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{Exodus 35:1 - 38:20 } Shabbos Shekalim from Exodus 30: 11-16 {Special Torah reading that replaces the Maphtir}
This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Shamuel and Mrs. Goodman, may they rest in peace. If you would like to dedicate a Gematria lesson for our cyberspace class in the memory of a dear friend or loved one we will do this for a gift of Chai, $18.00 American dollars. Gematria is a particular study of Jewish mysticism based on the numerical value of Hebrew letters in the Aleph Bais (Hebrew alphabet) as inscribed in the Torah. Jewish Gematria has many disciplines.
The difference between life {Chai = 18} and death {Maw Vesh = 446} is the Gematria of 428, Ha Mishkon Echad, "One Mishkon" {See first blue Gematria line}. Each Jew is a part of that one Mishkon. The emphasis is on bringing all the parts of the Mishkon together... in bringing Kal Yisroel together from the scattered parts of the world to again form that Mishkon. The Mishkon represents G-d's dwelling place. It is the place where ONE {G-d} dwells. When we as Jews join together from our scattered places, from our exiled lives and from our frayed positions to do shuvah, to restore the Mishkon of our lives, it will be like gathering all the pieces to build the Mishkon. Chai {Life} Maw Vesh {Death} 18 - 446 = 428 Two words: Ha Mishkon 13 + 415 = 428 Each morning during Shacharis we pray Mah Toh Voo in our prayers, "How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places {Mish Kon Noh Seh Chaw} O Yisroel. As for me, through Your abundant kindness I will enter Your House; I will bow myself toward Your Holy Sanctuary in awe of You. O Hashem, I love the House where You dwell and the place {Mish Kon} , where Your glory resides. I shall prostrate myself and bow, I shall kneel before Hashem my Maker. as for me, may my prayer to You, Hashem, be heard at an opportune time; O G-d, in Your abundant kindness, answer me with the truth of Your salvation." Our sages consider this to mean dwelling places {tents} of learning and prayer, the Jewish home, the Jewish neshama where G-d presently resides in absence of the Bais HaMikdosh. So the first step in lifting up the third Holy Temple {as in the wilderness "Echad Mishkon"} is the restoration of each Jewish soul and of each Jewish home with learning and prayer. This is the responsibility of every Jew everywhere! The Mishkon cannot be restored without you. As the Miami Boys Choir sings, "We need your tefillah." We, Kal Yisroel, are Ha Mishkon Echad ! Each morning and evening we pray "Shema Yisroel" "Hear, O Yisroel: Hashem our G-d , Hashem, is One." As we say these words we are supposed to concentrate on them with all our heart with all our being. Shema, meaning "hear" and Mishkon meaning "dwelling place" have the same Gematria.
So it is interesting that the Shema concludes
with the word Echad meaning Hashem our G-d is One and Ha Mishkon
Echad also ends in one meaning, all the peices carefully fitted
together make One Mishkon. In Judaism we consider the place ascribed to life's decisions as the heart. It is from the depths of our heart that we cry out to Hashem. It is from the depths of our heart that we offer praise to Hashem. It is from the depths of our heart that we are nudged to generosity. It is from the depths of our heart that we can restore the glory and honor of the Mishkon. Shlomo Ha Melech said, "More than you guard anything, safeguard your heart, for from it are the sources of life." Prov. 4:23 It is from the inner most chamber of our hearts that we need to cry out in unison, "Shema Yisroel..." The Gematria discipline of Mispar Katan for Ha Mishkon Echad is 32 and the Gematria for heart {Lave}, for crying / weeping {Bi Chee} and for honor / glory {Kaw Vod} are each 32. When we consider the Gematria relationship between the Shema, the Mishkon and the Mispar Katan for Ha Mishkon Echad, we observe that the underlying issue for every Jew is raising the Mishkon through intense recital of the Shema from the depths of our heart. In doing this Hashem's Honor and Glory rise in every Jewish life like Ha Mishkon Echad. Two words: Ha Mishkon [13 + 19 = 32] Lave {Heart} Bi Chee {Crying / Weeping} Kaw Vod {Honor / Glory}
Wishing you the best, Dr. Akiva G. Belk JewishPath is a sponsor of B'nai Noach Torah Institute. As a sponsor we are permitted to offer one FREE E-Mail course on a limited basis per individual from BNTI's Introduction Courses. We invite you to visit and choose an E - Mail Intro Course. BNTI offers Intro Courses in Judaism and Spirituality {7 Noaich Laws}. BNTI Responses are NOT AUTO!!
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