Hebrew Letter Midrash

Hebrew Letter Class 4

Summary of this page

This is directly from the Zohar Sulam. It is a section of the Prologue and refers to a Midrash reportedly said by Rav Hammuna Saba. In this midrash it is said that HaShem "played" with the letters for 2000 years prior to Creation. At the end of that period they letters came before HaShem and argued their merits for being used to start the Torah. They came in a reverse order rather than the direct order.

There are many things taught in this section and we will explain some of them as we speak about each letter in the next classes.

There are three different people named Rav Hammuna Saba. Only one is mentioned in the Zohar. His Name implies a unification of the physical and the spiritual and also the concept of a grandfather. This is why this Name is used in the midrash.

The sixth section of the Prologue in the Sulam Commentary

The Sulam commentary is composed by Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag. The Hebrew letters on this page is the original Aramaic of the Zohar. The English translation is a translation of the Aramaic along with a translation of the Sulam Commentary. The Capital letters are showing the Sulam commentary. It is mixed into the English translation to assist our understanding.

6. THE LETTERS BY RAV HAMNUNA SABA

SYNOPSIS:

Individual energy forces, which express themselves as Hebrew letters, came before the Creator requesting that they be the instruments by which the world is created. The Creator eventually agrees to utilize the letter Bet ×‘, as this particular letter begins the Hebrew word Brachah [Blessing]. The Zohar then depicts the unique attributes of each of the twenty-two letters and the spiritual energy they emit. All these forces and their power of blessing are transferred to us when we visually scan the Aramaic text and learn the lessons it holds.

Pasook 22 of the Prologue

בְּרֵאשִׁית רַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא אֲמַר, אַשְׁכְּחָן אַתְוָון בְּהִפּוּכָא, בֵּית בְּקַדְמֵיתָא וּלְבָתַר ב', הַיְינוּ בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא, לְבָתַר א' בְּקַדְמֵיתָא וּלְבָתַר א', הַיְינוּ אֱלֹהִים אָת. אֶלָּא כַּד בָּעָא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֶעְבַּד עָלְמָא כָּל אָתְוָון הֲווֹ סְתִימִין, וּתְרֵין אַלְפִין שְׁנִין עַד דְּלָא בְּרָא עָלְמָא, הֲוָה מִסְתַּכֵּל קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאֶשְׁתַּעְשַׁע בְּהוֹ.

22. Beresheet: Rav Hamnuna Saba, said that we have found IN THE WORDS: "In the beginning, Elohim created the... (Heb. Beresheet BARA ELOHIM)" (Beresheet 1:1), THAT THE ORDER OF the letters IN THIS PHRASE IS ARRANGED in reverse. First, the Hebrew letter Bet is immediately followed by another Bet, that is, Beresheet bara. Subsequently, IT IS WRITTEN first with an Aleph and then another Aleph, referring in Hebrew to Elohim. AND HE EXPLAINS THAT when the Holy One, blessed be He, was about to create the world, all of the letters were STILL hidden. For two thousand years before the creation of the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, watched the letters and amused Himself with them.

chanoch's Commetary

Did you ask the question what does time look like before creation? There is no sun so what is a year? What does the number 2000 mean? What does it mean the Holy One BBH (Blessed Be He) watched the Letters? And amused Himself with them? Do you think that this implies that all this pain and suffering that occurs in this world is for the Creator's amusement chas v'shalom?

It is time that you stop yourself from being spoon fed what you read. Start looking at what you read critically. Have you ever watched a sporting event after it was televised and happened, so that you know the outcome? Was that amusement? What if the Creator changed the aspects of the letter during this period of amusement? He knew what his changes would do but the letters did not. It was meaingful to them and enjoyable to see what they would try even though He knew the outcome. Did He also know the full process? What would the letters do with each other? Did the letters create worlds that contended with each other for the whole? Is that the nature of each letter? Or is that a human being's world view that he applies to everything in his universe?

i will leave you to your own conjecture and meditation to arrive at these answers. Send me your answers to the above questions by email if you want to further your own understanding.

(A) The letter Tav enters first

Pasook 23 of the Prologue

כַּד בְּעָא לְמִבְרֵי עָלְמָא, אֲתוֹ כָּל אַתְוָון קַמֵּיהּ מִסּוֹפָא אֲרֵישַׁיְיהוּ. שָׁרֵיאַת אָת ת לְמֵיעַל בְּרֵישָׁא, אָמְרָה, רִבּוֹן עָלְמִין: נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דַּאֲנָא חוֹתְמָא דְגוּשְׁפַּנְקָא דִילָךְ, אֱמֶת, וְאַתְּ אִתְקְרִיאַת אֱמֶת, יָאוֹת לְמַלְכָּא לְמִשְׁרֵי בְּאוֹת אֱמֶת, וּלְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא. אֲמַר לָהּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָאוֹת אַנְתְּ וְזַכָּאָה אַנְתְּ, אֶלָּא לֵית אַנְתְּ כְּדַאי לְמִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא. הוֹאִיל וְאַנְתְּ זַמִּינָא לְמֶהֱוֵי רָשִׁים עַל מִצְחִין דְּגוּבְרִין מְהֵימְנִין, דְּקַיָּימוּ אוֹרַיְיתָא מֵא' וְעַד ת', וּבִרְשִׁימוּ דִילָךְ יְמוּתוּן. וְעוֹד, דְּאַנְתְּ חוֹתָמָא דְמָוֶת, הוֹאִיל וְאַנְתְּ כָּךְ, לֵית אַנְתְּ כְּדַאי לְמִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא. מִיָּד נָפְקַת.

When He desired to create the world, all the letters came before Him in sequence from last to first. The letter Tav saw itself fit to come forth first. It said, Master of the world, may it please You to create the world with me because I am the seal of Your ring, which is emet (truth), MEANING THAT I AM THE LAST letter in the word Emet. And as You are called BY THIS NAME OF truth, so it would be most appropriate for the King to begin with the letter Tav, and create the world by me. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to it, you are worthy and deserving, but you are not suitable for the world to be created by eyou. You are destined to serve as a mark on the foreheads of the faithful, who have kept the Law of the Torah from Aleph to Tav, but when you appear they shall die. Not only that, but you are the seal of the word Death, MEANING that Tav IS THE LAST LETTER IN THE WORD MAVET (DEATH). And because of this, you are not suitable for Me to create the world with you. It then immediately left. (B) The letter Shin

(B) The letter Shin enters next

Pasook 24 of the Prologue

עָאלַת אָת ש קַמֵּיהּ, אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמִין, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּבִי אִתְקְרֵי שְׁמָךְ שַׂדַּ"י, וְיָאוֹת לְמִבְרֵי עָלְמָא בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. אֲמַר לָהּ: יָאוֹת אַנְתְּ וְטַב אַנְתְּ וּקְשׂוֹט אַנְתְּ, אֲבָל הוֹאִיל וְאָתְוָון דְּזִיּוּפָא נָטְלִין לָךְ לְמֶהֱוֵי עִמְּהוֹן לָא בָעֵינָא לְמִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא, דִּבְגִין דְּלָא יִתְקַיַּים שִׁקְרָא אֶלָּא אִי יִטְלוֹן לָךְ ק ר.

The letter Shin then entered and stood before Him. It said, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, as Your own name Shaddai is with me. And it would be most proper to create the world by a holy name. He replies: You are worthy, you are good, and you are truthful. But because you are included among the letters that form the word Sheker (falsehood), I do not wish to create the world with you. Sheker would not have prevailed had you not been attached to the letters REISH AND KOF.

(C) The letter Kof and Reish

Pasook 25 of the Prologue

מִכָּאן, מָאן דְּבָעֵי לְמֵימַר שִׁקְרָא יִטּוֹל יְסוֹדָא דִקְשׂוֹט בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר יוֹקִים לֵיהּ שִׁקְרָא, דְּהָא אָת ש אָת קְשׂוֹט אִיהוּ, אָת קְשׂוֹט דַּאֲבָהָתָן דְּאִתְיַיחֲדוּ בַהּ ק ר אָתְוָון דְּאִתְחֲזִיאוּ עַל סִטְרָא בִישָׁא אִינוּן, ובְגִין לְאִתְקַיָּימָא נָטְלֵי אָת ש בְּגַוַּוייהוּ הֲוֵי קֶשֶׁר. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמַאת הָכֵי נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ.

From this WE LEARN THAT whoever wants to tell a lie, should add that lie to a base that is truthful. Because the letter Shin is a letter (namely a sign) of truth, meaning a letter of Truth by which the Patriarchs reached unison. Note that the three lines in the letter Shin refer to the three Patriarchs, who are called Chesed, Gevurah, and Tiferet. And the letters KOF AND REISH appear on the evil side, because the Other Side is cold (Heb. kar, Kof Reish), without any of the warmth that gives life. The Other Side draws its sustenance from Malchut when She is a frozen ocean. In order for them to continue to exist, they pulled the letter Shin to them, creating the combination Kesher, WHICH MEANS 'STRENGTHENING' AND 'SURVIVING'. When the Shin realized this, it left.

(D) The letter Tzadi

Pasook 26. of the Prologue

עָאלַת אָת צ אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דַּאֲנָא, בִּי חֲתִימִין צַדִּיקִים, וְאַנְתְּ, דְּאִתְקְרִיאַת צַדִּיק, בִּי רָשִׁים, דִּכְתִיב כִּי צַדִּיק ה' צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב, וּבִי יָאוֹת לְמִבְרֵי עָלְמָא. אֲמַר לָהּ: צַדִּי, צַדִּי אַנְתְּ, וְצַדִּיק אַנְתְּ, אֲבָל אַנְתְּ צָרִיךְ לְמֶהֱוֵי טְמִירָא, לֵית אַנְתְּ צָרִיךְ לְאִתְגַּלְּיָא כָּל כָּךְ, בְּגִין דְּלָא לְמֵיהַב פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה לְעָלְמָא. מ"ט,אִיהִי, אַתְיָא י דִּשְׁמָא דִבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא וְרָכִיב עֲלָהּ וְאִתְאֲחַד בַּהֲדָהּ. וְרָזָא דָא, כַּד בְּרָא קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן דוּ פַּרְצוּפִין בְּרָאוֹ. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אַנְפּוֹי דְּיוּ"ד מְהַדַּר לַאֲחוֹרָא כְּגַוְונָא דָא צ, וְלָא אִתְהַדְּרוּ אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין כְּגַוְונָא דָא צ, אִסְתַּכַּל לְעֵילָא כְּגַוְונָא דָא צ אִסְתַּכָּלַת לְתַתָּא כְּגַוְונָא דָא אֲמַר לָהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא: תּוּ, דַּאֲנָא זַמִּין לְנַסְרָא לָךְ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד לָךְ אַפִּין בְּאַפִּין, אֲבָל בְּאַתְרָא אָחֳרָא תִּסְתַּלַּק. נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵיהּ וַאֲזָלַת.

The letter Tzadi then entered, stood before Him, and said, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, since the righteous (Heb. tzadikim) are 'signed' by my name. And You, who are called righteous (Heb. Tzadi), are also written by my name, as it is written, "For HaShem is righteous, He loves righteousness" (Tehilim 11:7). Therefore, it would be suitable to create the world with me! He replies: Tzadi, Tzadi you are truly righteous, but you should remain concealed and not be revealed too much; AS WOULD BE DONE IF THE WORLD WERE CREATED BY YOU, so that humans will not have an excuse for their sins. And what is the reason FOR IT REMAINING CONCEALED? IT IS BECAUSE it used to be Nun, and the letter of the Name, which is the holy covenant, came and mounted on the letter Nun, THEREBY CREATING THE LETTER TZADI. The secret meaning OF THIS MATTER is that when the Holy One, blessed be He, created Adam, WHO IS THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN, He created him with two faces, THAT IS A MALE AND A FEMALE ATTACHED AT THE BACK. For that reason the Yud's face was turned away FROM THE NUN, THE YUD FACING ONE WAY, THE NUN ANOTHER, not turning to face each other. The Yud faced upwards AND THE NUN faced downwards. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to it: I will sew you, THAT IS, SEPARATE THE ATTACHMENT OF BACK TO BACK WITHIN YOU, and from you into a frontal union. But it will rise to be this way in another place, NOT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. IT SHOULD BE BACK TO BACK, AND INDICATION THAT ITS ILLUMINATION IS HIDDEN, THEREFORE, IT IS NOT SUITABLE TO CREATE THE WORLD WITH IT. THE LETTER TZADI left His presence, and went its way.

(E) The letter Pei and the letter Ayin

Pasook 27. of the Prologue

עָאלַת פ אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמִין, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּהָא פּוּרְקָנָא דְּאַנְתְּ זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד בְּעָלְמָא, בִּי רְשִׁים, וְדָא הוּא פְּדוּת, וּבִי יָאוֹת לְמִבְרֵי עָלְמָא. אֲמַר לָהּ: יָאוֹת אַנְתְּ, אֲבָל בָּךְ אִתְרְשִׁים פֶּשַׁע בִּטְמִירוּ, כְּגַוְונָא דְּחִיוְיָא דְּמָחֵי, וְאָעֵיל רֵישֵׁיהּ בֵּין גּוּפֵיהּ, הָכֵי, מַאן דְּחָב, כָּפִיף רֵישֵׁיהּ וְאַפֵּיק יְדוֹי. וְכֵן ע עָוֹן, אַף עַל גָּב דְּאָמְרָה, דְּאִית בִּי עֲנָוָה, אֲמַר לָהּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָא אִבְרֵי בָךְ עָלְמָא. נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ.

The letter Pei was the next to enter. It stood before Him and said, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, because the Redemption that You shall bring onto the world is described by me, Pedut (Eng. 'Redemption'). This Means that Salvation is to be redeemed from our enemies, and this word in Hebrew starts with the letter Pei. This is why the world should be created with me. He replies to it: You are indeed praiseworthy, but a secret crime (Heb. pesha) is inscribed in you, like the snake that strikes, and then brings its head to its body. Because whoever sins bends his head, MEANING THAT HE HIDES HIMSELF FROM THE 'OBSERVING EYE,' then stretches his hands out to sin. This refers to the shape of the letter Pei that has a head bent down into its body. And so IT WAS SIMILARLY SAID OF THE LETTER AYIN, WHICH DESCRIBES THE TERM avon (Eng. 'iniquity'). Although it claimed, I have humility (Heb. anavah) in me, and the Holy One, blessed be He, replied to it saying: I shall not create the world by you. Ayin then took its leave!

(F) The letter Samech

Pasook 28. of the Prologue

עָאלַת ס אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמִין, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּאִית בִּי סְמִיכָא לִנְפָלִין, דִּכְתִיב סוֹמֵךְ ה' לְכָל הַנּוֹפְלִים. אֲמַר לָהּ: עַל דָּא אַנְתְּ צָרִיךְ לְאַתְרָךְ, וְלָא תָזוּז מִנֵּיהּ, אִי אַתְּ נָפִיק מֵאַתְרָךְ, מַה תְּהֵא עֲלַיְיהוּ דְּאִינוּן נְפִילִין, הוֹאִיל וְאִינוּן סְמִיכִין עֲלָךְ. מִיָּד נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ.

The letter Samech (Heb. support) entered, stood before Him and said, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, because I am able to support those who fall. As it is written, "HaShem upholds (Heb. somech) all that fall" (Tehilim 145:14). He said to it, This is exactly why you should stay in your place and not move from it. If you leave your place in the word somech, what will then happen to all those who fell and are being supported by you? The letter Samech then left immediately!

(G) The letter Nun

Pasook 29 of the Prologue

עָאלַת נ אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּבִי כְתִיב נוֹרָא תְהִלּוֹת, וּתְהִלָּה דְּצַדִּיקִים נָאוָה תְהִלָּה. אֲמַר לָהּ: נוּ"ן, תּוּב לְאַתְרָךְ דְּהָא בְגִינָךְ תָּבַת סַמֶ"ךְ לְאַתְרָהּ, וַהֲוֵי סָמִיךְ עֲלָהּ. מִיָּד תָּבַת לְאַתְרָהּ וְנָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ.

The letter Nun entered and stood before Him saying, Master of the World, may it please You to create the world with me, because the phrase, "fearful in praises (Heb. nora tehilot)" (Shemot 15:11), starts with me. AND ALSO in the praising of the righteous, IT IS WRITTEN, "praise (Heb. nava) is comely" (Tehilim 147:1). He told it, Nun, go back to your place. It is because of you that the letter Samech returned to its place. And you should depend on it for support. This means that the letter Nun is inscribed at the beginning of the word fall (Heb. nefilah) and the letter Samech, which is the secret of "HaShem upholds all that fall," returned to its place to support those who fall, as explained in the previous paragraph. It immediately left His presence and returned to its place.

(H) The letters Mem and Lamed

Pasook 30. of the Prologue

עָאלַת מ אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּבִי אִתְקְרִיאַת מֶלֶךְ. אֲמַר לָהּ: הָכֵי הוּא וַדַּאי, אֲבָל לָא אִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא, בְּגִין דְּעָלְמָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְמֶלֶךְ, תּוּב לְאַתְרָךְ, אַנְתְּ וְ ל וְ ך, דְּהָא לָא יָאוֹת לְעָלְמָא לְמֵיקַם בְּלָא מֶלֶךְ.

The letter Mem entered and said to Him, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world by me, because with me you are called Melech (Eng. 'King'). He told it, yes, it is indeed so, but I shall not create the world with you, because the world needs a king! Go back to your place, you and the letters Lamed and Caf, as it is not proper for the world to be without a king.

(I) The letter Caf

Pasook 31. of the Prologue

בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, נָחֲתָא מִן קֳדָמוֹהִי אָת מֵעַל כּוּרְסְיֵהּ יְקָרֵיהּ, אִזְדַעְזְעַת וְאָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דַּאֲנָא כְּבוֹדָךְ. וְכַד נָחֲתַת כ מֵעַל כּוּרְסְיֵהּ יְקָרֵיהּ, אִזְדַּעְזְעוּ מָאתָן אֶלֶף עָלְמִין וְאִזְדַּעְזַע כָּרְסְיָיא, וְכָלְהוֹ עָלְמִין אִזְדַּעְזָעוּ לְמִנְפַּל. אֲמַר לָהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא: כָ"ף, כָ"ף, מָה אַתְּ עָבֵיד הָכָא, דְּלָא אִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא, תּוּב לְאַתְרָךְ, דְּהָא בָּךְ כְּלָיָה, כָּלָה וְנֶחֱרָצָה אִשְׁתְּמַע, תּוּב לְכָרְסְיָיךְ וַהֲוֵי תַמָּן. בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ וְתָבַת לְדוּכְתָּהּ.

At that hour, the letter Caf descended from His Throne (Heb. kise) Glory. Shaking and trembling, it stood before Him and said, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, because I am Your Glory (Heb. kavod). When the letter Caf descended from the Throne of His Glory, 200,000 worlds were shaken and the Throne trembled. And all the worlds were about to collapse. The Holy One, blessed be He, told it, Caf, Caf, what are you doing here?! I shall indeed not create the world with you. Go back to your place, because the Hebrew word Clayah (Eng. 'destruction') starts with you. AND BECAUSE OF YOU "...total destruction is determined and decreed" (Yeshayah 10:23). So return to your Throne and stay there. At that same moment it took leave and returned to its place.

(J) The letter Yud

Pasook 32. of the Prologue

עָאְלַת י אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּיעָלְמָא, דַּאֲנָא שֵׂירוּתָא דִשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְיָאוֹת לָךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא. אֲמַר לָהּ: דַּי לָךְ דְּאַנְתְּ חָקִיק בִּי, וְאַנְתְּ רָשִׁים בִּי, וְכָל רְעוּתָא דִילִי בָּךְ, סָלֵיק, לֵית אַנְתְּ יָאוֹת לְאִתְעַקָּרָא מִן שְׁמִי.

The letter Yud entered, stood before Him, and said, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, because I am the first letter of the Holy Name. Thus, it should be proper for You to create the world with me. He replied: It should suffice you to be engraved upon My Name and appear in Me. You embrace all My desires. Rise up, it would not be proper for you to be removed from My Name!

(K) The letter Tet

Pasook 33. of the Prologue

עָאלַת ט אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּאַנְתְּ, בִּי אִתְקְרִיאַת טוֹב וְיָשָׁר. אֲמַר לָהּ: לָא אִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא, דְּהָא טוּבָךְ סָתִים בְּגַוָּוךְ וְצָפוּן בְּגַוָּוךְ, הה"ד מָה רַב טוּבְךָ אֲשֶׂר צָפַנְתָּ לִירֵאֶךָ, הוֹאִיל וְגָנִיז בְּגַוָּוךְ, לֵית בֵּיהּ חוּלָקָא לְעָלְמָא דָא, דַּאֲנָא בָּעֵי לְמִבְרֵי, אֶלָּא בְּעָלְמָא דַּאֲתֵי. וְתוּ, דְּעַל דְּטוּבָךְ גָּנִיז בְּגַוָּוךְ, יִטְבְּעוּן תַּרְעֵי דְהֵיכָלָא. הה"ד טָבְעוּ בָאָרֶץ שְׁעָרֶיהָ. וְתוּ דְ ח לְקִבְלָךְ, וְכַד תִּתְחַבְּרוּן כַּחֲדָא, הָא ח"ט, וְעַל דָּא אָתְוָון אִלֵּין לָא רְשִׁימִין בְּשִׁבְטִין קַדִּישִׁין, מִיָּד נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ.

The letter Tet entered, stood before Him and said, Master of the universe may it please You to create the world with me, as by me You are called good (Heb. tov) and upright. He replied: I will not create the world with you, because your goodness is concealed within you. Therefore it is written: "O how abundant is Your goodness which You have concealed for them that fear You" (Tehilim 31:20). So because your GOODNESS is concealed within you, it cannot take any part in this world that I want to create. It only applies to the World to Come. Furthermore, because your goodness is concealed and treasured within yourself, the gates of the Temple shall be 'sunk.' As it is written: "Her gates are sunk into the ground" (Eichah 2:9). And to add to all this, the letter Chet stands before you, together you become a sin (Heb. chet, Chet Tet Aleph). This is why these two letters do not appear in the names of the twelve tribes. Tet immediately then took its leave and went away from Him.

(L) The letter Zayin

Pasook 34. of the Prologue

עָאלַת ז אָת אָמְרָה לֵיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּבִי נָטְרִין בְּנָיךְ שַׂבָּת, דִּכְתִיב זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׂוֹ. אֲמַר לָהּ: לָא אִבְרֵי בָּךְ עָלְמָא, דְּאַנְתְּ אִית בָּךְ קְרָבָא, וְחַרְבָּא דְּשִׁנְנָא, וְרוֹמָחָא דִקְרָבָא, כְּגַוְונָא דְנוּן, מִיָּד נָפְקַת מִקַּמֵּיהּ.

The letter Zayin entered and said to Him, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me. Because with my help, Your children shall keep the Shabbat, as it is written, "Remember (Heb. zachor) the Shabbat day, to keep it holy" (Shemot 20:8). He replied: I will not create the world with you, because you represent war, THAT IS, a sharp pointed sword and a spear WITH WHICH PEOPLE MAKE war. AND THEY ARE CALLED WEAPON, which in Hebrew is pronounced Zayin! And you are like the letter Nun, which the world was not created by, because it is at the beginning of the word nefilah (Eng. 'falling'). It immediately left His presence.

(M) The letters Vav and Hey

Pasook 35. of the Prologue

עָאלַת ו אָת אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דַּאֲנָא אָת מִשְּׁמָךְ. אֲמַר לָהּ: וָאו, אַנְתְּ וְ ה, דַי לְכוֹן דְּאַתּוּן אָתְוָון דִּשְׁמִי, דְּאַתּוּן בְּרָזָא דִשְׁמִי, וַחֲקִיקִין וּגְלִיפִין בִּשְׁמִי, וְלָא אִבְרֵי בְּכוֹ עַלְמָא.

The letter Vav entered, and pleaded before Him, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me because I am in myself one of the letters of Your Name YUD HEY VAV HEY He replied: Vav, you and the letter Hey should both be satisfied with being written in My Name. Because you appear in My Name and are engraved in It, I shall therefore not create the world with you.

(N) The letters Dalet and Gimmel

Pasook 36. of the Prologue

עָאלַת ד אָת וְאָת ג אָמְרוּ אוֹף הָכֵי, אֲמַר אוֹף לוֹן, דַּי לְכוֹן לְמֶהֱוֵי דָּא עִם דָּא, דְּהָא מִסְכְּנִין לָא יִתְבַּטְּלוּן מִן עָלְמָא, וּצְרִיכִין לִגְמוֹל עִמְּהוֹן טִיבוּ. דָּלֶ"ת אִיהוּ מִסְכְּנָא, גִימְ"ל גְּמוֹל לָהּ טִיבוּ, לָא תִתְפָּרְשׂוּן דָּא מִן דָּא וְדַי לְכוֹן לְמֵיזַן דָּא לְדֵין.

The letters Dalet and Gimmel entered. THEY both also claimed the same thing. He told them also be satisfied with being with each other, because there will always be poor men on earth, and they should be given a benefactor. The letter Dalet is poor, because it is called Dalet, from poverty (Heb. dalut), and the Gimmel reciprocates as a benefactor (Heb. gomelet) to Dalet. THEREFORE do not leave each other, and it should suffice you that you sustain one another!

(O) The letter Bet

Pasook 37. of the Prologue

עָאלַת ב אָת אָמְרָה לֵיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, נִיחָא קַמָּךְ לְמִבְרֵי בִּי עָלְמָא, דְּבִי מְבָרְכָאן לָךְ לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא. אֲמַר לָהּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: הָא וַדַּאי בָּךְ אִבְרֵי עָלְמָא, וְאַתְּ תְּהֵא שֵׁירוּתָא לְמִבְרֵי עָלְמָא.

The letter Bet entered and said to Him, Master of the universe, may it please You to create the world with me, because by me You are blessed in the upper and lower worlds. This is because the letter Bet is the first letter of the word Blessing (Heb. brachah). The Holy One, blessed be He, replied: But, of course, I shall certainly create the world with you. And you shall appear in the beginning of the Creation of the world.

(P) The letter Aleph

Pasook 38. of the Prologue

קָיְימָא אָת א לָא עָאלַת. אֲמַר לָהּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אָלֶ"ף, אָלֶ"ף, לָמָּה לֵית אַנְתְּ עָאלַת קַמָּאי כִּשְׁאָר כָּל אָתְוָון. אָמְרָה קַמֵּיהּ: רִבּוֹן עָלְמָא, בְּגִין דַּחֲמֵינָא כָּל אָתְוָון נָפְקוּ מִן קַמָּךְ בְּלָא תוֹעַלְתָּא, מָה אֲנָא אַעֲבֵיד תַּמָּן. וְתוּ, דְּהָא יְהֵיבְתָּא לְאָת בֵּי"ת נְבַזְבְּזָא רַבְרְבָא דָא, וְלָא יָאוֹת לְמַלְכָּא עִלָּאָה, לְאַעֲבָרָא נְבַזְבְּזָא דִּיהַב לְעַבְדוֹ וּלְמֵיהַב לְאָחֳרָא. אֲמַר לָהּ קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אָלֶ"ף אָלֶ"ף, אַף עַל גָּב דְּאָת בֵי"ת בַּהּ אִבְרֵי עָלְמָא, אַתְּ תְּהֵא רֵישׂ לְכָל אָתְוָון, לֵית בִּי יִחוּדָא אֶלָּא בָּךְ. בָּךְ יִשְׁרוֹן כָּל חוּשְׁבָּנִין, וְכָל עוֹבָדֵי דְעָלְמָא, וְכָל יִחוּדָא, לָא הֲוֵי אֶלָּא בְּאָת אָלֶ"ף.

The letter Aleph stood outside and did not enter. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to it, Aleph, Aleph, why do you not enter and stand before Me like the other letters? It replies: Master of the universe, because I saw that all the letters left You without benefaction. So what shall I do there myself? Not only that, but You have already presented the letter Bet with this greatest gift of all. And it would not be proper for the supernal King to take back the gift, which He presented to His servant, and give it to another! The Holy One, blessed be He, said, Aleph, Aleph, even though the world is created with the letter Bet, you shall be the first (lit. 'head') of all the letters. My attachments shall be expressed only by you and all calculations and actions of the people shall commence with you. Therefore, all unity shall be expressed by the letter Aleph!

Pasook 39. of the Prologue

וַעֲבַד קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָתְוָון עִלָּאִין רַבְרְבָן וְאָתְוָון תַּתָּאִין זְעִירִין, וּבְגִין כָּךְ בֵּי"ת בֵּי"ת, בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא. אָלֶ"ף אָלֶ"ף, אֱלֹהִים אֶת. אָתְוָון מִלְּעֵילָא וְאָתְוָון מִתַּתָּא, וְכָלְהוֹ כַּחֲדָא הֲווֹ, מֵעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה וּמֵעָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה

The Holy One, blessed be He, formed large upper letters, WHICH ALLUDE TO THE SFIRAH OF BINAH and smaller lower letters, WHICH ALLUDE TO THE SFIRAH OF MALCHUT. And this is why IT IS WRITTEN, Bet, Bet, WHICH REFERS TO Beresheet Bara. And Aleph, Aleph, WHICH REFERS TO Elohim et. So the first set of Aleph and Bet letters are letters from above, from Binah, whereas the second set of Aleph and Bet are letters from below, FROM MALCHUT. And they are all united - the ones from the world above, FROM BINAH, with the ones from the world below, WHICH IS MALCHUT - SO THAT THEY CAN INFLUENCE EACH OTHER.