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Translated by Baruch Emanuel Erdstein from the
Writings of the Ari.
These are some [mystical meditative] intentions that one
should have during the Standing Prayer for all the days of this period [of the
Three Weeks]:  | | " The deeper we penetrate into the realms of the concealed, the greater the potential for accessing the inner light of the Torah...." | | |
During difficult times, such as the Three Weeks, in which the
Accusing Forces seem to reign, Kabbala instructs us to "lay low", disguising the
holiest of our divine service, lest it fall prey to the kelipot. In
addition to this, however, is a profound underlying principle that the deeper we
penetrate into the realms of the concealed, the greater the potential for
accessing the inner light of the Torah. Hence, it is not surprising that the
following meditations from the Ari, to be applied to the daily liturgy during
the Three Weeks, offer deep secrets as to the nature of divine mercy and the
impending Redemption at this traditional time of mourning the historical
tragedies which have befallen the Jewish People at this time.
In the blessing of the Avot [Patriarchs], during the
first mention of the name Havayah, have in mind that this name Havayah
is illuminating its related name created by shifting [the letters of Havayah]
back [in the order of the alef-beit]: tet-dalet- hei-dalet.
The Benei Yissaschar, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech from Dinov,
comments that the first two letters of this divine name, tet (=9)-dalet
(=4), hint to the 13 days of the Three Weeks which are in the month of Tammuz.
Related to these difficult days of Tammuz, we anticipate the times in which the
Thirteen Rectifications of [Beard] of Arich Anpin shine upon us.
The last two letters of the above divine name, hei (=5)-dalet
(=4), hint to the last nine days of the Three Weeks, in the month of Av. These
correspond to the Nine Rectifications [of the Beard] of Zeir Anpin.
Also noteworthy is that 13 X 9 equals 117, the numerical value
of the phrase "noam Havayah", the "pleasantness of G-d" (Psalms 27:4).
And in the name Havayah in the [second blessing,
that of] blessing of "Ata Gibor" ["You are Mighty"] have in mind that
this name Havayah is illuminating its related name created by shifting
[the letters of Havayah] forward [in the order of the alef-beit]:
kaf- vav-zayin-vav.
And in the third Havayah, that of the "Ata Kadosh"
["You are Holy"] blessing, have in mind that this name Havayah is
illuminating its related name created via the Atbash method: mem-tzadi-pei-tzadi.
These three names, tet-dalet-hei-dalet, kaf-vav-zayin-vav,
and mem-tzadi-pei-tzadi, have the numerical value of
the word [the letter shin, spelled] shin- yud-nun,
with the kollel [=361].
The Benei Yissaschar notes that numerical value of these
three names (361) plus the three times Havayah (3 x 26 = 78) they
enclothe (with the kollel) equals the words for "loving-kindness" (" chesed"
=72), "judgment" ("din" = 64, "and mercy" ("v'rachamim" = 304),
the three general characteristics of the three first blessings of the Standing
Prayer, respectively:
361 + 78 + 1 = 440
72 + 64 + 304 = 440 | | " It is a time of trouble to Jacob, but he will be saved from it...." | | |
In addition, the sum of these three names equal the numerical
value of the tribes from which the two Mashaichs, Ben Yoseph and
Ben David, will emerge: Judah (in Hebrew, "Yehuda" = 30) and
Ephraim (= 331).
And for the blessing "R'tzei" ["Favor"],
have in mind that the word "r'tzei" [spelled reish (=200),
tzadi (=90), hei (=5), = 295] has the numerical value of the name
Elo-him spelled out with hei.
"Elo-him spelled out with hei" is: alef (1)
lamed (30) pei (80), lamed (30) mem (40) dalet
(4), hei (5), hei (5), yud (10) vav (6)
dalet (4), mem (40) mem (40) =295.
This is because the word "r'tzei" is the same
letters as the word "tzara" [which means "trouble"], and this is the
secret meaning of the verse "....and it is a time of trouble to Jacob, but
he will be saved from it" (Jeremiah 30:7); this "trouble" ["tzara"] is
[the secret of the name]
Elo-him spelled out with hei.
And this is the secret of [this period, the Three Weeks,
known as] "Bein HaMetzarim" [literally "Between the
Straits"], for the above name [Elo-him spelled out with hei],
which represents harsh judgment emerges during this troubling period.
Also [intend to] add the name Ado-nai [=65] with "r'tzei"
[=295] of the spelling out of Elo-him above, and the result is [the
letter shin, spelled] shin-yud-nun [=360]. | | " By transforming words representing harsh judgment into words which communicate beneficence, our meditations affect divine influence...." | | |
And have in mind that the two courts of judgment,
[represented by] the names Elo-him and Ado-nai, which are mystical
meaning of "Bein HaMetzarim" [literally "Between the
Straits" or "Among the Instigators of Trouble"] - these two "instigators of
trouble" [i.e. the name Elo-him spelled out with the letter hei
and the name Ado-nai], which together equal the word [for the letter
shin] shin-yud-nun, are rectified [literally
"sweetened"] via the first three names that you had in mind during the first
three blessings of the Standing Prayer, tet-dalet-hei-dalet,
kaf-vav-zayin-vav, and mem-tzadi-pei-tzadi,
which have the numerical value of the word [for the letter shin, spelled]
shin-yud-nun [with the kollel], as mentioned above.
And through this intention, the letters of the word for
"trouble" [in Hebrew, "tzara"], get flipped to the side of mercy,
resulting in "favor [us G-d, our Master]" [in Hebrew, "r'tzei", spelled
with the same letters as "tzara" rearranged].
By acknowledging the difficult state of affairs we are in, we
begin to be able to rectify it. By transforming words representing harsh
judgment into words which communicate beneficence, our meditations affect divine
influence even into the physical reality. This is a common technique, especially
utilized during the Three Weeks, transforming words like "davei"
("sadness") into " hod" ("glory"), or "ani" ("poor") into "ayin"
("eye", communicating clarity of vision).
And in the blessing "Sim Shalom" ["Bestow
Peace"], have in mind that initial letters of "Sim Shalom",
are the two letter shins mentioned above. Also, the words themselves, "Sim
Shalom", together have the numerical value shin-yud-nun,
shin-yud-nun [two times the word for the letter shin,
720] - plus 6, which represents the six divine names we mentioned until now:
Havayah, its three related names, tet-dalet-hei-dalet,
kaf-vav-zayin-vav, and mem-tzadi-pei-tzadi,
and the name Elo-him, and the name Ado-nai.
The numerical value of the additional divine names used in the
above meditations equals ten times 72, the number most associated with the
sweetening of judgmental forces, and the number of possible permutations of the
word " Bereishit" ("In the beginning..." - Gen. 1:1) (360 + 295 + 65 = 720.)
This hints at the founding principle of Torah that the world was created with
the intention that we become partners, so to speak, with G-d in rectifying it,
truly creating a "world of loving-kindness".
[Shaar HaKavanot, Inyan Chag HaShavuot;
commentary based on the Benei Yissaschar, by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech from Dinov]
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