Over Sukkot (5782) I stayed up most of the night contemplating the connection between God’s Explicit Name and the measurements of the שני לוחות הברית (the two tablets of the covenant). More specifically, thinking about the two Names we say during the daily service (Ani Vaho). In this paper, I will not go into the connection between God’s Triad Name or its 42 letter counterpart in the לוחות as I’ve already done so elsewhere. However, I do wish to add a few things not yet shared.
Today is the 20th of Tishrei and the sixth day of Sukkot 5782. In biblical times we cut aravot and placed them vertically around the altar. Those coming into the courtyard with lulav and etrog would circle once around the altar before exiting, and would do so over six days thus completing six circuits in six days. Then on the seventh day, Hoshana Rabba, they/we circle around the altar seven times.
These traditions reflect, ever so subtly, the dimensions of the luchot across two dimensions in their recombinant cubic form (shown below). Moreover, when the species are waved 3 times in each of 6 directions, it quite literally defines the geometry of this unique “stone” (this too has been discussed elsewhere and will not be examined further in this document).
At any rate, when the Temple was destroyed this service stopped. But later, in remembrance of the Temple, the sages decreed that it should be re-instituted in every congregation throughout every land in the diaspora, and it continues to this day. Now as to specifics:
During the service we recite the words אני והו הושיעה נא (Ani Vaho Hoshiah Na). Ani and Vaho ( אני והו ) are two mystical Names. The average Torah student may not recognize them, but both “Names” are triplets that come from the Triad Havayah of 72, and so we call upon ‘the One’ with these Two Names to “bring salvation now” (הושיעה נא). The Triad Havayah of 72 (the fully expanded Explicit Name) is hidden in Shemot/Exodus 14: 19-21 where each verse has 72 letters. By permuting the first letter of the first verse, with the last letter of the second verse and then the first letter of the last verse, the “Names” (triplets) are revealed. The second triplet merely continues with the next letter in the same sequence, from each of the three verses, until all the triplets have been formed.
The Name והו (Vaho) is actually found twice among these 72 triplets (or wings as they are sometimes called). It is the 1st triplet among the 72 Names. However, it also appears as the 49th triplet in the sequence. In Sefer Hekalot, R. Ishmael describes his ascent, in essence indicating that 36 wings (triplets) were to his left and 36 wings to his right. This alludes to the position of the triplets within the geometry of the שני לוחות הברית. There are 36 cubic handbreadths in one tablet and 36 in the other tablet. They can be thought of as 36 pairs or 36 opposite 36. Of the 72 sets of three cubic handbreadths, all hold significant positions as shown in the model below. For example, while והו (Vaho) is in the first position in one half (the 36 to the right) the אני (Ani) is in the exact same position in the other half (the 36 to the left). It then appears again, directly below in the 49th position. Each is attached to the geometry of the same face external to the matrix.
The geometry and its measurements appear to play a role in the physics of the universe. This too is discussed elsewhere and I will not be delving into it here, except to say that in their cubic form, the לוחות have 5 internal mathematic constructs that give rise to 5 geometric shapes that are called the platonic solids. These 5 constructs also have 5 opposites and together they are sometimes referred to as 5 “duals.” It helps to think of this geometry as 5 opposite 5. These constructs are shown below in their geometric form:
As the template for creation, arising from the geometry of the letters in God’s Name or Names, this pattern can be found throughout the Torah, the history of Israel, and physics just to name a few. Some examples appear below:
1) 5 commandments opposite 5 commandments on the שני לוחות הברית (two tablets)
2) 5 string theories in physics reconciled by “dual” resonance
3) 5 fingers on one hand opposite 5 on the other
4) 5 tapestries sewn together at one end of the tent of meeting hooked to 5 on the other end
5) 5 times were derogatory statements made about Yaacov and 5 times did Yoseph fail to defend
6) 5 things in the first temple that were not in the second temple
7) The 5 “upper” plagues in Egypt opposite the 5 “lower” plagues (Maharal)
8) The waters of the Mabul/Flood rose for 5 months and then receded for 5 months
9) After the vessels shattered, the 10 Spherot returned in 2 columns, 5 opposite 5 (Sefer Yetzirah)
10) The 5 Hebrew letters that have one form within a word and 5 different forms (sofit) at the end
Our sages (Vilna Gaon, Maharal and R. Eliazer) taught that the last example above pertaining to the 5 letters having a dual form, were the secret of the redemption. More specifically, it was said that when Adam sinned he “plucked out” 4 of the 5 letters of the aleph-bet. This is a metaphor alluding to the shape of the letters: as you can see below, 4 of them are “opened” allowing them to elongate downward (“plucked out”) and one of which remains “closed” without having been “plucked out” so that it has no elongation, as shown below.
In other words, 1 is different from the other 4. Why? Because they conform to the precedent set by the template for creation (the recombinant form of the שני לוחות הברית) where there are 5 mathematic constructs, and where 1 of them is different from the other 4, because, while 4 have entirely different opposites, the 1 that is different is its own opposite. The 1 that is different is a Tetrahedron. Its opposite is simply another tetrahedron facing the opposite direction. Together the Tetrahedron and its opposite form a Stella Octangula, otherwise known as a Star Tetrahedron. This geometry casts a two dimensional shadow known as a magen david. The geometry of the Tetrahedron has 4 points, as does its opposite. It is like the Name known as the Tetragrammaton which has 4 letters. The Name “opposite” the Tetragrammaton is Aleph - Dalet - Nun - Yud. When we see the Tetragrammaton, we say the opposite (Aleph - Dalet - Nun - Yud). As the template for creation, everything conforms to the geometry and the measure of the geometry in the sapphire cube or its two halves. So for example, among the 5 ending (sofit) letters, 4 are “opened” (“plucked out”) and 1 remains “closed” as shown previously. This is the same pattern found in the stone. However it is just one of many examples. In string theory, 1 type is different from the other 4 types. Two of the four types contain either chiral or non-chiral strings and another two are either SO32 or E8xE8. The math differs between the 5 theories, but 1 is decidedly different from the other 4, in that it contains both “opened” and “closed” strings. And of course, the 5 string theories, with such things as opened and closed strings, where 1 type is different from the other 4, bring to mind all of the above including the open and closed letters.
But what does this have to do with redemption? What is the secret of these 5 letters? To what were these sages referring? This is where it gets interesting.
R. Eliazer explains: The 5 coupled letters (the letters that were 5 opposite 5) are all linked to the secret of the redemption. With the caf and caf-sofit, Avraham was redeemed from Ur Kasdim (לך לך מארצך). With the mem and mem-sofit, Yitzak was redeemed from the Pelishtim (לך מעמנו כי עצמת ממנו מאד). With the nun and nun-sofit, Yaacov was saved from the hand of Esav (הצילני נא מיד אחי מיד עשו). With the peh and peh-sofit, our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt (פקד פקדתי אתכם). And finally, with the tzadi and tzadi-sofit, HaShem will redeem Israel in the future at the end of the 4th kingdom (when our long exile is over and when He will) say to us, I have made a blossom bloom for you (הנה איש צמח שמו, ומתחתיו יצמח). What does all this mean?
In order to understand the cosmic scheme being played out, it is necessary to understand that when HaShem created the world, He brought down 10 spherot (spheres). Six of those spheres were shattered in order that man might engage in the mitzvah of rectification. The top three, Keter, Chochma and Binah were for God Himself to address but the six spheres below, Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, and Yesod, were for man to rectify. Collectively these are known as Zeir Anpin. The six parallel the six days of creation (six thousand years) although the process did not start until the time of Avraham. Avraham was said to have rectified Chesed; Yitzak was said to have rectified Gevurah; Yaacov rectified Tiferet; Moshe, Netzach; Aharon, Hod; and Yoseph (will rectify) Yesod. I won’t go into the reason for each, besides which, if you are a student of such things, you probably already know.
The spheres also parallel the altar where the aravot were placed on Sukkot (mentioned in the first few paragraphs). It was three cubits high (like the three sphere’s above) but its base below was 7 cubits high. The base itself was actually divided into two parts. The upper part was 6 cubits high, like the six spheres known as Zeir Anpin, and its base (the base of the base) was another one cubit. As the previous 6 corresponds to Zeir Anpin, the 7th corresponds to Malchut. This will become easier to understand when we explain the role the spheres/letters/numbers play in the redemption, in the next few paragraphs. The tables below shows how the numbers corresponding to the gematria of each letter, also correspond to each of the spheres.
Table showing letter/numbers 1 - 9
and gematria:
Table showing numbers 1-9 and 10-90
and total gematria:
Table showing numbers 1-9, 10-90 and 100-900
with the 5 coupled letters in blue and total gematria
Note: Aleph (1) and Eleph (1,000)
are spelled the same
The last of these is known as the [999] footsteps of Mashiach and they represent the final rectification of Adam’s (mankind’s) fall/descent into this world. However, please note that despite the 999 footsteps, they still fall short of the קץ (ketz). That is, they are still one “step” short. That is to say that 999 ≠ 1,000.
What exactly does this step represent? It is said (metaphorically) that in the very beginning, HaShem approached each of the letters starting with the last letter of the aleph-bet, the tav (ת). Each was asked, in so many words, why they should be the letter used to begin creation. This is a metaphor describing the decision as to which form of primordial energy would be used to begin the creation process (the letters as forms of energy are discussed in various commentaries). Each was rejected until HaShem reached the [energy associated with] the letter bet (ב) which was the second letter of the aleph-bet. To make a long story short, it was decided that the ב would be used to “begin” the beginning, hence the Torah begins with בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית (in the beginning). Since HaShem never even reached the Aleph (the first letter of the aleph-bet) it is said (again metaphorically) that He consoled the Aleph (א) by explaining (again in so many words) that it would be through the Aleph that all things would be calculated and completed, and that the Aleph would be the letter to bring about the redemption. The above model and the last footstep, as it were, shows how this is expected to play out.
The question that seems to go unanswered is: what, besides the number “1” and the number “1,000” does the aleph represent? My explanation may be deficient (indeed all explanations are likely deficient) but this can surely be understood on several levels. In the realm above, it is pure mathematics as it applies to God’s Name and the Sapphire Evan Shetiyah. Some might recall the meditation involving the 200 permutations of the letter Aleph, with God’s Name, and the 5 (yes) 5 primary vowels, as a loftier understanding of what’s happening. That is certainly true although it might require a lengthy explanation in and of itself that is way beyond the scope of this one. However, other than this, and/or the explanation pertaining to the tables involving the aleph, I believe it can be better understood by ordinary people with a very simple explanation. I suspect that this aleph is the “new light” we refer too every morning. We say, “may you shine a new light on Tzion and may we all speedily merit that light.” The aleph itself gives us a hint as to what this new light is, and why it will have such a profound effect on mankind. An aleph has the form and substance of two yuds and a vav. There are many credible explanations as to what this represents, but I would like to add a simple one, if I may, that is easy to understand. The Gematria of the two yuds is 20 and the gematria of the vav is 6, the total being 26. This is the gematria of God’s Name (Yud-Key-Vav-Key) the root of the Triad Havayah of 72 as is known. I believe that the bringing down of the aleph, into this world, as shown in the table, is as simple as bringing the knowledge of God’s Name into the world, and the knowledge of how that Name rules the universe. It is written, that every knee will eventually bow and acknowledge this Name. On Sukkot we wave the species which is an acknowledgment of that Name as it applies to the “stone’s” geometry, but few understand why, let alone the relevance of the stone’s measurements in the physics of the universe.
Is it possible that knowing how the Name or Names connect to the measurements of the שני לוחות הברית (or its combined form) and that knowing the Name quite literally defines such things as the speed of light and the fine structure constant — is it possible that this could result in a new and incredibly profound awareness of HaShem? If so, I suspect that this awareness would trickle in at first, just a little at a time, like the trickle of water (knowledge) that we are told will emanate from the Third House (Temple); a trickle that will widen into a stream; that gradually widens even more and becomes deeper, like a river, rushing toward the sea. Perhaps in the beginning, this understanding will be limited to just a few who “merit” such knowledge (as the prayer suggests) but then later, as knowledge and technology increase (which is now happening at an ever increasing pace) a veritable flood of such information descends on man and the connection becomes impossible to ignore. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the aleph represents and what the future holds in store for Israel.
