה...

"The people of the book", is a pretty accurate description of the Jewish people, wouldn't you say?

More than merely study, learning is intertwined with the very fabric of Jewish survival. Learning Torah has always been the secret of not just spiritual survival, but had the protective qualities to safeguard the individual and the community from the turbulent waves of the world, giving wisdom, inspiration and hope to a people who has defied history. 

We have had many leaders throughout the ages, but the leadership of Joseph and Judah lay the foundations of "the people of the book" as they start their long rode in Egypt and all subsequent exiles. 

Joseph & Judah diametrically different. 

Joseph was exceptional. He started off as an a child prodigy we may say. According to Kabbalah, Joseph represents the Sefirah of Yesod. Yesod is called Tzadik- the righteous one and was endowed with the abilities to remain mentally focused and morally righteous...