The Letter Aleph: The Letter of Illumination and Initial Revelation

In the holy Zohar, it is explained that the universe was not created directly from nothing, but it began with a spiritual illumination that the Creator radiated. This high illumination continued to spread, and as it distanced from its source, it became less spiritual until it materialized, and the entire physical universe was created. In his book "Etz Chaim," Rabbi Chaim Vital explains what he received from his teacher the Ari, that even after the appearance of the physical universe, every detail in the universe, even if it is inanimate, contains an inner spirituality called the soul, without which it has no existence. This is because it connects and attaches it to the infinite light that sustains everything. This is comparable to a projected lecture on a screen, which requires the possibility of appearance conditioned on the waves of projection and the internal electric current reaching from the central power station via reducing transformers spread throughout the way. Indeed, in the modern era, researchers have discovered that every atom, from which every material detail is composed, consists of many fundamental particles and is full of inner activity through the movement of electrons circling without stop.

Thus, it was proven that the material, which at first glance appears inanimate, contains active inner spirituality. See more on this extensively in the letter Vav, the letter of connection.

Here are the words of the holy Zohar regarding the creation of the universe:

"At the beginning of the descent of the revelation of the endless light, a thin and imperceptible light shone, sealed without the form of a letter, like the tip of a needle. From it, light spread to a place with the form of letters, and all [the letters] came from there.

At the head of all the letter Aleph — the head and end of all grades, and within it are included all the grades that descended and were created. It is called only one, to show that even though it includes many forms, it is only one. Surely, this is the letter upon which the upper and lower worlds depend."

Therefore, the letter Aleph is the first divine light from which the other letters were created, representing the Master of the World, as explained in the Midrash "Otiyot deRabbi Akiva":

"Aleph, this is the Holy One, blessed be He, who is first, and He is the leader. And just as Aleph is the head of all the letters, so the Holy One, blessed be He, is the head of all kings and also the end of all the noble ones."

The Pronunciation and Numerical Value of Aleph

The pronunciation of the letter - Aleph comes from the word "Aluf".

Explanation of the word "Aluf": the strongest of all. "Al" from the word strength. As it is written, "I have the strength in my hand." It is found that the letter Aleph in its name alludes to the Creator. This matter is hinted in the verse from Song of Songs: "The thousand is for you, Solomon." It's known that everywhere King Solomon is mentioned in Song of Songs, it is but a metaphor for the Holy One, blessed be He. "King Solomon" - the letters "the perfect king".

On the allegorical level, the vocalization of the word "the Aleph" in this verse changes to reveal the essence of the letter Aleph: "the Aleph – is for you, Solomon". The letter Aleph hints at the Master of the World, and therefore it is yours, the perfect king. Who emanated it first with all the details of creation included in it. He is the one Creator, forming everything, possessing all abilities and powers. Aleph is also from the phrase "I will teach you wisdom," meaning, "I will teach you a high level of wisdom."

It is found that the Master of the World is the possessor of all powers and is the source of all wisdom. And as He is called by the Assembly of Israel: "The guide of my youth you are" and as stated in the holy Zohar about the verse: "And a talebearer separates a leader [those who claim persecutively cause disputes which cause the leader, the Holy One, blessed be He, to separate Himself from Israel]" - "There is no leader other than the Holy One, blessed be He."

And indeed, the numerical value of the letter Aleph is one. And God is one!

Furthermore, the one God, He alone is an absolute one. For in our world, each one is composed of other parts, besides the fact that although this unit is one, there are yet others like it. But the blessed God is a whole one, without composition, multiplicity, division, and there is none else besides Him. It is found that the sole who is truly and absolutely one is only the blessed Creator.

Moreover, despite all the names and titles in the Bible: gracious and merciful, a man of war, a jealous God, slow to anger, etc., these are merely names of the methods of governance revealed to us and within the realm of our perception, but in truth, He is an absolute one even in His governance with us. For from Him descends one bounty of goodness, appearing to our eyes split and different according to the required attire of the moment. This can be cautiously compared in a parable to observing the result obtained from a light ray after it has passed through a prism. Many colors and shades reveal themselves before us, but this is only one ray of light.

The Midrash adds:

"And whence do we learn that Aleph is called one? As it is said: 'How could one chase a thousand' [meaning, on the allegorical level, these two words detach from the verse and illuminate by themselves. One=Aleph]. And whence do we learn that the Torah is called one? As it is said 'There shall be one law for you' [Torah=one]. 'I am,' the beginning of all commandments, 'Aleph' the head of all the letters."

The First Letter

Aside from its numerical value hinting at the unity of the Creator, Aleph is the first of the letters. And God - He is first of all. As it is stated: "I am first, and I am last, and beside me there is no God."

Indeed, even "I am last" is hinted in Aleph, behold, let us observe and see wonders: Aleph is the only letter whose gematria of its letters returns to the original one: A+L+P = 111. And when we add the content of the word itself with the vocalization Aleph (=1000), we get 1111, which is four times one. This indicates that all powers and the progression of four worlds and four elements of nature, etc., which are in the mystery of the four letters of the Name, are but one.

Even at the end of the gematria table of the letters, after the final letters, they reach Aleph, which is the Aleph, to which they return with a slight change of vocalization. In the aspect of the spiritual reality of "its end is embedded in its beginning" mentioned in the Book of Creation, one of the most ancient mystical texts of the Jewish people.

The Hidden Letter

Aleph is the only letter in the Holy Language which, when inside a word, it can be silent, as if hidden, even though it does not serve as a vowel, nor is it at the end of a word, such as in the word: Be-reishit (In the Beginning). From this perspective, it symbolizes the Creator, who exists but conceals His existence as hidden within nature. Therefore: 'Olam' comes from the word 'He'elem' (concealment) and 'Teva' (=86) in gematria 'Elokim' (=86). For it is the Creator who inscribed the laws of creation and imprinted them in His world. Therefore, they are called the laws of nature, from the word imprint, like a coin called so because it is made by stamping a pattern in a metal mold. In the laws of nature that He imprinted in His world, the Creator conceals His existence, which is a central part of mankind's trials in this world. Our task is to observe, discover, and know the truth.

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