Career and Match Compatibility by Names: 5 Things You (Might) Not Know About Numerology

1. What is it? Numerologists analyze a person's name and birth date, using this to interpret the individual's personality. They also recommend favorable times for life changes, such as moving jobs or relocating, and advise against making changes during certain periods. By creating a numerological map, numerologists claim they can predict a person's fate. From this map, they gather different insights about the person, including abilities and skills, destiny, conflicts and barriers, career suitability, and more.

2. How does it work? Numerology is a method that asserts each number has a specific energetic frequency it represents, with a certain characterization and mystical significance that allows for information about an individual. The method is based on combinations of numbers and formulas. The belief underpinning the method is that the world operates according to laws expressed through numbers.

3. Where’s the problem? The main issue is in predicting the future. The Torah commands us, "You shall be whole-hearted with Hashem," and Rashi interprets this as "Walk with Him with integrity and look forward to Him and do not delve into the future, but accept whatever happens to you with simplicity and then you will be with Him and His portion." Ramban explains, "That we set our hearts to Him alone and believe that He alone does everything, and He alone knows the truth of every future, and from Him alone we seek the future from His prophets or His righteous men, meaning the Urim and Tummim, and not from stargazers or others, and not trust their words. But if we hear anything, we say: all is in the hands of the heavens as He is the God of gods, supreme above all, able, capable of changing the courses of stars and constellations at His will, and we believe that everything that comes to be results from people’s closeness to serving Him." The Sforno also writes, "Complete with Him, not asking the future from anyone other than His prophets or through Urim and Tummim."

Additionally, our sages said, "There is no fate for Israel," meaning Israel is beyond the stars and can change its fate through actions. Hashem's leadership with Israel is above natural reality. Abraham our forefather saw in the stars that he would not have children, but Hashem told him: "And He took him outside and said, 'Look now toward the heavens and count the stars if you are able to count them,' and He said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'" Rabbeinu Bachya explains, "Our sages understood that He took him outside the framework, and it was interpreted that He said, 'Look beyond your stars.'"

Moreover, a person is given free choice, and even if a decree is upon him, he can nullify it and change his future through various spiritual actions, such as prayers, repentance, and good deeds.
Rabbi Benjamin Shmueli wrote to an inquirer on this topic: "Regarding one's fate, the stars have no significance for us Jews. Everything is decreed on Rosh Hashanah according to one's actions in this revolution and previous ones."

4. What about marriage compatibility? When asked whether you can check match compatibility through numerological examination of the two individuals, Rabbi Menashe Ben Porat answered: "One should not rely on name compatibility, what is called 'numerology.' Many times, various 'kabbalists' told couples they were not compatible, and afterward, true rabbis were consulted, like Rabbi Ben Zion Abba Shaul zt"l and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l, who advised them not to heed this. They listened to the rabbis, got married, and today live happily and wealthily with healthy children. Rely on reason and feeling. If your checks show he is a good guy and suitable for you, along with positive (click) emotions between you, that's the sign he is your match made in heaven."

5. But there is Kabbalistic numerology and an interest in numbers in Judaism. Why the opposition? Rabbi Eli Amer clarifies where numbers fit into Judaism: "Jewish numerology is essentially the value of numbers [=gematria]. In Judaism, numbers express a profound layer. Each letter has a gematria symbolizing a spiritual power. In a person’s name is not only the power of the letters but also the numerical value of the letters... a person has a name composed of letters, and the letters have a numerical value. Thus, a person receives energy not only from the letters but also from their numerical value."

Why won’t rabbis recommend consulting numerology experts? A halakhic authority from the "Central House of Din" responds: "True, there are issues in Judaism resembling numerology, hence the significance of the number seven ['all sevenths are dear'] and so on, but only to things Hazal revealed. Nowadays, some believe they understand the depth of the doctrine of numbers, and based on this guide others, without relation to the internal content of the numbers, often creating dependency to control the person consulting them."

The source of Kabbalistic numerology originates from the "Sefer Yetzirah" attributed to Abraham our forefather, discussing the meaning of letters and numbers. However, today there are many charlatans and non-God-fearing individuals whose connection to understanding Kabbalah is as far as east from west, leading many naive people astray.

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