Adapted from Meta Parshiyot 5755 by R David Wolfe-Blank, Bnay Yisaskhar – mamrei Hodesh Elul 1:1, Living Torah by R Aryeh Kaplan
ELUL – WEEK THREE
ABOUT THE “NAME OF 12” – “SHEM HAVYAH”
Every month is ruled by one of the “Names of 12” also called “Shem Havayah”. It is a series of permutations of the Divine Name YHVH and each month has a designated Name.
The specific Name associated with each month reveals significant aspects and energies that are present and accessible. It is one of the traditional ways we can reference our Space-Time Continuum.
SHEM HAVAYAH FOR ELUL
The permutation (Shem Havayah) for Elul is .ההוי It comes forward from the last letters of these words from D’varim 6:25 וּצְדָקָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑נוּ כִּֽי which translates as “and mercy will be ours, especially as we do the work of T’shuvah this time of year in preparation for the upcoming Scales of Libra and the judgment coming in Tishrei.
T’SHUVAH
These words minus the letters of The Name brings light:
וּצְדָקָ֖ תִּֽהְיֶ־לָּ֑נ כִּֽ which is equivalent to בתשובה (Through T’shuvah) in gematria.
20+50+30+10+5+400+100+4+90+6 5+2+6+300+400
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This highlights that Elul is the month particularly designated for T’shuvah. This does not mean that you cannot do T’shuvah all year long, rather the return to Source through T’shuvah is easier in Elul than at other times of the year.
Paraphrased from Bnay Yisaskhar – Mamar Hodesh Elul 1:1
RECOILING
Sometimes we start a process of T’shuvah and at first, it goes well. It feels like the root cause has been remedied. Then after some time, maybe a few days later, we can feel the challenge manifesting again. It can be frustrating when this happens. This is called “recoiling”.
But if you detect it, do not fret; you are ahead of the game because a remedy ( tikkun ) can be applied,
Please do not fret; it is common to recoil. The pattern you are trying to shift has been around long enough to become entrained in your subconscious. It may be a habit for years or decades. You have already identified it and are on your way to healing.
A layer was shaved off, and relief was experienced. More release is needed. This awareness is an invitation to track this pattern, treat it, and track it again. Pay attention to what it is that triggers the recoil.
RELEASE
What are you drawn to do? Did developing your framework help? Then refine and contemplate the list. Are you drawn to speaking with a counselor? Does somatic movement help release it? Creating artwork? Did journaling help? Or some combination? Something else? It is hard to choose to go back to developing your framework and journal. Pay attention to what comes through. Each exercise will lessen its hold on you. Make it holy play.
Stay the course. You are worth it.
Ki Tavo – When you arrive
This Torah portion is about accountability. Everyone is accountable for their actions. Becoming a nation is a complex task. In the time of Torah, “accountability” was called “blessings, warnings, and curses.”
Ki Tavo begins with a ceremony of the first fruits, which includes a brief survey of their history, a few lines of which initiates the telling of the story in the Passover Haggadah.
The laws concerned tithing, a self-taxing of 1 part out of ten of one’s income, are reviewed. That 10% is divided into three parts – 1/3 to support the Levites, the priest-singers-educators-therapist; 1/3 is to be shared by the Farmer’s family at the pilgrimage in the sanctuary, and 1/3 goes to the poor.
The next part initiates an elaborate ceremony and the proclamation of ratifying the covenant. Twelve stones were to be erected on mount Ebal, on which the code of law by which they were to live was to be written.
They were to build an altar and offer peace offerings to God upon entering the land. On that day, having become the people of God in the promised land, they were to gather in a dramatic ceremony of chanting on facing mountains, repeating the blessings and curses that would result in their honoring or not honoring the rules that were given. Cause and effect.
As the people prepare to enter the promised land, It was necessary to cultivate norms that bring about harmony and manifest a high vibration. These boundaries are societal norms. Torah sets expectations for what will happen if we walk Earth and block Presence rather than cultivate it.
blessings and curses
The world we live in was created by modulating the Ohr Ayn Sof, Infinite Light, according to Lurianic Kabbalah. That which amplifies or moves the Infinite Light is a blessing. A curse, on the other hand, deflects or attenuates the Ohr Ayn Sof.
HARMONY VS DISSONANCE
The list of curses (D’varim 26:15-26) are not threats. Torah teaches that when dissonance (the opposite of Tiferet’s Harmony) is cultivated in the world, the Infinite Light is diffused. Consequently, Havayah’s gifts are not sustained in fullness, and curses manifest organically. These rules are simple requirements – the substructure – code for living a flourishing life.
IDOLS
An idol is a sculptured or molten image is created by a human. They tend to be dense, they are always external and take your attention away from The First Source and Center to focus outside your relationship with Source. Idols may be attractive and shiny, but they are dense and light does not move through it. It blocks presence.
CONTEMPORARY IDOLS
People do not pray to idols much anymore. Money and the seduction of financial gain and material objects has largely replaced the space that “idols” occupy in Torah. People commonly make great personal sacrifices for financial gain. Marketing and advertising make it look like objects will fill that empty space in their hearts. Too much focus is placed on that piece of jewelry, car, airplane, or something else will bring contentment. There may be a moment of satisfaction, but It never will sustain in that way.
Balance is key. If we treat achieving external goals as The First Source and Center of Life, we are straying away from The Light. This is the perfect time to reset your intention and priorities.
PARENTS
If you do not honor your parents – the ones who showed you the way, then are not honoring yourself or the patterns of life. Your children will learn how to treat you, from the way you treat your parents. Even if you do not agree with them, they deserve to be honored.
THOSE IN NEED
If you misdirect someone in blinded physically emotionally, mentally, or spiritually, or someone needy like an orphan, widow, or street person then you are cursed. Only someone who feels very low about themselves will feel elevated by misdirecting a person who needs help. Anyone who does that is already cursed.
INCEST
Incest is the opposite of honoring your parents. Sleeping with your parent’s spouse, a sibling, in-law, (or your child) will cause the family structure to unravel. It is a curse that keeps on cursing.
ANIMALS
Animal abuse of any kind is wrong. Sex with an animal is evidence of being cursed.
MURDER
Secretly killing or maiming someone in secret shows that either the person is a psychopath or you will be eternally tormented by it. This is the torment many Russian soldiers will experience due to their actions in Ukraine this year. It is a curse, either way.
BRIBERY
Accepting a bribe related to a murder to give false or partial information about what you know will either lay heavily on your conscience or you are a psychopath. Either way, it is a curse.
EARTH
If Earth is not cared for and balance is not achieved, humanity will not thrive. Earth will get rid of us, like a cat scratching off its fleas. Then, Earth will be fine; life on Earth is at risk. This is happening via climate change. Earth is becoming less friendly to humans and all Earth life. It can not improve until corporations, big oil, and factories join together to protect our great mother. It is frightening to sense this could be the final curse.
KI TAVO COUNTS TIFERET IN SH’KHINAH, HARMONY IN PRESENCE
This Torah portion offers skillful means to cultivate Tiferet. The quest is to attune to peace, truth, and harmony. Ki Tavo invites us to find Tiferet to produce blessings, not curses.
Tithing is a means of balancing income and supporting cultivating holiness. 10% is a small part of annual income designated special to support Kohanim and Leviim. It is enough to support appropriately, yet not so much so that it will cause harm. (Tiferet in Sh’khinah).
Sh’khinah manifests the blessings by bringing them to Earth. When dissonance (the opposite of Tiferet’s Harmony) is cultivated, Ohr Ayn Sof is deflected, and Infinite Light (Ohr Ayn Sof ) cannot travel to its desired path. Then, curses manifest organically.
Material things can be seductive. There are many jobs in sectors that damage Earth. Sadly, Being able to pay rent is enticing, as is the ability to purchase expensive trendy items. People often feel the need to compromise values and time with family and friends to earn a living. Not enough weight is given to the impermanent life force within us.
Other people think the world owes them a living, demanding what they have not earned. Entitlement sucks the Infinite Light. It defers the flow of love and light from where it is needed and useful.
Remember, Divine Light moves through the center line. Tiferet. The movement maximizes with balance.
This Torah portion highlights freedom of choice. Intentionality and action are required to cultivate blessings. Otherwise, curses will manifest. Balance (Tiferet) supports moving the Ohr Ayn Sof to Sh’khinah and blesses Earth.
ADDENDUM – CURSES IN TORAH D’VARIM (D’varim 26:15-26)
TORAH in HEBREW
אָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כׇל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (טז) אָר֕וּר מַקְלֶ֥ה אָבִ֖יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (יז) אָר֕וּר מַסִּ֖יג גְּב֣וּל רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (יח) אָר֕וּר מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה עִוֵּ֖ר בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (יט) אָר֗וּר מַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּר־יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ (כ) אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (כא) אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־כׇּל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (כב) אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֲחֹת֔וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֖יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (כג) אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (כד) אָר֕וּר מַכֵּ֥ה רֵעֵ֖הוּ בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (כה) אָרוּר֙ לֹקֵ֣חַ שֹׁ֔חַד לְהַכּ֥וֹת נֶ֖פֶשׁ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס} (כו) אָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {פ}
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
(15) Cursed be any party who makes a sculptured or molten image, abhorred by יהוה, a craftsman’s handiwork, and sets it up in secret. (to represent Havayah) —And all the people shall respond, Amen. (16) Cursed be the one who insults father or mother. —And all the people shall say, Amen. (17) Cursed be the one who moves a neighbor’s property line. —And all the people shall say, Amen.
(18) Cursed be the one who misdirects a blind person on their path. —And all the people shall say, Amen.
(19) Cursed be the one who subverts the rights of the stranger, orphan, as well as widow.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(20) Cursed be the [man] who lies with his father’s wife, for he has revealed his father’s edges. —And all the people shall say, Amen.
(21) Cursed be the one who lies with any animal.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(22) Cursed be the [man] who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(23) Cursed be the [man] who lies with his mother-in-law.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(24) Cursed be the one who strikes down their fellow in secret.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(25) Cursed be the one who accepts a bribe (for a matter related to ) murder.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(26) Cursed be whoever will not sustain this Torah and do them. And all the people shall say, Amen”.
