The Mystery of The 22 Letters of The Alpha Bet

The Hebrew Alpha Bet is one of the most ancient forms of language in the world. According to the Zohar, it is the oldest and actually preceded the world. The world was created by the twenty-two letters of the Alpha Bet. In part one of the intro, we learn about the powerful Hebrew language and delve into the creative power and spiritual energy which is found within the letters. 

The Hebrew language is different than all other languages. Rabbi Sa’adia Gaon says that all other languages attributed meaning to words while the Hebrew language is innately holy and expresses the essential truth of everything described.

It is said that Adam called all animals, trees, and objects by their names. Since he was bequeathed an elevated understanding of the workings of creation, he understood the linguistic qualities which accurately describe everything.

The Hebrew Aleph Bet has considered the building blocks of creation of which the divine vibrational frequency manifested all of existence.

Our Sages tell us that Abraham created a calf which he served the angels by knowing the mystery of the 22 letters.

It is said that Abraham actually wrote the Sefer Yetzirah- The Book of Formation. In this ancient and primary book of Kabbalah, we learn about the powerful energetic force of the 22 letters. It is through these letters that creation ensues.

The great Tzadikim- holy Sages were able to alter the limitations of nature and do miracles by the knowledge of these mysteries.

The Talmud (Berachot 55)  teaches; “Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Bezalel knew how to join the letters with which heaven and earth were created.

From where do we derive this? It is written here in praise of Bezalel: “And I have filled him with the spirit of G-d, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:3); and it is written there with regard to the creation of heaven and earth: “The Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth; by understanding, He established the heavens” (Proverbs 3:19), and it is written: “By His knowledge, the depths were broken up and the skies drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:20)”.

We see that wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, the qualities with which the heavens and earth were created, are all found in Bezalel.

The famous Maharal of Prague created the Golem which was a human-like being who protected his community from antisemitic marauding.

The very shape of the letters themselves holds great significance and the mystics teach that one should gaze upon the letters to extract wisdom. through proper understanding and practice, any person can use the Hebrew language as a means to arouse tremendous, intuitive capabilities. “Look at these holy letters with truth and belief,” he advised, “[it] will awaken the heart to thoughts of godly and prophetic images.”

The crucial aspect of Abulafia’s system is the utilization of the Hebrew language as the vehicle by which we ascend into the transcendent world. He poetically referred to this process as “knowing God through the method of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.” Abulafia specifically

advised his followers, “Cleanse your body and choose a special place where none will hear you and remain altogether by yourself in isolation. Sit in one place in a room, or in the attic … it is best to begin by night.”

In Abulafia’s approach, the individual “begins to combine letters, a few or many, reversing and rolling them around rapidly, until [one’s] heart feels warm.” Those who adhere diligently to this technique, Abulafia declared, will eventually experience “a plenitude of saintly spirit … wisdom, under­standing, good counsel and knowledge…. The spirit of the Lord will rest upon [them].”