Petach<\/i> 56 is also arcane, so we\u2019ll again spell it out before presenting it as we did above for 55. This Petach<\/i> is here to explain an anomaly and to reiterate a point. (Neither of these Petachim<\/i> really add to our understanding of the Kabbalistic system itself to be sure, but Ramchal felt the need to address their issues since they\u2019re contained in Ari\u2019s writings, and they still and all do bolster the major theme of everything alluding to its source.)<\/p>\n
We pointed out in the last Petach<\/i> that the four names of AV<\/i>, SaG<\/i>, MaH<\/i>, and BaN <\/i>all allude to their source, which is Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>, <\/i>since each has a hidden reference to it (see there), while having its own unique function.<\/p>\n
Yet there\u2019s an anomaly here. MaH<\/i> doesn\u2019t have an intrinsic function of its own: like Nukveh <\/i>and Malchut<\/i> to which it\u2019s analogous, MaH<\/i> is a passive receptor rather than an independent actor. So it doesn\u2019t seem to be like AV<\/i>, SaG<\/i>, and MaH<\/i> on that level. But the point is that it, too, alludes to its source AV<\/i>. As Ramchal explains in his comments here, \u201cNo offshoot (i.e., none of the four names) can help but be subsumed under Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>, which is its root. For even BaN<\/i>, which doesn\u2019t have its own particular AV<\/i> (which AV<\/i>, SaG<\/i>, and MaH<\/i> do), nevertheless has the AV<\/i> that exists in it by virtue of the fact that it\u2019s a spelling-out of the Tetragrammaton\u201d, i.e., it includes the simple quadruple form of Y (worth 10), Y-H (worth 15), Y-H-V (worth 21), and Y-H-V-H (worth 26) that total 72 altogether, which is the value of AV<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the Petach<\/i> itself with explanation.<\/p>\n
Although the quadrupled number <\/b>representation of the Tetragrammaton written out as Y, Y-H, Y-H-V, and Y-H-V-H, which is<\/b>, i.e., which equals the value of, AV<\/i><\/b> which is 72, is contained in all of the names <\/b>of A<\/i>V<\/i>, SaG<\/i>, MaH<\/i>, and BaN<\/i>, <\/b>as was pointed out in the last Petach<\/i>, still and all the point must be made that only what\u2019s particular to each <\/b>name is considered intrinsic to it. But in the case of BaN<\/i> which doesn\u2019t have its own <\/b>unique <\/b>value it\u2019s true that what\u2019s there<\/b>, i.e., the <\/b>simple <\/b>spelling-out of Y-H-V-H, is<\/b> considered intrinsic to it. This shows that each <\/b>name has the same value at first in its simple layout, because this is its <\/b>essential makeup.<\/b><\/p>\n
But when their letters are filled <\/b>out and become AV<\/i>, SaG<\/i>, MaH<\/i>, and BaN<\/i>, their values change, and they become different from one another, each name is given a value of its own based on its specific function. And BaN<\/i>, which doesn\u2019t have a specific function but takes what\u2019s given it <\/b>instead, has no other value <\/b>than the simple spelling of Y-H-V-H spelled-out, <\/b>and it joins in with the others in the <\/b>fact that it at least has the Tetragrammaton\u2019s original general value.<\/b><\/p>\n
(c) 2013 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Petach 56 is also arcane, so we\u2019ll again spell it out before presenting it as we did above for 55. This Petach is here to explain an anomaly and to reiterate a point. (Neither of these Petachim really add to … Continue reading