 Parshat Bo U'S'FUNEI T'MUNEI CHOL Beachcombing the G'matriya Beach with the help of "Otzrot Yisrael", one of the CDs of the "Responsa Project" of Bar Ilan University. After Moshe and Aharon visit Par'o for the first time and ask/demand that he let the People go, Par'o increases the people's burdens by commanding that no straw be given to them AND that their quota of bricks not be reduced. Shmot 5:9 - Make the work more intense upon the people and they shall do it, and not pay attentionto false words. This intensification of the slavery in Egypt is offset by what might be the first step in the process of redemption - the first mitzva to the People of Israel, the setting up of the calendar. Shmot 12:2 - This month is for you the first of your months... These two p'sukim have the same G'matriya, 2658. Please remember, I'm not suggesting that the match of G'matriya proves anything or makes any kind of statement. It is just an observation of a neatness and balance that I find appealing. Hope some of you do too. Shabbat and Yom Tov are the same and they are different. Both are sanctified by G-d, both have prohibitions of Melacha, both are called Shabbat, both testify to G-d's creation of and His continued ruling of the world and nature. Shabbat is known as the "first of the days called holy", the first of the Yamim Tovim. Hereis a nice G'matriya-match (GM) that ties Shabbat and Yom Tov together. B'reishit 2:3 - And G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for He rested from all His work that He created... And in Shmot 12:16 we have - And on the first day (of Pesach) it is Yom Tov (called Holy) and on the 7th day... no manner of melachamay be done, except for... These 2 p'sukim have the same G'matriya, 4928. Here is a GM that links the redemption from Mitzrayim to the future redemption as prophesied by Yirmiyahu. Shmot 12:37 - And Bnei Yisrael traveled from Raamses to Sukot, about 600,000 men, not counting (women and) children. And there will come the day, says G-d, that I will break the yoke from upon your neck and burst yourbonds... Each pasuk totals to 3556. There are many links between Geulat Mitzrayim and the Complete Geula; this is a numerical link. The Midrash, Shir HaShirim Rabba, states that "the world was not created except for Yisrael". Here's a nice GM that illustrates that idea in a specific case. B'reishit 1:11 - And G-d said, let the Earth spring forth with vegetation... For what purpose was the plant kingdom created, so to speak, so that Bnei Yisrael wouldbe able to do what it says in Shmot 12:39 - And they baked the dough that they took from Egypt into matzot... Same G'matriya, 5165. This is the "Surgeon General's warning" that appears at the end of each Treasures in the Sand column. A word of caution about G'matriya, specifically the homemade variety that appear in this Treasures in the Sand column. Don't read too much into them. They are not meant to say something new. They are meant to be a nice "numerical confirmation" of existing ideas. They point to ideas to be explored. Try any of them withoutthe G'matriya. They still "work". [The Bo Homepage] |