The Name of Havaya

The name Havaya is the special name of the Holy One, blessed be He, which is always referred to by this name, and not only when it is clothed in a specific attribute. Unlike the other seven names that cannot be erased, which are revelations of the Holy One, blessed be He, in vessels - for example, the name E-l is the revelation of G-d in kindness, and the name Elokim is in might - the name Havaya is the light that clothes itself in every attribute. Additionally, the name Havaya is in the aspect of the vessel name of the attribute of Tiferet.

Its Essence

The name Havaya is the special name of the Holy One, blessed be He, which is called by this name not only when clothed in a specific attribute, but is always called by this name. Its essence is that it is in the aspect of the name of the lights. While the other seven names that cannot be erased are in the aspect of vessels, where the name E-l is in the attribute of kindness, and the name Elokim is in might, the name Havaya is the name of the lights.

Similarly, the name Havaya is the name of the vessels of the Sefirah of Tiferet. The Sefirah of Tiferet is the attribute of Jacob, which extends from one extreme to the other, drawing into it high lights that are in the aspect of the name Havaya, and thereby mediating and connecting between the Sefirot of kindness and might.

In Relation to the Name Elokim

The names Havaya and Elokim are in the aspects of kindness and judgment, respectively. As it says, "The sun and shield are Havaya Elokim" since the name Elokim is in the aspect of a shield and sheath that conceals and covers the light of the name Havaya, which is superior to it.

Therefore, the Sefirah of Malchut is in the aspect of the name Elokim, compared to Tiferet which is in the aspect of the name Havaya.

Its Four Letters

The name Havaya is called by our Sages "the name of four letters," indicating that the essence of the name is connected to its composition of the four letters Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey.

The Meaning of Its Letters

The literal meaning of the name Havaya is the language of continuous creation, where "hayah" (was) serves as a language of continuous action—as in the verse "thus did Job all the days." The four letters of the name Havaya are four stages of creation from nothing to something, from the infinite to limited reality. The shape of the letter Yud is like a point, and therefore it indicates contraction. The shape of the letter Hey is a form of expansion in three dimensions—length, width, and depth. The shape of the letter Vav is a descending line and alludes to the drawing down of light from above to below.

The four stages of creation are: contraction, expansion, extension, and expansion.

Yud - Contraction Every creation of something from nothing must begin with the contraction of the infinite nothingness that precedes the reality being created. From the infinite that precedes reality, only a point remains, and it is the beginning of revelation in the created world. Since this point of beginning is a revelation of what the world and the emerging reality cannot contain—the infinite that preceded it—also from the world's perspective, this beginning is only a point, and this revelation is beyond the comprehension and grasp of created beings.

Upper Hey - Expansion After the appearance of light in the world and its initial revelation as a point, there is an additional stage and further descent in the value and essence of the light. At this stage, the light is contracted so that created beings can grasp and contain it, and consequently, the light begins to materialize and become part of the existence belonging to that world (as opposed to the point stage, which is a stage of nothingness). This stage is called "the beginning of existence" of that world. The expansion of light in the world is mainly expressed in the beginning of the adaptation of light to the reality of created beings.

Vav - Extension At this stage, the light is drawn down and becomes part of the reality of created beings. The divine light is what gives life and creates every detail and matter in the created reality, and this stage is the stage in which this vitality is divided into every detail according to its needs and its special essence. At this stage, there are six general types of extension, corresponding to the numerical value of the letter Vav.

Lower Hey - Expansion This stage comes after the stage in which each particular created being receives its special extension, and at this stage, the light creates the reality of the created being itself. This stage is the stage in which created beings become entities with their own reality and existence, as if they are not created from the light but only illuminated by it. The expansion of light in the world is mainly expressed in the adaptation of light and its descent to the point of creating the reality of independent created beings.

Inclusion of the Letters

Hidden and Revealed in the Name Havaya

The name Havaya is divided into two parts: The first two letters, Yud-Hey, form a holy name—one of the names that cannot be erased. The last two letters, Vav-Hey, are secular letters and have no holiness except that they are connected to the head of the name. The first two letters, Yud-Hey of the name Havaya, are the two stages of divine light that descends to illuminate within the world. Therefore, these two letters are called "the hidden things," from the verse "The hidden things belong to Havaya our G-d." The last two letters, Vav-Hey of the name Havaya, describe the reception of divine light by the created reality—therefore, these letters are called "the revealed things," from the continuation of the verse—"and the revealed things belong to us and to our children."

Inclusion of Opposites

On the verse "For in Yud-Hey Havaya is the rock of worlds," our Sages say that with the letter Yud, the World to Come was created, while with the letter Hey, this world was created. Yud-Hey is the revelation of the World to Come, the illumination of the infinite that is beyond this world. In the name Havaya, this is related to the two hidden letters—Yud-Hey of the name Havaya. The Hey is the expansion and reception of illumination in the vessels of this world, to the point of creating this world itself from the thickening of light. In the name Havaya, this is related to the two revealed letters—Vav-Hey of the name Havaya.

To connect and unite these two opposites—the revelation of the infinite in the hidden part of this world, and the reality of the world itself as the revealed part of the world—the inclusion of opposites within each other is required. Inclusion is the containment of each of the two in its opposite, and the division of the two parts of the world—the hidden and the revealed—into four parts: the hidden within the hidden, the revealed within the hidden, the hidden within the revealed, and the revealed within the revealed. These four parts of the world are the four letters of the name Havaya, the four stages and levels of the creation of the world something from nothing.

Filling of Its Letters

The name Havaya has many fillings. This stems from the fact that three of its letters (except for the letter Yud) can each be filled in three ways. The letter Hey (first and last) can be filled in the following ways: Hey-Yud, Hey-Hey, and Hey-Alef. The letter Vav can be filled in the following ways: Vav-Yud-Vav, Vav-Alef-Vav, and Vav-Vav. In total, the name Havaya can be filled in 27 different ways, amounting to 13 different numbers. Of these, four fillings are the main ones, which appear in the description of the order of evolution and creation of worlds, and take a central place in understanding relationships between different things in divine service.

The Different Fillings

• Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Yud (72) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Yud (63) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Vav Hey-Yud (62) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Yud (67) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Yud (58) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Vav Hey-Yud (57)
• Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Yud (63) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Yud (54) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Vav Hey-Yud (53) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Hey (67) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Hey (58) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Vav Hey-Hey (57) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Hey (62) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Hey (53) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Vav Hey-Hey (52) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Hey (58) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Hey (49)
• Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Vav Hey-Hey (48) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Alef (63) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Alef (54) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Vav Hey-Alef (53) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Alef (58) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Alef (49) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Vav Hey-Alef (48)
• Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Alef (54) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Alef (45) Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Vav Hey-Alef (44)
• All possible fillings amount to the following numerical values: 72, 67, 63, 62, 58, 57, 54, 53, 52 (Ban), 49, 48, 45, 44.

The Four Main Fillings

Of all the possible fillings, the following four are emphasized in Kabbalah and Chassidut: the name Havaya has four main fillings:

Name of 72 (Av)

The name 72 is formed from the name Havaya filled with Yuds: Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Yud-Vav Hey-Yud. Filling with Yuds indicates wisdom, and therefore the four letters of the name Havaya in this combination are filled with Yud, because this name indicates wisdom. In the worlds, this name corresponds to the world of Akudim. In this name, the concept of breaking of vessels does not apply, as expressed in the verse "they die but not in wisdom." This name is directed towards the Sefirah of Chochmah, and towards Abba Ila'ah in the world of Atzilut.

Name of 63 (Sag)

The name 63 is formed from the name Havaya filled as follows: Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Yud Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Yud. This name is also filled with Yuds, except for the Vav, which is filled with Alefs, because this name indicates the Sefirah of Binah, which is also in complete nullification, since Chochmah and Binah are "two companions that do not separate." The letter Vav of this filling is filled with Alefs, since the letter Vav in the name Ban indicates the beginning of the drawing down of Binah, as it becomes a source for the emotional attributes, and then it is in the aspect of existence. This is why from Binah, judgments are aroused at its end. From this name is related to the world of Nekudim and the world of Tohu, and in it was the breaking of vessels. This name corresponds to the Sefirah of Binah, and to Imma Ila'ah in the world of Atzilut.

Name of 45 (Mah)

The name 45 is formed from the name Havaya filled with Alefs: Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Alef Vav-Alef-Vav Hey-Alef. This name corresponds to Zeir Anpin, since Alef indicates the general concept of drawing down. This name corresponds to the world of Berudim, to the world of Tikkun, and to the world of Atzilut. Mah is the gematria of "Adam" (man), and this name indicates the nullification that exists in man. In the partzufim of the world of Atzilut itself, this name corresponds to Zeir Anpin.

Name of 52 (Ban)

The name Ban is a filling of the name Havaya with Heys: Yud-Vav-Dalet Hey-Hey Vav-Vav Hey-Hey. The name Ban is in Malchut, and therefore it is filled with the letter Hey, where the filling is like the letter itself, which indicates the contraction and diminishing of light in the aspect of Malchut. This name corresponds to the worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah, the worlds that fell in the breaking of vessels. Ban is the gematria of "behemah" (animal), and this name indicates the strength and power that exists in the animal. This name corresponds to the Sefirah of Malchut.

It is also called 'the double filling,' because the filling of each letter is equal to the letter itself. This name is the name of the world of Tohu after it broke. The work in this world is to elevate the name Ban, the sparks of the world of Tohu, to holiness. This is drawn down through the drawing down of the name Mah and its unification with the name Ban. The root of the name Ban is in a higher place, in the world of Tohu, but because it fell in the breaking of vessels—in this world, the name Mah is higher.

Number of Letters in the Filling

When writing the name Havaya with filling, the number of letters is ten, which correspond to the ten Sefirot.

This is also alluded to in the fact that according to halacha, a private domain (regarding Shabbat) is a place that is four handbreadths wide and ten handbreadths high; the width 4 corresponds to the letters of the name Havaya, and the height corresponds to the name Havaya with filling, which includes ten letters.

The Rebbe notes that the first letter of the name Havaya includes the entire name in concealment, since its gematria itself is ten, and also the gematria of its filling (Yud-Vav-Dalet) is ten.

The ten types of souls in Israel correspond to the ten letters in the name Havaya.

12 Permutations of Havaya

"Four stones build twenty-four houses"—a word with four letters can be transformed into another word by changing the order of the letters in 23 different ways. Since in the name Havaya the two letters Hey are identical—the number of possible combinations for the four letters drops to 12. These 12 combinations correspond to the twelve months, from Nissan to Adar, and in each month, a different combination of the name Havaya illuminates. In each hour of the 12 hours of the day, a different combination of the name Havaya illuminates (in contrast to the night hours when combinations of the name Adnut illuminate), and through the alternating illumination of the combinations in a back-and-forth manner, time is created.

Order of Permutations

Nissan - Sivan Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey Yud-Hey-Hey-Vav Yud-Vav-Hey-Hey

Tammuz - Elul Hey-Vav-Hey-Yud Hey-Vav-Yud-Hey Hey-Hey-Vav-Yud

Tishrei - Kislev Vav-Hey-Yud-Hey Vav-Hey-Hey-Yud Vav-Yud-Hey-Hey

Tevet - Adar Hey-Yud-Hey-Vav Hey-Yud-Vav-Hey Hey-Hey-Yud-Vav

Sanctity of the Name

According to halacha, one must be careful not to write this name in writings and the like, because this name is one of the seven names that cannot be erased, and there is an obligation to preserve their honor. For this reason, the Rebbes of Chabad were careful in their books when writing words that have a connection to the name Havaya, such as the word "yihiyeh" (will be), they wrote in this way: "yihi'," and so on.

It is forbidden to mention this name in its fullness, only through the appellation Alef-Dalet-Nun-Yud.

Aspect of the Name

The name Havaya is called the sun, according to the verse "For a sun and shield are Havaya Elokim," just as the sun that shines is only the aspect of the sun's radiance, which is just an aspect of illumination, and behold, this aspect of radiance is in complete nullification to the essence of the sun, to the extent that it is not called radiance at all, and this is why the name Havaya is called the sun, for although the name Havaya is that which creates and is the source of creation, nevertheless it is only an aspect of radiance and illumination, and the illumination is in complete nullification.

Rectification of the Name

In Chassidic teachings, it is explained that the Sefirot themselves are not "vessels" for the clothing of the name Havaya, and in order for it to be able to illuminate and be revealed in them (and also lower down—to this world), they must be purified ("polished" from within and without) through the fulfillment of mitzvot.

See Also

• The name Havaya with the vowels of Elokim
• Matzpatz