THE TWENTY-TWO LETTERS OF CREATION

Dr. Y’shua Yisrael

In written communication, a letter is a “sign” on the page indicating the successive sounds that make up the words wherein we communicate the meaning. Just as in chemistry the letters of a chemical formula signify different elements and compounds and do not pertain to word pronunciation. The letters of Aleph-Bet are more than a sign comprising words to interpret the scriptures. While the Torah is communication to humanity on the physical level, it is at the same time a revelation of cosmic power far beyond this physical realm. The Torah is made up of words that inculcate wisdom, understanding, and impart eternal life (Proverbs 4:22). At the same time, these words are divine names that are the “power formula” of all creation. The letters written on the parchment in our Torah scrolls are “signs” expressing the primal powers that create and sustain the universe. These profound primal powers are the “Letters of Creation”. Each of the twenty-two letters of the Aleph Beit as explained by Michael L, Munk in “The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet”, is a precise degree, level, or kind of holy power or “light”. These powers or letters are capable of combining and interacting with all the other primal powers so as to produce infinite numbers of different “formulae” that give rise to the diverse phenomena of creation on all levels. Since all these powers are different levels, degrees, or “measures” of divine light, each of the letters of the Aleph Beit has its own distinct numerical value that is divinely ordained. The Aleph-Bet are themselves “vessels” through which the light and power and abundance are revealed. The Hebrew word for “vessel” is Kli, which has a meaning of measure. A cup holding a given measure of liquid is one kind of vessel. A given combination of letters is also a “vessel” that “holds” and channels a given measure of power. By- themselves, the letter can accomplish very little, but when these primal powers of creation combine and interact in highly specific configurations or “formulae”, they have the power to serve as instruments of Divine creation and blessing.  Each letter is a vessel and when the letters are combined into words there is a new vessel created. When the letters are powered by the vowels and different vowels there are two or more vessels created which are measures of the word vessel. When the letters are substituted for other letters, there are new vessels created which are measures of the original word vessel. The example below is an example of permutations of the letter in the word: Israel

Israel                             ישראל         Israel

My Head                      ראש לי        Rosh Li

Direct to God              ישר אל      Yashar EL

There is 231                 יש ראל      Yesh Raal

The secret of God       שיר אל      Shir El

The different configurations of letters making up the words are all “Names”. The Kabbalah sees the entire Torah as a fabric of mathematically and semantically interconnected “Names” and “Names of names” woven around certain underlying “generic” Names of God. The different Names signify different divine powers and that actually exert their influence through the Names themselves. It is through these “Names” that the “lights” send Shefa (abundance) into the creation. The principle divine Names explicitly revealed in the Torah are:

YHVH, יהוהthe “essential” Name of God known as the Name of Four Letters or Tetragrammaton, which may not be pronounced and is referred to as HaShem, “The Name”, or HaVaYaH (a rearrangement of the four letters, denoting the Source of all Existence). This Name is the root of all other Names and is especially associated with the Sefirah of Tiferet, (Tree of Life) Perfect Beauty and Harmony.

YAH, יה God”, associated with Chochmah (pure Being) the absolute unmanifest Abba, Father.

EHYH אהיה (Exodus 3:14), “I will be”, associated with Binah, Understanding, (Manifest phenomenological reality) and Imma, Mother.

EL, אל literally “Power”, associated with Chesed, Kindness.

ELOHIM, אלהים literally “The Powers”, denoting the unified Source of all the revealed powers in the universe, associated with Gevurah, Strength, and Kingly Power.

YHVH TZEVA’OT יהוה צבות and ELOHIM TZEVA’OT, אלהים צבות “God of Hosts”, associated respectively with Victory, and Splendor.

SHADDAI, שדי The Eternal who is sufficiently associated with Yesod, Foundation.

ADONAI, אדני My Lord”, associated with the Kingly Power, and with the Shechinah in this lowest world.

                             THE HEBREW ALPHABET

NAME SOUND LETTER NUMBER  
 Alef Silent א   1  
Bet   B     ב  2  
Gimmel Hard G    ג 3  
Dalet   D    ד 4  
 Hei   H    ה 5  
Vau   V ו 6  
Zayin   Z ז 7  
Chet  KH ח 8  
Tet  T ט 9  
Yud Y/silent י 10  
Chaf CH כ 20  
Lamed  L ל 30  
Mem  M מ 40  
Nun  N נ  50  
Samach  S ס 60  
Ayin  Silent ע 70  
Pei  P  פ 80  
Tzaddi TS צ 90  
Koph Q ק 100  
Reish R ר 200  
Shin SH ש 300  
Tau T ת  400  

As the LORD God redeems and bequeaths his Pure language Ivrit (Hebrew) to the descendants of his prophets the prophecy in Zephaniah 3:9 is being fulfilled throughout the diaspora. Going forward, the knowledge of the power of Ha Shem will flow into the soul of those who studies his Torah. The twenty-two Letters of Creation which constitute and Torah are the light of transcendent Immortal One.

Dr. Yisrael is available for public speaking engagements. Additionally, he offers an individualized introductory Hebrew reading crash course. Interested parties should indicate so in the designated space below.

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