Editing Gematria (section)

== Origin and Essence of Gematria ==
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."