x
Make new version your default
Sanctity of the Holy Letters
Discuss (6) |
| The Hebrew letters . . . glimmerings of light. |
A person must be conscious of the extreme sanctity of the letters of the Torah. Multiple worlds were created from each letter, and numerous secrets are hidden within them. The holy Zohar teaches us that a human being cannot grasp even a thousandth of these secrets and worlds. When the Creator first formed the letters, He created them as hidden light which cannot be comprehended . . .
The shapes of the letters as they appear in a kosher Torah scroll correspond spiritually to the upper worlds, as do all of the combinations of the alphabet and all of the numerological calculations which arise from them.
When the Creator first formed the letters, He created them as hidden light which cannot be comprehended. He then lowered them, one step at a time, until they were embodied in the form of the heavenly letters, which are spiritual lights. And when He gave them to us, He further embodied them in a physical form, on the model of the neshamah which cannot dwell in this world without a physical body to carry it.
Therefore, when learning Torah or praying, a person must pay great attention to the holiness of the letters. He must keep in mind that he is dealing with objects of great holiness, and make sure to act properly and with spiritual purity.
[from Pituchei Chotam, Parashat Pekudei, as anthologized in Peninei Avir Ya’akov.]
By Yaakov Abuchatzeira; translated by M. Steinberger and E. Linas
Rabbeinu Yaakov Abuchatzeira (1807-1880) is the most famous of all the Moroccan kabbalists. He authored twelve books of or touching upon Kabbala. The inestimable "Baba Sali" of our century was his grandson.
The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org.
If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.
Share
Print
E-mailMore in this section
RELATED
The larger, bold text is the direct translation of the classic text source.
The smaller, plain text is the explanation if the translator/editor.
Text with broken underline will provide a popup explanation when rolled over with a mouse.
;window.open('/global/popup/default.asp?imagename=/Images/Global/small-top.gif&aid=130435','schroeder98','width=500,height=500,resizable,status=no,scrollbars=yes');return false;){kind=link}
india, kerala
chabadindia.org
To anonymous from Roanoke, no doubt there is an article somewhere on this site to answer you, but in short, there is a Talmudic discussion as to whether the 'Ksav Ashuris' [square 'Assyrian script] we use today was actually known by Moses and inscribed on the Tablets or not. [The Talmud Yerushalmi implies conclusively that it was not.] At any rate, the sages tell us that Ezra HaSofer, who finalised today's script, was holy enough that the Torah could have been given through him. He formalised the Ksav Ashuris with the holy spirit resting on him, such that the letters, and how they have evolved over the generations, reflect their spiritual soul and root, as discussed by the Ari HaKodosh [Rabbi Yitschok Luria Ashkenazi] and others. This idea is enlarged upon by Rabbi Tsaddok HaCohen in his works.
Corinth, ky
kabbalaonline.org
Roanoke, VA
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
kabbalaonline.org