130 or 136 – Vayyetzei
A favourite pursuit of some people is gematria, the calculation of the numerical value of words.
Since, for example, alef is 1, chet is 8 and dalet if 4, the numerical value of echad (“one”, as in the Shema) is 13.
The followers of gematria point out that the one God has 13 ethical attributes, and the 5 knots and 8 threads in each corner of the tzitzit add up to 13 and remind us of Him.
Gematria is common in Judaism, but was also employed by the Babylonians and Greeks; those who are interested should read the informative article in the Encyclopedia Judaica.
Gematria has a field day with the famous verse in this week’s Torah reading, “Behold, there was a ladder set up on earth and the top of it reached Heaven, and angels of God were ascending and descending upon it” (Gen. 28:12).
Sullam, a ladder, here lacks a vav, and thus has the numerical value of 130, as does the name Sinai. But spelt with a vav, sullam adds up to 136, which is also the gematria for mammon (wealth) and oni (affliction).
The lesson? That a charitable person who gives mammon to those who are suffering oni, is on the way to Sinai. For Judaism, it is deeds, not merely creeds, that matter in the eyes of God. Beliefs are important, but not in isolation. Beliefs identify your principles, but it is your actions that show that your principles really matter and motivate your hand as well as your heart.
As the saying has it, “By their deeds shall you know them”.
