Thank youEach letter in the Hebrew alphabet (or aleph-bet) has a numerical value. The value of letter “kaf” is twenty. Generally this letter is spelled like this: כ. However, there is another special way of spelling “kaf” (כ) – as an abbreviation of 2 letters: “kaf” and ending “fey” – כ”ף. In this case, the gematria of “kaf” equals 620 – which is the same as the numerical value of the word “keter” (“crown”).
These three words – “esrim” (20), “kaf” (the name of the Hebrew letter) and “keter” (“crown”) – have the same gematria, 620.
What do all these coincidences symbolize?
The Rebbe reveals:
– The letter “kaf” in Hebrew has a numerical value of the word “crown” – “keter”. The word “esrim” (“twenty”, the equivalent of the letter “kaf”) also has the gematria of “keter”. “Keter” (“crown”) represents a loftiest level of G-dliness, which transcends all of the Sefiros. At the same time, the revelation of this highest level happens in the material plane, within the context of material reality.
Here we can see a connection between the above and the twentieth of Cheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab.
The service of the Rebbe Rashab centered on bringing about the revelation of G‑dliness in the world – not only for himself, but for others as well. This is reflected in his founding of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, a Yeshivah which put the emphasis on the study, not only of “Nigleh” (the revealed realm of Torah law), but “Pnimiyus HaTorah” – Torah’s mystical dimensions. Furthermore, the two were not seen as separate disciplines, but rather as different aspects of G‑d’s perfect Torah – “Torah Temima”.
This kind of study makes it possible to “see” the Creator in all aspects of human life. And it’s an important step towards the the future, towards the era of Geulah (Redemption), when the revelation of the Creator in the world will become a part of our perceived reality.
Based on the Rebbe’s talk on Shabbat “Vayeira”, 18th Day of MarCheshvan, 5752(1991).
