Sunday, 20 March 2016
An Encounter with 2000 years old Jewish History
An Encounter with 2000 years old Jewish History: It is not every day, if ever, that one gets to meet, talk and touch a 2000 years old......
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Gematria, another attestation that Torah can be interpreted only through Hebrew, Jewish eyes
Two nights
ago, I attended a lecture that left me with a burning desire to want to pursue
a subject I know very little about. It evoked in me the strong sensation that
has been sweltering in me and reaffirmed yet again that Jewish Scriptures can
be interpreted only by Jewish sages, only through the experiences of Am Yisrael
and only in Hebrew. It further helped disperse any aspiration and any attempts
by non-Jews to try to define and dictate to us, Jews, the meaning of Jewish
concepts and beliefs through their erroneous vision, clouded by their alien creeds
and foreign tongues.
The lecture discussed the week’s Torah portion and the upcoming Holiday of Purim. It was presented by Rabbi, Avraham Ha’Cohen. Rabbi Ha’Cohen employed his skill and expertise in a field called Gematria as he was addressing these issues and presenting them from a different perspective, one that was new to many of those present, all of whom were Jews. It left many of us with open mouths and in awe. I can only imagine how lost non-Jews might have felt in the presence of such an authority on the subject.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term “Gematria,” here is a brief outline of it.
The lecture discussed the week’s Torah portion and the upcoming Holiday of Purim. It was presented by Rabbi, Avraham Ha’Cohen. Rabbi Ha’Cohen employed his skill and expertise in a field called Gematria as he was addressing these issues and presenting them from a different perspective, one that was new to many of those present, all of whom were Jews. It left many of us with open mouths and in awe. I can only imagine how lost non-Jews might have felt in the presence of such an authority on the subject.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term “Gematria,” here is a brief outline of it.
Gematria, also known as
Jewish numerology, is unique only to Hebrew. Its underlying principle is that
each letter has a numerical equivalent. Conferring with Kabbalah, if two words
or phrases share the same number, they are considered to possess some
significant connection. According to David Komer of Ohr Hatorah, “Gematria reveals a deeper set of correspondences
as seen in the literal text and points to an entire mathematical structure
underlying the Torah. Similar to how physics and chemistry rest on a
mathematical foundation, so too, deeper dimensions of Torah are revealed though gematria.” No other language possesses
this kind of inner meaning that forms the fibers of its universe and creates
one world where every piece of the puzzle adds another dimension to its understanding
and insight. It is unique to Hebrew only.
Komer
further notes that “The Hebrew letters are explained to be the building blocks
of creation. Similar to how a physicist or chemist would describe the world as
consisting of atoms, particles, molecules and elements, the Jewish tradition
describes this same function to the Hebrew letters. Although the language of
science and Torah are different they are both describing the same reality.”
It is not only Kabbalah that employs Gematria. The Talmud and Rashi also use this technique of
learning, on occasion, in order to point out a cogent idea. Gematria has been
used as well by a wide range of commentators throughout the ages. In as much as
Kabbalah seeks to make known the oneness of God and the interconnectedness of
all reality, Gematria assumes a major role in
revealing this through the Torah text.
I
am aware that an example to what I have presented above is begging to be given.
Out of utter veneration for the profound essence of the subject which holds a
universe on its own and out of the desire to uphold its sacredness, however, I
will not endeavor it. My lack of learnedness in the field will do it horrific
injustice
Now,
how many non-Jewish sages have dealt with the subject of Gematria and in the
effective manner that Jewish ones have? How many of them can claim to have attained
the knowledge required to even try their hand at it? Few, if any.
Why,
one may ask? Because Gematria is as foreign to them as Hellenism is to Judaism.
Only a Jew can and knows how to use that tool effectively. Why? Because it is designed
only for Hebrew the language of Am Yisrael, the language that is inseparable
from our tradition, from our civilization, not better, not worse than others
but merely a unique civilization. It is the tool employed only by the language
it was created for and can most accurately describe the distinctive soul of our
Jewish nation and the brickwork of who we are.
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