Tag Archives: Vilna Gaon

Ten Types of Kabbalah

This week’s double parasha, Nitzavim-Vayelekh, contains the famous verse “the concealed things are for Hashem, and the revealed things are for us and for our children, forever” (Deuteronomy 29:28). The “concealed things” are typically understood as referring to the concealed secrets embedded in the Torah, the deepest dimension of sod. The Torah is written in simple and plain language, in the style of narratives and stories, so that all people in all generations could understand it, even “children, forever”. For those who want to plunge deeper, however, there are profound secrets encoded within each word and letter. This field of study is commonly referred to as “Kabbalah”.

When we look at the various branches and styles of Kabbalah over the course of history, we can ten types altogether. This is fitting, since the core teaching of Kabbalah is the notion of Ten Sefirot, and we find countless things in Creation that parallel and reflect the Ten Sefirot. So, what are the ten types of Kabbalah, and how exactly do they parallel the Sefirot? Continue reading →

Do Torah Verses Prophetically Allude to Historical Years?

This week we begin reading the fifth and final book of the Torah, Sefer Devarim. This book has a total of 955 verses, an important number in Judaism. It is said that there are 955 levels to the Heavens (see Ma’aseh Rokeach on Mishnah, Kinnim). This is based on a verse in Devarim where Moses says: “Behold, to Hashem, your God, belong the Heavens [hashamayim], and the Heaven of Heavens [shmei hashamayim], and the Earth and all that is on it!” (Deuteronomy 10:14) The numerical value of “Heavens” (השמים), when counting the full mem sofit, is 955. Meanwhile, the word “behold”, hen (הן), has a value of 55, to teach that the top 55 levels of Heaven are reserved solely for God. (Ma’aseh Rokeach says that the angel Metatron has access to 900 levels, but it is only Hashem beyond that.)

It is most fitting that Devarim has 955 verses, like the levels of Heaven. Indeed, the “Heavens” are a constant motif throughout the final book of the Torah, more so than in any other book. By my count, I found 39 instances of the word shamayim (and its variations) in Sefer Beresheet, 12 in Shemot, none in the next two, and 40 in Devarim. Included in the latter are some of the most critical and famed verses of the Torah, including lo b’shamayim hi, that the Torah “is not in Heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12) and the Shema passage that we recite multiple times a day saying that God will “stop up the Heavens” if we do not fulfil his commandments (Deuteronomy 11:17), and that He will bless us greatly “like the Heavens” if we do (Deuteronomy 11:21). There’s also Hashem’s promise that He will ingather us back to the Holy Land from the “ends of the Heavens” (Deuteronomy 30:4), and Moses’ final divine song that starts Ha’azinu hashamayim (Deuteronomy 32:1).

Another interesting phenomenon that has been pointed out about Devarim is that its verses seem to allude to the historical years that they would correspond to. We are currently in the Jewish year 5786 AM (Anno Mundi, “year of the world”), and the Torah has a total of 5845 verses. (The Talmud says the Torah should have 5888 verses, and for a solution to that problem, see ‘The Torah’s Missing Verses’ in Garments of Light, Volume Two.) It’s not clear exactly where this concept comes from. Some bring it down in the name of the Vilna Gaon; I believe I first heard it years ago from Rabbi Benjamin Blech.

Before we get into it, it is important to mention that doing this kind of analysis requires lots and lots of counting and a good calculator, along with precision and persistence. I spent hours counting and recounting verses to make sure it’s all lined up correctly. Continue reading →

Understanding Chabad

How did Chabad become the world’s most successful Jewish organization? Where did it come from, and what is its philosophy? What are the true origins of Hasidic Judaism and why was it opposed by the rabbinic establishment in the 18th century? Who was the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and why did a messianic movement develop around him? And what’s the deal with Chabad conspiracy theories on the internet? Find out in this eye-opening class that takes a deep dive into the world of Chabad-Lubavitch.