Gematria

Gematria is the numerical value of a letter or word in the Holy Tongue. The gematria of a word is connected to the essence of the word itself, and therefore it teaches and hints at the meaning of the word, as part of the Remez method in the PaRDeS of Torah, and is one of the types of notarikon through which one can expound and learn the verses of the Torah.

Origin and Essence of Gematria[edit | edit source]

The method of studying Torah through gematria is counted as one of the 32 methods by which the Torah is expounded, according to Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yosi HaGalili.

Sometimes the gematria of a certain word is aligned with a specific word plus the root of each letter, which equals the number 1 (as the Baal Shem Tov said that the letter Alef is clothed in all letters of the alphabet), and then we count the gematria of the word by the number of letters. In contrast, sometimes we count the word with its root that includes all the letters, and then the calculation of the gematria is against the word "with the kolel" meaning with a single gematria number.

Similarly, sometimes the gematria of a word is aligned against several words, with the addition of the kolel of each word separately, and then we count the gematria with the number of words.

The halacha that a Nazir counts thirty days for his period of abstinence is learned through gematria: The verse says "He shall be holy and let the locks of hair on his head grow" and "yihiyeh" (he shall be) in gematria equals thirty. The number of strings and knots in tzitzit in gematria equals 613, and therefore they remind and awaken the fulfillment of the 613 mitzvot, "And you shall see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem and do them."

Among the books of the great Jewish scholars prominent in the use of gematrias are Rabbeinu Asher, the 'Baal HaTurim' and the 'Megaleh Amukot' in their commentaries on the Torah. However, regarding the making of gematrias by simple people, the Ramban warned: "A person is not permitted to judge by calculating gematrias and derive from them an idea that came to his mind," and in the books of the great scholars of Israel there are several rules about how to properly arrange gematrias.

In Kabbalistic books, the use of gematrias is even more common.

The Rebbe Rayatz calls this part of Torah by the name 'Oznaim LaKupah' (handles for the basket), and emphasizes that gematria is only a mark and sign not to err and to aid in remembering matters, but gematria itself does not teach anything.

In a Simchat Beit HaShoeva gathering arranged by the Rebbe in the early 5710s (1950s) on behalf of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, the Rebbe repeated a gematria, prefacing it by saying that in Lubavitch they did not 'make a big deal' of gematrias.

The Rebbe emphasizes on several occasions, as per the Ramban's words mentioned above, that there needs to be a connection between the calculated words also in the content and not just in the equal number between them, and the matter needs an authoritative source and to be done by a person worthy of doing so.

On the other hand, the Rebbe says: "We see tangibly that learning connected with matters of gematria and calculation is easier, and requires less concentration and effort – than learning a certain subject in a way of understanding and comprehension. Therefore, even when a 'yeshiva student' (and the like) has become tired from Torah study, and cannot currently engage in an analytical subject, he can easily engage in matters of gematrias and numbers."

Gematria "With the Kolel"[edit | edit source]

Sometimes for the purpose of calculation, the word itself is added as a single number to the gematria value, and this form of calculation is called "with the kolel" or "missing gematria." An example of such a calculation: dimah (tear = 119) with the kolel (120) in gematria equals moed.

The Rebbe brings a hint to this method also in halacha (in addition to its use in midrashim) regarding the number of lashes which is forty minus one, and this is learned from the juxtaposition of verses "in the number forty," "a count that is close to forty," that is: a calculation that completes a sum of forty. And the Rebbe explains that when there is a number that together with the completion adds up to forty, it is considered the number forty and through it one fulfills the commandment "forty shall he strike him," even though only 39 lashes are given, since it completes to forty.

The nature of this calculation seems puzzling, and the Rebbe explains it based on the words of Rabbi Yosef Irgas: "At first glance, this seems contradictory, for the reason that one needs to add the kolel is because the calculation does not match, and if so, this is not a 'gematria'? Also: what is the reason that sometimes the calculation is with the kolel (or two kolels), and sometimes without the kolel? – This is not like the opinion of those who err that it is due to pressure, etc., since the calculation does not match, so they also add the kolel. Rather, everything is precise; sometimes the connection is only from the aspect of individual matters, and then we do not calculate the kolel, and sometimes the connection is not only from the aspect of individual matters, but also from the aspect of the general, and then we need to calculate the kolel, and without this it is impossible to accomplish the matter, and consequently something is missing in the gematria."

Gematria Ketana (Small Gematria)[edit | edit source]

The calculation method of Gematria Ketana is the numerical calculation of each letter as it is in regular Gematria but without the tens and hundreds, so that even the letters that come after Yud have numerical values of only 1-9.

One of the most common uses for this Gematria calculation is regarding the word 'Emet' (truth), which in Gematria Ketana has a numerical value of 9 (Alef - 1, Mem - 4, Tav - 4), unlike the calculation in regular Gematria where the numerical value of the word is 441.

Gematria of Nikud (Vowel Points)[edit | edit source]

Sometimes calculations also include the vowel points of letters, which itself has 2 main methods.

The common method is that the numerical value of each dot is ten, and the numerical value of each line is 6. For example, according to this calculation, the Segol vowel that includes 3 dots would have a value of 30, and the Kamatz vowel that includes a line and a dot - would have a value of 16.

Well-Known Gematrias[edit | edit source]

The name Elokim in Gematria equals "HaTeva" (nature).

The name 72 (Ayin-Bet) is in Gematria Chesed. This name multiplied by 3 equals Gevurah in Gematria.

The name 45 (Mem-Hei) is the Gematria of "Adam" (man).

The name 52 (Bet-Nun) is in Gematria Behemah (animal) (the concept is explained extensively in Chassidus, see Zera Adam and Zera Behemah).

770 is the Gematria of "Paratzta" (you have spread forth), and also "Beit Mashiach" (House of Moshiach) (as the Rebbe himself said in the booklet "Beit Rabbeinu SheBavel").

In Chassidus[edit | edit source]

In Chassidus it is explained that among the parts belonging to the gate of 'Remez' (hint) in the PaRDeS of Torah, Gematria is the last and lowest level, which cannot teach about a connection between 2 concepts that have the same numerical value, but only after there is content between the meanings of the words can one find a hint in the Gematria number, where their equal value indicates that at the root of the words there are the same number of powers, only that in the order of Hishtalshelut (chain of spiritual worlds) they descended from level to level, diminishing after diminishing until the connection that remains between them is only their equal numerical value.