"The Aleph-Bet is the brick and mortar and soul of
the universe, as it is of individuals with their person-
al capacities."

— From the Wisdom
in the Hebrew Alphabet
By Rabbi Michael L. Munk

As we start the year 5755,
we must let the letters of Torah
guide us to a year of growth
and fulfilled hope.

R

osh Hashanah marks the beginning of the year 5755 on the
Jewish Calendar. The numerical value of the number 5755
(that is, if one adds together the digits 5, 5, 7, 5) is 22, which
is the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
In the Book of Genesis it is related that God spoke, and through
His speech the world came into existence. Sefer Yetzira, the most
ancient book of Jewish mysticism, explains that God created the
world through the 22 letters. These letters are the building blocks of
life, and every component of the universe is pervad-
ed with and draws its existence from them.
The prophet Isaiah tells us that in time of Moshi-
ach "all flesh will see" the word of God. The Kab-
balists interpret this to mean that although
the influences of the letters and words are
presently concealed from us, with the corn-
) ing of Moshiach all mankind will see how
the Hebrew letters which form the words
of God are the true vivifying force of all
that exists.
Throughout his life, the Lubavitcher Rebbe
o.b.m. would point out how certain years were espe-
cially auspicious for the coming of Moshiach. Let us
hope and pray that the Gematria (numerical value) of this
year is truly indicative of the time when the word of God, as ex-
pressed through the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, will be re-
vealed to us all through the ultimate redemption.

ILLUSTRATION BY G IORA CARMI

Time To
Remember
The Letters
Of The
Torah

C I

CC

w

CCI

w

I--

w

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