Question:

In this week’s Parsha we find a unique case when passage of Torah is separated from the rest of it by unusual signs: two inverted letters "Nun". What do these signs mean?

Answer.

In a sense, by means of two overturned “Nuns”, the Torah divides the book Bemidbar into three parts - up to this passage, the passage itself[1], and what’s after it. Thus, all books of a Torah become not five but seven[2]! This concept is hinted to in the book of Mishley (9:1). To make sense of such a division we have to understand the general structure of the entire Torah.

The Vilna Gaon[3] explains that the books of the Torah in general correspond seven lower Sefiros:

The book:	Sefira:	Translation of Sefira:
Bereyshis	Chesed	Kindness
Shemos	Gevurah	Strength, judgment
Vayikra	Tiferes	Harmony
3 parts Bemidbar	Netzach - Hod- Yesod	Perseverance – Splendor – Foundation
Devarim	Malchus	Royalty

In truth, Bereyshis is a book of kindness of the Creator. The entire creation of the world was an altruistic act. This book describes the lives of ours ancestors who enjoyed the Olam Haba (Future World) while being in this world[4].

Shemos - the book of our exile, sufferings, sins and punishments. In this book, the torment of Egyptian slavery, the war with Amalek, the sin of the golden calf and the punishment for it are described. Thus, this book corresponds to the Sefira of judgment.

Vayikra - the book mainly dealing with the precepts of Torah - it corresponds to Tiferes[5].

Bemidbar includes the Sefiros Netzach, Hod and Yesod. These Sefiros function together. We discussed more than once that in a human body, Sefiros Netzach and Hod correspond to the two legs, and Yesod - the Foundation – corresponds to the organ circumcised on the eighth day. The middle sentences (Vayehi Binsoa Haaron Vayomer Moshe …) - has 85 letters, the Gematria (numerical value) of the word "Mila" (circumcision).

At last, Devarim is a projection of the entire Torah. Moshe summarizes our history till his time, repeats the commandments of the Torah, predicts the history of our people till the end of days, and at last blesses us. This book had begun at Moshe’s own initiative but later Hashem commanded to include it in the Torah as a separate book of Devarim[6].

Interestingly, the book "Eicha" (Lamentations) has the same structure. It too consists of five chapters, but the third chapter can be divided into three parts[7].

The chapter of the book:	Sefira:	Translation of the Sefira:
1	Chesed	Kindness
2	Gevurah	Strength, judgment
4	Tiferes	Harmony
3 parts of the third chapter[8]	Netzach - Hod- Yesod	Perseverance – Splendor – Foundation
5	Malchus	Royalty

The first chapter corresponds to the destruction of the First Temple. This Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, the nation related to the Sefira of Chesed. In truth, the unclean side (Sitra Achra) also has Sefiros. Hashem made the unclean worlds in a similar structure like the pure worlds[9]. Later, this country got influenced by the descendants of Yishmoel and in truth Yishmoel has his spiritual root in Chesed of Sitra Achra[10].

The second chapter of Eicha corresponds to the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans. These people are spiritually connected with Edom coming from Gevura of the Sitra Achra[11].

Three parts of the third chapter correspond to the loss of three parts of Torah (written, oral and secrets of the Torah - the Kabala). The fourth chapter corresponds to the end of days and the war of Gog and Magog. At last, the fifth chapter corresponds to the exile of Shechina (the Divine Presence). The Creator is also with us in our exile. This last chapter, like Devarim – is a projection of the entire book.

Our sages teach, that the passage "Vayehi Binsoa Haaron Vayomer Moshe …" is written here to separate one punishment from another. Indeed, Sefiros Netzach and Hod are related to punishment[12]. May we deserve to return to Hashem voluntarily and not through punishments, and to soon see the long-awaited redemption!

Go to previous

Go to next

---

[1] We say this passage when the Torah is carried out "Vayehi Binsoa Haaron Vayomer Moshe …".

[2] Talmud (Shabbos 116).

[3] In his commentary to Agada, tractate Bava Kama, 55 and also in Yahel Ohr to Zohar (3:155).

[4] Talmud, Bava Basra, 16b.

[5] See our article 10centuriesenglish.htm

[6] See Ohr Hachaim Hakodesh to the beginning of this book

[7] In book of Eicha, all chapters, except for the third one have 22 verses, and the third chapter has three times more verses, three starting with each letter of the alphabet.

[8] Regarding why the third and fourth chapters correspond Sefiros in the opposite order, see the Vilna Gaon’s commentary to Agada in Brochos, 54.

[9] Ze leumas ze asa HaElokim (Koheles, 7:14).

[10] See Maharal, Netzach Yisroel, 21.

[11] See our words to Parshios Noach and Toldos.

[12] See our article 10centuriesenglish.htm.