Luck, Destiny, or What?
Luck, Destiny, or What?
Shalom,
This coming Saturday we will celebrate the beginning of the month of Elul.
This Shabbat our family will celebrate Shabbat ‘KHATAN-KALAH” – ‘Bride and Groom Shabbat’ of our son Michael and his bride Ahinoam.
They got married this Tuesday in a special place in the valley of Ellah, where Michael signed the Ketubah (the marriage contract) inside the walls of a castle (dated the era of the second Temple).
Click below to watch a fragment of it..
Elul is a special month “mediating” between the month of Av, which throughout the history has symbolized tragic occurrences in the history of people of Israel and the month of Tishrey, which is the first month of every New Year symbolizing hope of the new beginning.
Elul is the month of spiritual preparation for the New Year.
According to the Jewish tradition each one of the 12 months relates to one of the 12 tribes.
Elul is related to the tribe of Gad, the seventh child of Jacob and Leah.
(Actually, he was born to Leah’s maid Zilpah)
When this child was born, Leah said:
Fortune is come!’ And she called his name Gad. (Genesis 30:10)
וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לֵאָ֖ה בָּ֣א גָ֑ד וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ גָּֽד
“GAD”- גד in Hebrew means: fortune, good luck, destiny, similar to MAZAL.
MAZAL also means “Zodiac Sign”.
Although Judaism recognizes the existence of a cosmic influence on each person, based on the Zodiac sign, but eventually these are the deeds of each person that determine his fortune.
And particularly the deeds of giving “Tzedakah”, one tenth of the profit – tithe.
In this week’s Torah Portion “Re’eh”) that is always read close to the New moon of Elul) we have the following verse:
עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר, אֵת כָּל-תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ, הַיֹּצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה, שָׁנָה שָׁנָה
…Thou shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed…
(Deuteronomy 12:22)
It is interesting to point out that in Hebrew the word
תְּעַשֵּׂר – TE’ASER
has two meanings.
1. To give one tenth
2. To become rich
According to the Kabballah, if we calculate one tenth of the numerical value of each of the letters of the
word תְּעַשֵּׂר
we will receive the word מזלך – MAZALKHA
which means “Your fortune – destiny”
Thus, giving one tenth of what one receives as a charity is the key
to influencing one’s fortune for the better.
Explanation:
The word תְּעַשֵּׂר
First letter: “Tav” = 400.
One tenth of 400 equals 40 = letter “Mem”
Second letter: “Ayin” = 70.
One tenth of 70 equals 7 = letter “Zayin”
Third letter: “Sin” = 300.
One tenth of 300 equals 30 = letter “Lamed”
Fourth letter: “Reish” = 200.
One tenth of 200 equals 20 = letter “Khaf”
Combining the new letters we get the word
מזלך
which means “Your fortune – destiny”
We wish you “KHODESH ELUL TOV”
(Lit. a “Good Month of Elul”)
Yoel & Orly
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