Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi

Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi
Portrait of Hacham Agassi painted by Mrs Ruth Gila, Beit Meir , Israel

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Psalm No.1

Happy is the Man
אַשְׁרֵי הָאִיש
ׁ827=17=8 or + 2 words=19=10=1

[Translation and Introduction Rabbi Avraham Sutton]
[Gematria Avraham Agassi]


Introduction

The first and second psalms, Ashrei ha’ish (Happy is the man) and Lamah ragshu goyim (Why are the nations in a commotion), are essentially one psalm. As a unit, they provide the key to the entire Book of Psalms. In the first psalm, David, King of Israel, speaks to the individual, and in the second psalm he speaks to the nations of the world. In both he challenges us with the same ultimate choice, thus teaching us that neither the individual nor the collective can be seen in isolation from one another. One person can affect the entire world and change the course of history. The ultimate choice of the individual is thus: Will you wake up and see the truth, or forever sleep your life away? Even now—in the midst of the seemingly absolute darkness of this-world, in the midst of an almost total self-centered materialism—will you begin to perceive God’s Hand guiding history towards the World-to-Come? If you acquiesce, God Himself will teach you His Torah; He will reveal to you the deeper significance of your life, who you are, why you were born. The gates of the spiritual dimension will open up for you right now; you will be blessed; you will attain an incredible closeness with your own soul and with your Creator. Conversely, you may create your own hell; and you will perish from the face of the Earth.


Psalm 1 has 67 words which is the gematria of the word "Bina"-בינה which means "Understanding" from the Metaphysical World, the Eighth Sphira.


(1) Happy is the man [who sees through the façade of this world] who has not [been seduced into] walking/following after the advice of wicked men, who has [even when he stumbles] not stood/lingered on the path of immoral men, and who has not sat [or made his permanent dwelling] with scoffers-אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב (3910+15 words=3925=19=10=1)

The verse can be divided so:

  • Happy is the man [who sees through the façade of this world] who has not [been seduced into] walking/following after the advice of wicked men-אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים (3636=18 counting final Mem as 600).

  • Who has [even when he stumbles] not stood/lingered on the path of immoral men, and who has not sat [or made his permanent dwelling] with scoffersוּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב (1314=1+8 or + 8 words=1322=8).

(2) His desire is rather in [the mysteries of] Hashem’s Torah; in His Torah he meditates- כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה חֶפְצוֹ וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה (2332=10=1 or + 7 words=17=8 or 2892 + 7 words = 28=10=1 counting final Mem as 600), day and night [thus acquiring it as his own for all eternity] - יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה (177+2 words=17=8 or 377=17=8 or + 2 words=19=10=1 counting final Mem as 600).

(3) [The Torah comes alive within him] like a Tree [of Life] planted by streams of running water, giving forth its ripe fruit in its season, its leaves never withering; [granting him] success in all his endeavors-וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ (4276=19=10=1).

The verse can be divided so:

  • [The Torah comes alive within him] like a Tree [of Life] planted by streams of running water, giving forth its ripe fruit in its season, its leaves never withering- וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל (3186=18 or 5206+13 words=5219=17=8 counting final Zadik, Nun and Mem as 900, 700 and 600).
  • [Granting him] success in all his endeavors- וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ (1090=10=1).

(4) Not so those who become trapped in their own wickedness- לֹא כֵן הָרְשָׁעִים (726+3 words=18 or 1936=19=10=1 counting final Nun and Mem as 700 and 600); they are likened rather to chaff blown [and scattered] by the wind- כִּי אִם כַּמֹּץ אֲשֶׁר תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ (1476=18 or 2846+6 words=2852=17=8 counting final Zadik and Mem as 900 and 600).

(5) Therefore [because they have sold themselves to evil] - עַל כֵּן (170=8 or + 2 words=10=1 or 820=10=1 counting final Nun as 700), the wicked will not survive in [the face of God’s] judgment; immoral men [will not abide] in the company of the righteous-לֹא יָקֻמוּ רְשָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט וְחַטָּאִים בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים (2042=8).

(6) For Hashem knows [and loves] the way of the righteous, while the way of the wicked is doomed [to end in ruin] - כִּי יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד (1881=18).

The verse can be divided so:

  • For Hashem knows [and loves] the way of the righteous-כִּי יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים (624+5 words=17=8 or 1664=17=8 counting final Mem and Kaf as 600 and 500);
  • While the way of the wicked is doomed [to end in ruin] - וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד (1257+3 words=1260=1+8).

No comments:

Post a Comment