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.

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.

25 comments:

  1. Hi Batyah I am in Facebook prison for another 17 days

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    1. Hi Yakov
      When will you learn that speaking the truth is a foreing hostile concept to FB administration? :-(

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  2. I am seriously good with this...

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  3. So I am looking forward to discussing it with you when we meet soon <3

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  4. So I am looking forward to discussing it with you when we meet soon <3

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  5. "Gematria /ɡəˈmeɪ.tri.ə/ (Greek: meaning geometry) is an Assyro-Babylonian-Greek system of code and numerology later adopted into Jewish culture that assigns numerical value to a word or phrase in the belief that words or phrases with identical numerical values bear some relation to each other or bear some relation to the number itself as it may apply to nature, a person's age, the calendar year, or the like."

    The above quote comes from Wikipedia. In the absence of any true spirituality in Judaism, your sages have, over the centuries turned to occult methods to interpret Scripture which is the Word of God. I find it extraordinary that you turn to occult means to promote and protect all things Jewish. All religion can trace its origins back to the Babylonian mystery religion. God gave the Jews something else, a revelation of Himself as the one true God.

    I have had this discussion before with an Orthodox Jew who accused me of disrespect. I make no apology for repeating here that Kabbalah, and Gematria are dangerous occult practices which will lead you and your people away from the one true God. Scripture was written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, the Ruach Hakodesh, and as such, can only be understood by that same Spirit.

    I also find it extraordinary that in trying to understand your own Scriptures you are promoting ideas which are forbidden in Torah. You are running after other gods which is expessly forbidden. You also seem confused, on the one hand you emphasise the supremacy of Hebrew and on the other promote Babylonian and Greek ideas to understand what God has made plain in your own language.

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    1. Your post indicates either you are not Jewish or not a religious Jew. And only a very superficial understanding of Judaism and Gematria would lead one to the conclusion that you arrived at. Indeed, Judaism warns to stay far away from occult... One who has little or passing knowledge of Judaism would misuse it, in all its forms... as the Hollywood Kabbala Centers and the like. But our chachamim and tzadikim and true chassidim are not dilettantes. Judaism teaches that everything contained in the world can be used for Good or Bad. Intention is everything.

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    3. Read about King Saul. The Ruach Hakodesh was upon him until he began to consult mediums. The Witch of Endor called up the prophet Samuel for him. Were Saul's intentions good or was it rather that his disobedience led to the Spirit deserting him and he ended up being possesed by an evil spirit? The Judaism of today is not the Judaism of Moses, of Torah. All who dabble with the occult are deceived and all have the same end.

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    4. Albion, and I guess that your adopting the mythological Greek name to where Brutus of Troy escaped upon the instruction of the heathen goddess Diana makes you an expert on the subject:-)

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albion (hate to use Wikepedia but it seems that it is where you feel most comfortable....)

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    5. If you bother to read Wiki properly Batzi, you will see that Albion comes from the Celtic and is the oldest known name for Great Britain. A variation, 'Alba' is still used today as a name for Scotland.. I am a Son of Albion, you are a Daughter of Zion. An interesting diversion from the substance of my original comment which you have not addressed.

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    6. Yes, I know that. But if you bother to read further down in the same entry, ALBION, you will also read this :"According to the 12th century Historia Regum Britanniae ("The History of The Kings of Britain") by Geoffrey of Monmouth, the exiled Brutus of Troy was told by the goddess Diana;
      Brutus! there lies beyond the Gallic bounds
      An island which the western sea surrounds,
      By giants once possessed, now few remain
      To bar thy entrance, or obstruct thy reign.
      To reach that happy shore thy sails employ
      There fate decrees to raise a second Troy
      And found an empire in thy royal line,
      Which time shall ne'er destroy, nor bounds confine.
      — Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain/Books 1, 11
      After many adventures, Brutus and his fellow Trojans escape from Gaul and "set sail with a fair wind towards the promised island".[22]"

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    7. Albionsson, I just read your comment to Bat Zion. The flaw in your comment is this: Judaism is not what the Kings and leaders made it. It is Torah. Therefore the Judaism of Moses, is the same Judaism that exists today as it's rules and philosophies are in Torah. That is Bat Zion's point. That only by understanding Hebrew, Hebrew structure, Hebrew historical context, can one really understand the meaning and intent of Torah. What Saul or David, or Margaret Thatcher did or did not do is irrelevant to that.

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    8. One more important point. Albionsson and everyone, the interpretation that Albion wrote about, mentioning King Saul, is an interpretation that was first developed by Christian theologians. It is not a Jewish interpretation (though some Jews at different times in history used it). And that is the problem, also a problem that Bat Zion has written about. Only Jews, immersed in Jewish tradition and history and language, must be considered authoritative when it comes to Torah and Prophets. Why, because both Christianity and Islam has spent centuries reinterpreting Jewish texts to fit their ideologies and often to defame Judaism.

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    9. Yes, the island " ..beyond the Gallic bounds" is Albion which again, if you bother to read the etymology of the word it comes from the Brittonic (ancestral Celtic language) and is Hellenised as "Albion," and Latinized as "Albio." Nothing whatsoever to do with Greek mythology. The name has been used by poets and writers as a descriptor in the same way as "Brittania." You still haven't addressed my original comment.

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    10. Bravo Efraim, the gist of my article. Now let us hope that Albion gets it.

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    11. Albion I believe that Efraim has addressed your issue and in the best possible way. Oh the wiki entry refers to Albion as a Greek word if I am not mistaken and in the very first line. But it is very late here in Israel and I need to get up early tomorrow rather today already so I am certain you will understand if I bid you farewell. Layla tov.

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    12. Albion I believe that Efraim has addressed your issue and in the best possible way. Oh the wiki entry refers to Albion as a Greek word if I am not mistaken and in the very first line. But it is very late here in Israel and I need to get up early tomorrow rather today already so I am certain you will understand if I bid you farewell. Layla tov.

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    13. Bravo Efraim, the gist of my article. Now let us hope that Albion gets it.

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    14. Efraim, I agree, Judaism is not what the Kings and leaders made it, but the stories of the Kings of Israel are there for your instruction. The Judaism of today is the Judaism of the Rabbis who have as many varied interptetations of the Torah as you like. The tradition you appeal to cannot be counted authoratitive because it adds layer upon layer upon layer upon the Torah. Instead of Just Tanakh you have a whole host of other books and opinions which interpret the original and add to it. To go back to my original comment, there is no warrant in Torah for the occult practices of Kabbalah and Gematria. Gematria is not unique to Judaism as Bat Zion asserts. The Babylonians, Greeks, Agnostics use(d) it. It is also used in Freemasonry. Also, the Judaism of Moses ended when the temple sacrifices ended.

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    15. Etymology of ALBION:

      Ancient Gallo-Latin name for Britain, Albiōn (Middle Welsh Albbu, Old Irish Albu), is from Proto-Celtic *albiyos ‎(“world”) (stem : *albiyon-), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élbʰos, *álbʰos ‎(“white”), whence also Latin albus ‎(“white”) and Ancient Greek ἀλφός ‎(alphós, “whiteness, white leprosy”). The primary meaning of Common Celtic word is "upper world" (as opposed to underworld), with semasiological development similar to e.g. Russian свет ‎(svet, “world; light”).

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  6. Who is Rabbi, Avraham Ha’Cohen? Is that his complete name? Where can I find out more about him and his work?

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    1. Mrsbrite, I hope that after viewing my interview on youtube and based to the comment that you left, you have a netter understandimg of who I am :-)

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    2. Mrsbrite, I hope that after viewing my interview on youtube and based to the comment that you left, you have a netter understandimg of who I am :-)

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  7. Indeed, I am not a"religious Jew" in the traditional sense of the word. However, I will describe my relationship with G-d as very close. He reads my heart and knows every fiber in me. I will get more information about Rabbi Ha'Cohen. Thank you!

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