Tag Archives: Gematria

The Letters of Creation (Video)

Why does the Hebrew alphabet begin with an Aleph? Why does the Torah begin with a letter Beit? What role did the divine Hebrew letters have in Creation? What is God’s “seal of truth”, and what is God’s “sceptre”? Why do we find pagan death cults in countries and cultures all over the world? And what is the missing “nun” verse in Psalm 145? Find out in this class as we unravel a fascinating ancient Midrash about the letters of the Hebrew alphabet presenting themselves before God at the start of Creation. Also: Did God really command Abraham to sacrifice his son, and did Abraham pass the test? What really happened with the Tree of Knowledge? And why does evil exist?

For a brief written summary, see here.

The summary chart at the end of the video:

Understanding Names of God #3: Ain Sof

Where did the mystical term “Ain Sof” come from? What does it actually mean? Can a Torah scroll be written in Greek? And who were the mysterious Bythosim (or Boethusians) that the Sages considered heretics and sectarians? Find out in this eye-opening class as we continue our journey into exploring the divine names of God. Plus: How did Noah’s blessing to Shem and Japheth become realized in Israel and Greece, and what effect did Plato and Aristotle have on sacred Jewish texts?

Understanding Names of God #2: YHWH & Adonai

What is the proper pronunciation of YHWH, the Ineffable Name? What is the related “12-Letter Name of God” and the mystical “42-Letter Name of God”? Are they allowed to be verbalized? Why do we say “Adonai” in place of YHWH, and who was the first to do this? Plus: How do we deal with physical descriptions of God in Scripture? And what is so special about turning 35 years old?