The numerical value of the word for "My Name" is [also] that of the progressive iteration of the spelling-out of the name Havayah when spelled out to equal 72 [known as "Ab"- which corresponds to Abba and the letter yud [of the name Havayah] - plus the progressive iteration of the spelling-out of the name Havayah when spelled to equal 63 [known as "Sag"]- which corresponds to Imma and the letter hei [of the name Havayah].

As we have explained previously, the name Havayah is spelled out in Kabbalah in four basic ways, such that it equals 72, 63, 45, and 52. These four numerical equivalents themselves correspond to the four letters of the name Havayah, and thus to the four basic partzufim, the sefirot, etc. In the following chart, the letters that are varied in order to produce the different values are indicated in bold:

chanoch adds: Here is a link to bring you to the page on the web where you will find the chart mentioned.

The progressive iteration of a name is produced by considering first the first letter of the name, then the first two letters, then the first three letters, and so on until the whole name is spelled out. For the name Av (=72), this iteration yields:

For the name Sag (=63), this iteration yields:

chanoch adds: Av total is 184 + Sag total is 166.

184 + 166 = 350, the numerical value of "My Name" (in Hebrew, "shemi").

When we combine this value with that of the letters yud-hei, which is the source of these two names [i.e. iterations], the total is 365, the number of passive commandments.

The technical term for "progressive iteration" is "achorayim", which means "backs". This is because this operation on a name indicates how the divine effulgence represented by this name is progressively withdrawn from reality. We are to visualize how first the first letter retreats, then the first two letters, then the first three letters, etc., as if we are watching the name disappear into its source head-first, leaving us with progressively less and less of its "end" or "back".

In contrast, the basic letters of a name indicate its direct revelation into reality.

This leads to the following idea:

This indicates that by observing the passive commandments, the individual causes "My Name", which is equivalent to the backs of Abba and Imma, to join with their fronts, which are indicated by the letters yud-hei. The total [of this union] is then 365.

Thus, by observing passive commandments, we ensure that whatever withholding of divine blessing is necessary for the world to operate properly is accomplished together with, permeated by, and for the sake of direct revelation.

It appears to me, Chaim [Vital], that [the above phenomenon] occurs because the coupling of Abba and Imma is the higher and more hidden [of the two types of coupling]. Therefore, since passive commandments are [an expression of] judgment, they cause [the letters indicating the coupling they effect] to be transformed [via an algorithm]. Thus, [the yud-hei] are transformed and hidden in the two letters mem-tzadik of "mitzvah" through atbash.

Despite the fireworks of young love, the settled passion of maturity is more consistent and enduring….

In general, the love between Abba and Imma is relatively mature, settled, consistent, and modest, like that between a mature couple, as opposed to that between Zeir Anpin and Nukva, which is relatively impetuous, volatile, arduous, and uninhibited, like that between a young couple. Despite the fireworks of young love, the settled passion of maturity is more consistent and enduring, despite it being more subdued.

Similarly, the love for G‑d we express by refraining from what He opposes (i.e. observing passive commandments) is less outwardly expressive and colorful than fulfilling His directives (by performing active commandments), but reflects a deeper, more mature level of relationship. The ability to exercise self-control and restraint strikes deeper than the ability to demonstrate love actively. Both are necessary, but passivity causes the greater union.

As a practical example, as a husband and wife mature, they (hopefully) realize that they can enhance their marriage more by refraining from negative acts than by doing positive ones. Refraining from negative acts would include avoiding anger, criticism, name-calling (a la blasphemy), and arguments, as well as avoiding negative habits that make one a less-attractive or less-functional partner (overeating, under-sleeping, surrendering to animal drives, etc.). Positive acts would include active demonstrations of consideration and love, such as giving complements or gifts, helping each out, etc. Both are necessary, but it is harder - and therefore calls for more devotion - to resist a second helping of chocolate cake or a chance for a cutting criticism than it is to give a compliment.

When a person performs an active commandment, he causes the coupling of Zeir Anpin and Nukva, which are indicated by the vav-hei of the name Havayah and of the word "mitzvah". This is because the letters of the name Havayah are the same as the word "mitzvah", except that the first two letters [of each] are transformed [into each other] via atbash, as stated. Then, the numerical value of the vav-hei is added to that of the word for "My Remembrance" to give the 248 active commandments.

Thus, in performing active commandments, there is no need to transform the letters that indicate these commandments (vav-hei) in producing the word "mitzvah", since the union they effect (that of Zeir Anpin and Nukva) is not hidden as is that effected by observing passive commandments (i.e. that of Abba and Imma).

Earlier in this Torah reading, Moses says, "The hidden things are to G‑d, our G‑d, but the revealed things are to us and our children forever, to do everything in this Torah." (Deut. 29:28) It is explained that "the hidden things" refers to the first two letters of the name Havayah, yud-hei, which indicate Abba and Imma, here alluded to by the words "G‑d, our G‑d". The word for "but the revealed things" (in Hebrew, "ve-ha-niglot") begins with the letters vav-hei, and can thus be read, "Vav-hei [are] revealed", alluding to the union of vav-hei, Zeir Anpin and Nukva, the "children" of Abba and Imma.

Translated and adapted by Moshe-Yaakov Wisnefsky from Sefer HaLikutim; subsequently published in "Apples From the Orchard."

The Blessing of a Name

From the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria; translated and edited by Moshe Yaakov Wisnefsky

These three yud's form one of the 72 Names of G-d.

In the portion of the Torah read this week, Moses addresses the Jewish people, exhorting them to follow G‑d's commandments. The following ten verses of this address are a section by themselves, and in them, the Name Havayah (here indicated by the word "G‑d" underlined) occurs fourteen times. The text of these verses seems to be redundant in places, but the Arizal will demonstrate that this is not so.

G‑d's will to create and sustain creation in general and the Jewish people in particular…

And it will be, when all these things come upon you — the blessing and the curse which I have placed before you—and you return in your heart while amongst the peoples to whom G‑d your G‑d has exiled you, and you return to G‑d your G‑d and hearken to His voice in accordance with all that I have commanded you today — you and your children — with all your heart and soul, then G‑d your G‑d will return your exiles and have mercy upon you, and He will turn to gather you from amongst all these peoples whence G‑d your G‑d has scattered you.

[Even] if the scattered among you be at the ends of the heavens, G‑d your G‑d will gather you and take you from there. And G‑d your G‑d will bring you to the land that your fathers inherited, and you will inherit it, and He will do better to you and multiply you more than your fathers. And G‑d your G‑d will circumcise your heart and the heart of your children, so that you may love G‑d your G‑d with all your heart and soul, for the sake of your life.

And G‑d your G‑d will visit all these curses upon your enemies and those who hate you, who pursued you. But you will return and listen to the voice of G‑d, and do all His commandments, which I have commanded you today. And G‑d your G‑d will multiply the work of your hands, the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your animals, and the fruit of your land, for G‑d will again rejoice in you as He rejoiced in your fathers. If you will listen to the voice of G‑d your G‑d, to keep all His commandments and statutes written in this Book of Torah; if you return to G‑d your G‑d with all your heart and soul. (Deut. 30:1-10)

This section consists of ten verses, each of which contains the Name Havayah. Some verses contain this name twice, such that this Name occurs 14 times in all. The numerical value of this Name is 26; thus, the numerical value of all 14 Names is 364. We are thus lacking the number 6 if we wish to reach the sum 370.

370 is the number of "lights" that shine from the face of Arich Anpin, as discussed previously (in parashat Bamidbar-Naso). These verses discuss G‑d's forgiveness, which originates in the partzuf of Arich Anpin (G‑d's will to create and sustain creation in general and the Jewish people in particular), so it is to be expected that the number 370 be "encoded" in them.

The missing six are derived as follows:

In the phrase, "And the L-rd your G‑d will multiply the work of your hands: the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your animals, and the fruit of your land," the expression "the fruit of" occurs three times. There are three yuds in these expressions.

The word for "the fruit of" (in Hebrew, 'peri') is spelled pei-reish-yud. The letter yud is the sign of the construct form. The threefold expression of G‑d's blessing is taken as an emphatic statement of the forgiveness these verses describe.

These three yuds form one of the 72 Names [of G‑d].

chanoch adds: The 3 Yoods is the 22nd of 72 Names and also the 2nd of the 72 Names revealed by the Tzadikim. These positions are significant. The Kabbalah Center indicate the energy of the Name is to “stop fatal attraction”. Chanoch indicated that the energy of the Tzadikim revealed Name connects to the letter Lamed and teqaching.

The harmonious blending of these three emotive attributes forms the basic paradigm of how G‑d relates to the world

In the story of the exodus from Egypt, three consecutive verses describe G‑d's power as manifest just before He split the Sea of Reeds, which the Jewish people passed through on dry land while the Egyptians were drowned:

And the angel of G‑d who had been going ahead of the camp of Israel now moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud went from in front of them and stood behind them. Thus [the pillar of cloud] came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel, making it cloud and darkness [to the Egyptians], but it gave light by night [to the Jews], so that the one came not near the other all the night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and G‑d drove the sea back with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land; thus the waters were divided. (Ex. 14:19-21)

In Hebrew, these three verses each contain 72 letters. In the Zohar (2:51b) it is stated that these three verses refer in sequence to the Divine attributes of loving-kindness (chesed), severity (gevura), and mercy (tiferet). The harmonious blending of these three principal emotive attributes forms the basic paradigm of how G‑d relates to the world. Thus, they together form a composite "Name" of G‑d, since a "name" is a means by which one is made known to others, i.e., manifests his attributes.

The fact that each verse contains 72 letters means that they can be aligned in parallel, forming 72 triplets of letters. In this configuration, the Zohar states, the first verse is to be written in its proper order, since it represents G‑d's loving-kindness, or a direct revelation of G‑d's goodness. The second verse is to be written in reverse order, from the last letter to the first, since it represents G‑d's severity, which is an indirect revelation of His goodness. Although tiferet is a blend of both chesed and gevura, the third verse is not to be written half in the proper order and half in reverse order, as one might expect. There are two reasons for this: (1) in tiferet, chesed dominates over gevura, and (2) as the ideal blend of chesed and gevura, tiferet is a direct revelation of G‑d's goodness and glory rather than an indirect one. [This array may be seen, inter alia, in the standard editions of the Zohar, volume 2, p. 270a.]

When the three 72-letter verses are aligned in the described manner, the 22nd triplet, or "Name," is yud-yud-yud, three yuds in a row.

The verse also alludes to the "Name" yud-lamed-yud, inasmuch as these letters are the initials of the words for "G‑d will again rejoice" [yashuv y-k-v-k lasus].

This is the 2nd of the 72 triplets in this array.

These two "names" together possess six letters, bringing the total number associated with the Names of G‑d in this passage to 370, the number of lights a penitent individual merits to elicit upon himself from above.

The Divine attribute of forgiveness and mercy is indicated in Kabbala by the beard

These lights are the 370 lights that shine from the face of Arich Anpin, in accordance with the mystical meaning of "He will again have mercy on us," (Micah 7:19) the two cheeks, as is stated in the Zohar.