THE KABBALAH OF TIME:
The Jewish Calendar is the master key to unlock the hidden rationale behind the formal structure of ancient sacred texts, as well as to understand and experience the most profound mystical concepts, which reveal the spiritual energy of each week, serving as a practical guide for self-analysis and development.
Who is a man who will live and not see death?
Who will rescue his soul from the grasp of the grave forever?
He named the place Massah [testing] and Meribah [quarreling]
Because of the quarrel of the children of Israel
For there our captors asked us for words of song
And our tormentors [asked of us] mirth
"Sing for us of the song of Zion"
Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim
And because of their testing the Lord, saying
Is the Lord in our midst or not?
Because of the request which he had requested of the Lord
And they would go to his place
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat
We also wept when we remembered Zion
And may he reign from sea to sea
And from the river to the ends of the land
G-d is good to all, and His mercy is upon all of His handiwork
And the Lord spoke to Moses on that very day, saying
That the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel
And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord, G-d of Israel"
The G-d who takes vengeance for me
And brings down peoples under me
I brought you up from Egypt
And I brought you out of the house of bondage
And I saved you from the hand of Egypt
And from the hand of all your oppressors
And I drove them out from before you
And I have given you their land
May the righteous flourish in his days
And much peace until there is no moon
May it descend as rain upon cut vegetation
As raindrops that drip upon the earth
On willows in its midst we hung our harps
And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and he would say
"May the Lord grant you seed from this woman"
In order that they keep His statutes and observe His laws. Hallelujah.
Prayers based on "Say 'Thank You' and See Miracles" by Rabbi Shalom Arush
Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of the World, may I live a life of constant gratitude and Emunah. May my every thought, speech, and deed be filled with faith in You and thanks for all that I have received every day of my life for years and years and years. May I be thankful for all that you have done for me and every member of my family.
May I remember to thank you always and not act like a spoiled child, or even worse, upset with any little thing that doesn't go my way. Help me fully internalize the concept that every difficulty I face, whether big or small, comes directly from You, and is in my best interest.
Ribbono Shel Olam, Rabbi Shalom Arush tells stories of people whose situations are infinitely more difficult than mine, and yet they were able to find the strength to say "Thank you," and changed their lives around completely. Whether it was a death in family, bullying at school, blindness and other health problems, extreme financial hardships, these people turned to thankfulness and emunah and saw miracles and salvations. May I learn from them and thank you for whatever small difficulty I face.
Ribbono Shel Olam, may I also fully grasp the concept that any success in this world comes directly from you, and that the most that we can do is to build vessels to receive your abundance. May I understand that every perceived failure is truly the best thing for me, and may I never give up, and understand that the most important thing is how I act and desire, and not necessarily the result, which is completely in your hands.
May I also internalize the fact that even any lacking on my part is fully understood by You, because after all, You were the One that made me, and know of my many flaws. May I not persecute myself over my faults, but instead simply strive to do better, knowing full well that if my Teshuvah is sincere, it will be accepted.
Ribbono Shel Olam, thank you for my health all these years, thank you for my ability to breathe, to eat, to sleep. Thank you for everything! Thank you for the opportunity to live each day and connect with you, whether it be through Torah, prayer, or good deeds, thank you! May I always be thanking you, every day, every moment, please let me never forget this important state of being, whether or not I am tired or busy, distracted, etc., may I always have this frame of mind, truly understanding that every moment is a gift, to be enjoyed, to make the most of every moment, in an eternal state of youth.
Ribbono Shel Olam, thank you for every difficulty I have faced in the past, every fraught relationship, every difficult decision. Ribbono Shel Olam, Rabbi Shalom Arush teaches that prayers of requests are lower than prayers of gratitude, because requests imply that something is missing at this moment, when in fact my current situation is exactly what is best for me. I hope from now on to rejoice in it, to rejoice in the present.
Thank you, Ribbono Shel Olam, thank you for this wonderful life, thank you for Rabbi Shalom Arush, and for being able to share these ideas with others.
Prayers based on the works of Rav Shalom Arush: "A New Light - in the Garden of Yearning and Will"
Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of the World, grant us wisdom to know to always pray to you. To pray to you at all times, for all of our needs, from the smallest to the greatest. Let us never be satisfied with the status quo, or feel defeated, or despondent. Let us never give up hope, as Rebbe Nachman says, Ein Yeush Ba'Olam Klal, there is no such thing as despair.
Ribbono Shel Olam, our sages teach us that the most important thing is a person's will, and that in the direction that a person wants to go, he/she is taken there. We also know that nothing stands in the way of the will, and that our main task in life is simply to want the right things, to want what You want, that our Ratzon, will, should be nullified to Your Ratzon. Please nullify my will, so that it may be completely in line with Yours. Please Hashem, I beg of You, please grant me the will to always do what is right in Your eyes.
Ribbono Shel Olam, I have learned from Rav Shalom Arush that this is mainly how a person is judged in this world: on whether they wanted to do the right thing, even if ultimately their deeds fall short, as long as their desire was firm and strong, that is how they are judged. May my desire always be firm and strong. May I not give up, may I have the will to accomplish all that I need to accomplish to achieve my tikkun (rectification), may I have the strong will to fix my relationships, to pray on behalf of all those that need prayer, to give charity the right way, to fulfill my obligations to my family, to my friends, and to my colleagues in Torah study and, L'Havdil, at work. May I be a Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of His name) and not a Chilul Hashem (desecrecation of His name).
Ribbono Shel Olam, I have also learned from Rav Arush, that it is important to set time to desire. Please, Ribbono Shel Olam, help me set the proper time to desire. May I pray to you at set times every day, and may I include in my prayers everything necessary. May I practice Hitbodedut every day before davening, may I set the proper times for it, and not let a day go by without it.
Thank you, Ribbono Shel Olam, may the expressions of my lips and the thoughts of my heart find favor in Your eyes.
On Tu B'Shvat, we celebrate the Rosh Hashanah L'Ilanot (New Year of the Trees). It's brought down in many sources that Ilan is gematria 91, which equals the gematria of the name Hashem (26) + the name Adni (65).
91 x 4 = 364, which is the same as 52 x 7, the cycles most explored in our book.
There is a custom on Tu B'Shvat to drink four cups of wine, just as in the Seder, representing the four seasons (white and red wine are mixed to represent those seasons).
Tu B'Shvat this year falls on day 137 of this year. 136.5 is 91 x 1.5, or 45.5 x 3. Tu B'Shvat falls half way into the second season (winter), 4.5 months into the semester (or year).
There appears to also be a rough parallel with the life of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbe was born on 1902. He passed away at 92, after having had his first stroke two years earlier, as he was close to completing 91 years of age. He became Rebbe on the 10th of Shvat.
9 cycles of 41 days. 7th cycle is from Shavuot (6th of Sivan) to the 17th of Tammuz. The 8th cycle from the 18th of Tammuz to the 29th of Av. The 9th, from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur.
A microcosm of the 41 days within the 7th cycle itself would be from Gimmel Tammuz, the 3rd to the 8th of Tammuz. The microcosm of the 8th cycle would be from 8 to 12.5. And the 9th from 12.5 to the 17th.
Within the period from 3rd to the 8th of Tammuz. The period representing 7/9s would fall within the 7th day of Tammuz, which is the birthday of Yosef HaTzadik.
More on these cycles, usually associated with 40 days:
The fifth cycle of 41 days, which runs from the 13th of Adar until right after Passover, is connected to the Mivtzah of Tzedakah. As mentioned in the previous post, the month of Adar is connected to the Half-Shekel. It was this mitzvah that saved the Jewish people from the hands of Haman. One of the mitzvot of Purim is that of Matanot La'Evyonim (gifts to the poor), and it is further stated on Purim that "Kol HaPoshet Yad Notnim Lo" - "One is not exacting with their money on Purim. Rather, one should give to anyone who extends their hands" (Shulchan Aruch 694:3).
Pessach is also very much associated with Tzedakah. Before Pessach, there is an age-old custom to provide Kimcha d'Pischa, which literally means "flour for Passover." This was so that the poor people in the community would be able to buy flour to make matzot. Nowadays, this mitzvah is taken in a more general sense of providing the poor with their Passover needs.
The cycles of 52 weeks (364 days) can also be divided into 28 cycles of 13 days. With each day dedicated to two halachot, it may also be considered 28 cycles of 26 halachot (728). (This is connected to the gematria of Shabat (702), which is 27 x 26). 27 are the letters of the Hebrew Alphabet including the final letters, and 26 is the gematria of the name of Hashem (See Bnei Issaschar)
The thirteenth cycle of 13 days (or 26 halachot) falls from the 3rd of Adar until the 17th of Adar. Within that cycle, the time that would represent the same proportion, 13/28, would be the second half of the 9th of Adar, a day known for a violent outbreak in the usually peaceful arguments between Beit Hillel and Beit Shamai, reminiscent of the lack of respect/baseless hatred associated with the Counting of the Omer and the Three Weeks of Mourning. See The-Story-of-9Adar-A-Day-of-Disagreement.
Also, by using this same proportion yet counting from the 1st Adar until Purim, the 14th of Adar, time 13/28 would fall in the middle of the 7th of Adar, Moshe Rabbeinu's birthday and yahrzeit.
Purim is essentially about the 13 attributes of mercy - G-d's mercy for us, which is above nature is truly infinite (interestingly, the Torah reading usually falls on Ki Tissah, about the sin of the golden calf, and how Hashem forgave us even then, and revealed an even greater closeness to Moshe)
Cycles of thirteen are also connected to Nassi reading starting on Rosh Chodesh Nissan all the way to right before Pessach. Each of the the thirteen attributes appears connected to a Tribe (including Levi) - each attribute appears distinctively related to one of the tribes. There is also a very deep connection between the Thirteen Attributes and Nissan in general, and of course with Elul.
There are two main definitions of the 13 attributes. One given to Moshe and one given to Micah. Those given to Moshe represent the outer vessels, and those given to Micah represent the inner ones. The first thirteen appear to be connected to those given to Micah (inner revelation), and the second 13 those given to Moshe (outer revelation). That would bring us to 26. The last 2 cycles, in Elul and the beginning of Tishrei, would be a combination of both inner and outer dimensions (the inner vessels as revealed within the outer ones, and the outer vessels as revealed within the inner ones), and would also serve as a microcosm for the whole year.
Another idea that appears to contain 13 elements are the levels/steps mentioned by Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair (see below), which also serves as the basis for the Ramchal's Mesilat Yesharim.
The 13 Attributes of Mercy according to Kabbalah:
א-ל / G‑d — mighty in compassion to give all creatures according to their need;
רַחוּם / rachum — merciful, that humankind may not be distressed;
וְחַנּוּן / ve’chanun — and gracious if humankind is already in distress;
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם / erech apayim — slow to anger; (once, to the righteous)
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם / erech apayim — slow to anger; (repeated again for the wicked)
וְרַב-חֶסֶד / ve’ravchesed — and plenteous in kindness;
וֶאֱמֶת / ve’emet — and truth;
נֹצֵר חֶסֶד / notzer chesed — keeping kindness
לָאֲלָפִים / laalafim — unto thousands;
נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן / noseh avon — forgiving iniquity;
וָפֶשַׁע / vafeshah — and transgression;
וְחַטָּאָה / vechata'ah — and sin;
וְנַקֵּה / venakeh — and pardoning.
The Mystical 13:
מִי אֵ-ל כָּמוֹךָ / meeE-l kamocha — Who is a G‑d like you (in compassion);
נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן / noseh avon — who bears iniquity;
וְעֹבֵר עַל פֶּשַׁע / ve’over al pesha — and overlooks sin;
לִשְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ / lishi’eirit nachalato — For the remnant of his heritage;
לֹא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ / lo hechzik le’ad apoh — He does not retain his anger forever;
כִּי חָפֵץ חֶסֶד הוּא/ ki chafetz chesed hu — for He desires kindness;
יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ/ yashuv yerachamanu — He shall again have mercy on us;
יִכְבֹּשׁ עֲוֹנֹתֵינוּ / yichbosh avonoteinu — and suppresses our iniquities;
וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם כָּל חַטֹּאתָם / vetashlich bimtzolet yam kol chatotam — casts our sins into the depths of the sea;
תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב / titein emet le’Yaakov— You grant truth to Jacob;
חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם / chesed le’Avraham— kindness to Abraham;
אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ / asher nishba’ata le’avotaynu — which You previously swore to our forefathers;
מִימֵי קֶדֶם / mimei kedem — from the earliest days.
The 13 Attributes of Mercy ("halachic" opinion):
י-ה-ו-ה / Hashem — compassion before a person sins;
י-ה-ו-ה / Hashem — compassion after a person has sinned;
א-ל / G‑d — mighty in compassion, to give all creatures according to their need;
רַחוּם / rachum — merciful, that humankind may not be distressed;
וְחַנּוּן / ve’chanun — and gracious if humankind is already in distress;
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם / erech apayim — slow to anger;
וְרַב-חֶסֶד / ve’rav chesed — and plenteous in kindness;
From here Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir would say: Torah study leads to care in the performance
of mitzvot. Care in the performance of mitzvot leads to diligence in their observance. Diligence
leads to cleanliness of the soul. Cleanliness of the soul leads to abstention from all evil.
Abstention from evil leads to purity and the elimination of all base desires. Purity leads to
piety. Piety leads to humility. Humility leads to fear of sin. Fear of sin leads to holiness.
Holiness leads to the Divine Spirit. The Divine Spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead.
And piety is greater than all of them, as it is stated: “Then You did speak in a vision to
Your pious ones” (Psalms 89:20).
Sotah Chapter 9:15
Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair said: Diligence leads to cleanliness, cleanliness leads to purity,
and purity leads to separateness, and separateness leads to holiness, and holiness
leads to humility, and humility leads to dread of sin, and dread of sin leads to piety, and
piety leads to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead,
and the resurrection of the dead will come with Elijah the Prophet, may he be
remembered for good, Amen
