Parsha Math - 20

PARSHA MATH ‫רֹאש‬-‫על‬ ַ ]‫דיו‬ ָ ָ ‫דו( [י‬ ָ ָ ‫שתֵי )י‬ ְ -‫סמַך ְ אהֲרֹן אֶת‬ ָ ְ ‫ויקרא פרק טז כא ו‬ ‫שרָאֵל‬ ְ ‫עונֹת בְנ ֵי י‬ ֲ -‫כ ָל‬-‫על ָיו אֶת‬ ָ ‫דה‬ ָ ַ ‫חי וְהִתְו‬ ַ ַ‫עיר ה‬ ִ ‫ש‬ ָ ַ‫ה‬ Aaron the High Priest placed his hand(s) upon its head and confessed all the sins of the Jewish People. The verse is written ‫“ ידו‬his hand” and is read ‫“ ידיו‬his hands”. The Gemara (Menachos 93b) derives the concept of s’micha (placing of one’s hands) is done in such a way that one’s hands appear to be a single hand, i.e. one places one hand directly atop of the other hand. The ritual of confessing and then sending the he-goat into the wilderness and throwing it off the cliff reflects the potential of atonement for the Jews The numerical value of ‫ ידו‬is 20 (Yud=10, Dalet=4, Vav=6). When our spiritual soul directs our physical activities, all 20 “fingers” (10 faculties of the G-dly soul and the 10 faculties of the “animal” soul) of the two hands are united (appearing as if one hand).

KAF (numerical value 20) The Power to Actualize Potential The literal meaning of the letter kaf is "palm" - the place in the body where potential is actualized. This awareness is reflected in the custom of placing one palm on the other upon awakening (placing two hands together to reflect one), upon awakening before reciting the Modeh Ani prayer. Thus, are initial action for the day reflects our daily understanding that our mission involves actively actualizing our potential.

FIND THE HEBREW WORDS IN THE BOX ON THE LEFT FOR THE SIX UNDERLINED ENGLISH WORDS LISTED ON THE RIGHT

‫שכ ח י ס‬



‫כ ק י ע ו‬

 

‫כ כ ל ק כ‬ ‫ת ס ה ב ה‬



‫ר כ ף ס ל‬

 

Twenty pieces of silver for which Yosef's brothers sold him. Twenty cubits, the maximum height of a Sukkah. Twenty gerah, the full value of a shekel, symbolizing the union of two half-shekels. Twenty years, the age to become a soldier and pursue a livelihood. The twenty years Yaacov worked for Laban. The twenty sefirot of the two countenances of the crown.

PARSHA MATH NOTES FOR TEACHER OR PARENT Age group – 12 years and up Objective of this lesson: Appreciate math in the Parsha Introduction to concepts within Judaism of 20 and the letter KAF ANSWER SHEET

‫ס‬ ‫ו‬ ‫כ‬ ‫ה‬

‫י‬ ‫ע‬ ‫ק‬ ‫ב‬

‫ח‬ ‫י‬ ‫ל‬

‫ש‬ ‫ק‬ ‫ס‬

‫ף‬

‫כ‬ ‫ת‬ ‫ר‬

Chassidus teaches that a person places both hands on the sacrifice to connect to the animal. Everyone has a G-dly soul and an animal soul. The ten figures of the two hands allude to the 10 faculties of one spiritual soul influencing the 10 faculties of the animal soul. Thus, the activities of one’s animal soul (eating, drinking, etc.) are expressed in a spiritual fashion of Torah & Mitzvos.

The two letters of the full spelling of the word kaf, are the initial letters of the two Hebrew words: koach ("potential") and poel ("actual"). Thus, the word itself kaf hints at the power latent within the spiritual realm of the potential to fully manifest itself in the physical realm of the action.

For more information on the meaning of Hebrew letters: Rabbi Ginsburgh The Inner Dimension www.inner.org Rabbi Aaron Raskin, Letters of Light http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/137068/jewish/Letters-of-Light.htm www.parshapages.com