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The word “keter” (crown) the highest of the ten sefirot, also has speak and think about mundane matters totally out of synch with
the numerical value of 620. In synagogues throughout the world the the Shabbat’s essential spirit. The lower and higher rests of Shabbat
curtain hanging before the Torah ark is decorated with a crown, as can only be experienced when a Jew’s actions, speech, and thoughts
are many Torah mantles. Additionally, many congregations place a all reflect the peace and tranquility of the holy Shabbat.
silver crown on the Torah when it is taken out of the ark.
Keter, the highest of the sefirot, is the source of God’s will. That
will, first expressed through the ten utterances of creation, which
£Noah’s Tragic FlawsNoah’s Tragic Flaws
themselves are a materialization of the ten sefirot, finds its full ££Noah’s Tragic Flaws
manifestation and revelation in the Ten Commandments, which
as we have seen embody all the other mitzvot. (This insight was
discussed in the Mystical Power of Music, p. 53.)
When God tells Noah of the impending worldwide flood that will
destroy humanity, Noah does not plead with God to save his
contemporaries or launch a major campaign to inspire them to
repent and save themselves; instead, he dutifully begins work on the
££Permutations of the Word Bereishit ark. This ark will save him, his family, and a small remnant of the
££Permutations of the Word Bereishit ££Permutations of the Word Bereishit
animals.
On the one hand, we all owe Noah our genuine gratitude for had he
The Kabbalah delights in delving into the holy words of the Torah not been righteous enough maybe humanity would have been wiped
in order to reveal their hidden dimensions. By permuting the letters out. The entire human race traces its lineage back to Noah. But, on
comprising these words, the Kabbalah uncovers new associations the other hand, the Sages all point out his glaring character flaw: he
and correspondences that reveal the inner dynamics and essence of did not do enough to save his contemporaries. When passersby asked
the words. These, in turn, reveal the Torah’s concealed depths. him what he was building he answered truthfully: “I am building an
ark, for God intends to wipe out the world with a flood.” Of course,
The Tikkunei Zohar, a classic Kabbalistic work, used this method
extensively, permuting the six letters of the Torah’s opening word, he technically fulfilled his obligation to warn those who asked, but
“bereishit” (תישארב). Literally meaning “in the beginning,” this no one took him seriously. He took no action to get God to change
word’s permutation reveals profound secrets dealing with the very the decree or to inspire people to change their ways, so that God
mechanics of creation. When the word “bereishit” is read in its natural would annul His judgement.
order, but divided into two words of three letters each, the word is A year after the beginning of the flood, when the waters began to
vocalized slightly different and read as bara – sheit (תיש-ארב), meaning subside and Noah finally left the ark, he was stunned. The Midrash
“He created six” (“sheit” in Aramaic means six). This permutation reports that he was appalled at the destruction. He cried out to
of the Torah’s first word foreshadows that creation would unfold in God asking Him how He could destroy the world. God responded
six days or six stages. forcefully, asking Noah why he had waited so long to protest. To
paraphrase the Zohar (1:254b), God asks him: “Where were you for a
One of the many permutations of the word “bereishit” is yira –
Shabbat (תבש-ארי), “the awe of Shabbat.” The classic “Lechah Dodi” hundred and twenty years when I waited for you to plead even once
hymn, recited every Friday night, famously mentions that Shabbat
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