Hebrew Numerology: Gematria the Mathematics of the Torah

Numerology - Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

introduction

home

Numerology - Gematria: The Mathematics of the Torah

introduction

Four Ways to Calculate numerical value

filling

examples

charts

In Hebrew, each letter possesses a numerical value. Gematria is the calculation of the numerical equivalence of letters, words, or phrases, and, on that basis, gaining, insight into interrelation of different concepts and exploring the interrelationship between words and ideas.

Here is a basic introduction to Gematria that discusses different systems for identifying the numerical equivalence of individual letters, how these letters can be calculated according to the implicit word-value of their names.

The assumption behind this technique is that numerical equivalence is not coincidental. Since the world was created through God's "speech," each letter represents a different creative force. Thus, the numerical equivalence of two words reveals an internal connection between the creative potentials of each one. (see Tanya, Sha'ar HaYichud VeHaEmunah, chapters 1 and 12.)

There are four ways to calculate equivalence of individual letters:

●

Absolute Value●

Ordinal Value●

Reduced Value●

Integral Reduced value

The Tikunei Zohar explains that the concept of reduced value is related to the spiritual world of Yetzirah. On that basis, a relationship can be established between these four forms of calculation, the four spiritual realms, and the four

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Hebrew Numerology: Gematria the Mathematics of the Torah

letters of God's name:

Letter Calculation Form World

yud Absolute value Atzilut

hei Ordinal value Beriah

vav Reduced value Yetzirah

hei Integral reduced value Asiyah

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Kabbalah and Chassidut--as taken from the teachings of rabbi yitzchak ginsburgh

©5760-5765 (2000-2005) by Gal Einai Institute, All rights reserved

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Numerology - Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

calculating the numerical value of a letter

home

Numerology - Gematria: The Mathematics of the Torah

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Four Ways to Calculate numerical value

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Absolute Value

Absolute value, (in Hebrew: mispar hechrachi) also known as Normative value. Each letter is given the value of its accepted numerical equivalent alef (the first letter) equals 1, beit (the second letter) equals 2, and so on. The tenth letter, yud is numerically equivalent to 10, and successive letters equal 20, 30, 40, and so on. The letter kuf near the end of the alphabet, equals 100; and the last letter, tav equals 400.

In this reckoning, the letters chaf sofiet (final chaf), mem sofiet, nun sofiet, pei sofiet, and tzadik sofiet which are the "final forms" of the letters chaf, mem, nun, pei,and tzadik, used when these letters conclude a word, generally are given the same numerical equivalent of the standard form of the letter. However, sometimes the final chaf is considered equivalent to 500, the final mem to 600, etc. (see chart below).

Following that alternate form of reckoning, the Hebrew alphabet is a complete cycle. The final tzadik equals 900 and thus, the alef equals both one and one thousand. Indeed, in Hebrew the same spelling is used for the name of the letter alef, and elef, meaning "one thousand."

Noting this phenomenon, Rabbi Avraham Abulafia interprets the verse (Deuteronomy

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32:30): "How can one pursue one thousand!" to mean: One, the first number, follows after one thousand in a complete and perfect cycle.

ordinal value

Ordinal value (in Hebrew: mispar siduri) Each of the 22 letters is given an equivalent from one to twenty-two. For example, alef equals 1, kaf equals 11, taf = 22. The final kaf equals 23, and final tzadik equal 27.

reduced value

Reduced value (in Hebrew: mispar katan) (modulus 9 in mathematical terminology). Each letter is reduced to a figure of one digit. For example, in this reckoning, alef equals 1, yud equals 10, kuf equals 100) would all have a numerical value of 1; beit equals 2, kaf equals 20, and reish equals 200 would all have a numerical value of 2, and so on. Thus, the letters have only nine equivalents, rather than twenty-two.

In both the Ordinal and Reduced reckonings, the five letters whose form changes when they conclude a word are generally equivalent to their value when they appear within a word. However, they are sometimes given an independent value. For example, the ordinal value of the final nun is at times considered 14, and is at times, 25. Similarly, its reduced value is at times 5, and at other times, 7.

integral reduced value

The fourth manner of reckoning, Integral Reduced value (mispar katan mispari). Here, the total numerical value of a word is reduced to one digit. Should the sum of these numbers exceed 9, the integer values of the total are repeatedly added to each other to produce a single-digit figure. The

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same value will be arrived at regardless of whether it is the absolute values, the ordinal values, or the reduced values that are being counted.

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The material contained on this site has been prepared by gal

einai institute, a United States non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating and implementing the inner

wisdom of the Torah--Kabbalah and Chassidut--as taken from the teachings of rabbi yitzchak ginsburgh

©5760-5765 (2000-2005) by Gal Einai Institute, All rights reserved

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Hebrew Numerology: Letter Filling

Numerology - Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

letter filling

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Numerology - Gematria: The Mathematics of the Torah

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Four Ways to Calculate numerical value

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At times, the numerical value of a letter or word is given using another technique known as milui ("filling"; pl., miluim). Here, not only are the letters given numerical equivalents, they are considered complete words. In such cases, the letters used to spell out the main letter are considered to be "pregnant" within it.

For example, the word chen is made up of two letters: chet, nun. The letter chet itself is spelled: chet, yud, tav equals 418. Nun is spelled: nun, vav, nun equals 106. Thus, the value of chen with its milui is 524.

In this context, we must add that certain letters have more than one possible milui. For example, the letter hei can be spelled: hei, yud; hei hei; or hei, alef, arriving at equivalents of 6, 10, or 15 respectively. Similarly, the letter vav can be spelled: vav, yud, vav; vav, alef, vav; or vav, vav, with equivalents of 12, 13, and 22 respectively.

It must be emphasized that these different calculations are not mere mathematical exercises. Rather each different numerical equivalent represents a different aspect of Divine influence.

The most classic use of these alternate miluim is with regard to Divine Name Havayah (spelled: yud, hei, vav, hei). The gematria of the letters themselves is 26. However, with the milui, different figures are reached dependent on how the vav and hei are spelled.

Following are the principal miluim of the Name Havayah discussed in Kabbalah:

Havayah of 72 Havayah of 63 Havayah of 45 Havayah of 52

yud yud, vav, dalet =20 yud, vav, dalet =20 yud, vav, dalet =20 yud, vav, dalet =20

hei hei, yud =15 hei, yud =15 hei, alef =6 hei, hei =10

vav vav, yud, vav =22 vav, alef, vav =13 vav, alef, vav =13 vav, vav =12

hei hei, yud =15 hei, yud =15 hei, alef =6 hei, hei =10

total milui =72 total milui =63 total milui =45 total milui =52

These four sums, 72, 63, 45, 52, correspond themselves to the four letters of God's name Havayah (and the ten sefirot) as follows:

Letter of Havayah Havayah of: The Ten Sefirot

yud 72 Chochmah Insight, wisdom

hei 63 Binah Understanding

vav 45 chesed to Yesod The Emotional Attributes

hei 52 malchut Kingship

Each of the letters hei, vav, hei of the Name Havayah possesses three variant spellings. Thus, there are 27 (3 to the 3rd) possible miluim of Holy Name. There are thirteen possible numerical equivalents ranging from 44 to 72, with a midpoint of 58 (= chen). When added together, the total of all the miluim is 1521, which equals 39 squared. Thirty-nine is the numerical equivalent of Hashem Echad ("God is One").

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Hebrew Numerology: Letter Filling

The four forms of the Name Havayah cited above are considered to be the most essential forms and each correspond to a different letter of God's name, as above. When their sum, 232, is divided by four, the number 58 (= chen) is again reached. Similarly, 232 is numerically equivalent to yehi or ("Let there be light"), the first of the utterances of Creation.

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The material contained on this site has been prepared by gal einai institute, a United

States non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating and implementing the inner wisdom of the Torah--Kabbalah and Chassidut--as taken from the teachings of rabbi

yitzchak ginsburgh ©5760-5765 (2000-2005) by Gal Einai Institute, All rights reserved

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Hebrew Numerology: Examples

Numerology - Gematria

The Mathematics of the Torah

examples

home

Numerology - Gematria: The Mathematics of the Torah

introduction

Four Ways to Calculate numerical value

filling

examples

charts

The Hebrew word, chesed ("lovingkindness") (spelled: chet, samech, dalet) has three letters. The absolute or normative value of chet is 8, that of samech is 60, and that of dalet is 4. The

sum of these three figures is 72. Thus, the integral reduced value is nine.

Similarly, the ordinal value of chet is 8, that of samech is 15, and that of dalet is 4. The sum of

these three figures is 27. Thus, the integral reduced value is again nine.

Finally, the reduced value of chet is 8, that of samech is 6 and that of dalet is 4. The sum of these three figures is 18. Again, integral reduced

value is nine.

Another example: the word chen, "grace," (spelled: chet, nun) is often used as an

appellation for the Kabbalah. Its absolute value is 58 (chet equals 8, nun equals 50), or 708

when nun is given an independent value of 700.

Its ordinal value is 22 (chet equals 8, nun equals 14), according to the normal reckoning, or 33

when the nun is assigned a value of 25.

Its reduced value is 13 (chet equals 8, nun equals 5), or 15 if the nun is assigned an independent

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Hebrew Numerology: Examples

value.

Its integral reduced value is 4 or 6.

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The material contained on this site has been prepared by gal

einai institute, a United States non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating and implementing the inner

wisdom of the Torah--Kabbalah and Chassidut--as taken from the teachings of rabbi yitzchak ginsburgh

©5760-5765 (2000-2005) by Gal Einai Institute, All rights reserved

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The Inner Dimension: Authentic Jewish Mysticism, Kabbalah, and Chassidut from Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh

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Harav Ginsburgh in

the US February 2008

Agoura Hills: Sunday, Feb 10. at 7:30pm. Lecture in Hebrew. Kabbalah. Conejo Jewish Academy 30345 Canwood St.

Beverly Hills: Monday, Feb 11, at 7pm. A Recipe for Harmony: Ingredients for the Proper Preparation and Sustenance of Marriage. Nessah Synagogue Simchah Hall. 142 S. Rexford Dr. $10. For singles and married. For reservations and more info email: innertorahla@gmail.com.

Crown Heights: Saturday, Feb 16.

Manhattan: Sunday, Feb 17. 11am - 3pm. Mystical Sources for Down-to-Earth Inspiration. Manhattan Sephardic Cong. 325 E. 75th St. Admission: $50 (includes lunch). Call Arie at 917-669-6565 or 212-921-2547.

Philadelphia: Monday, Feb 18. 8pm. Mystical Sources for Down-to-Earth Inspiration. Kaiserman JCC Family Hall. 45 Haverford Ave. Wynnewood. Cost $36 in advance, $45 at the door. email robinmoskow@comcast.net or call 610-804-6701.

Please note: this is a self-contained lecture, not dependent on the previous day's lecture in Manhattan on the same topic)

Harav Ginsburgh's next visit to the US is scheduled for May 2008

Kaf Dalet Tevet 5768 The traditional farbrengen in honor of the Alter Rebbe's yahrzeit. Topics covered this year are:

Part 1: The Alter Rebbe's two lights, this day as the essence of the time period between Chanukah and Purim, Judith, dat yehudeet Part 2: Dat yehudeet and Maimonides' principles of faith, resurrection of the dead, resurrection and Mashiach Part 3: Alter Rebbe's order of study in Kabbalah, a Torah understanding of Darwinian evolution Part 4: Approaching lightspeed consciousness; the Alter Rebbe's final state of consciousness; special relativity

Previous Farbrengens:

● Yud Tet Kislev 5768

Special video of Harav Ginsburgh's new nigun "Hashem matir asurim" (God Frees the Imprisoned): If you cannot see the video, follow this link to view it on Google video.

Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19) Audio class: The Symmetry of the Cherubim

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The Inner Dimension: Authentic Jewish Mysticism, Kabbalah, and Chassidut from Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh

Elementary Particles and The Image of God

In the past, long before this theory was introduced, we ourselves thought that the number of elementary particles

in the universe should be 248. Why is this? Because, by Divine Providence, in modern Hebrew the word for an elementary particle is ••••• , whose numerical value is 248. This word is based on the Hebrew word for “part” (••• ), to which the two-letter suffix •• , which indicates extreme smallness are added, meaning together “a very small part” ...Click to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Tu Beshvat - The New Year

for Trees There are four new years on the

Jewish calendar. The new year for trees is on the 15th day of Shevat, which this year will be on the 22nd of January. Listed are a number of articles that focus on the inner meaning of this special day:

● Tu Beshvat 5757: The tree as a central model in Kabbalah

● Tu Beshvat 5758: The tree of life● Tu Beshvat 5759

More about the month of Shevat:

● Shevat in the Book of Formation● Shevat as a staff

Previous articles:

● Judaism & Science: Lessons of Chanukah● Jewish Mother's Day● A time to create and the creation of time● Harav Ginsburgh's Blessings for the New

Year 5768

(9/07) Gal Einai Jerusalem School for Jewish Psychology. Offers a variety of courses and a full 3 year program for training professionals in Jewish psychology. Read more...

(9/07) Galeinai Publication Society (GPS). This new affiliate organization of Gal Einai works with all of Rav Ginsburgh's English material. A new series of books and ebooks based on Rav Ginsburgh's seminars is planned for publication over the next few months. The first book in this series covers Rav Ginsburgh's seminar on modern physics given in LA in March 2007.

(10/07) Tape Restoration Project. We received another donation for $1800 and are continuing to digitize the tape collection. A first batch of digitized recordings has already returned and we are now in the process of uploading good quality recordings to a new website that will be free and accessible to everyone. We are still in need of an additional $8,200 to complete the digitization of the tapes--the first stage of the project. If you would like to contribute, dedication opportunities are available. Please contact Prof. Eliezer Zeiger in San Francisco (310-430-8172) or Rabbi Moshe Genuth in Israel (972-54-753-3770).

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