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Tuesday, January 24, 2006
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NUMBERS מספרים
In the Jewish faith, the numbers one to 12 have special meanings, as do the
multiples of 12 and other special numbers:
One = one God (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Two = two tablets of the Law
Three = three patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Four = four matriarchs: Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel
Five = five books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy), the Torah
Six = six orders of the Mishnah (Oral Torah)
Seven = seven days of the week, the seventh being the day of rest— Shabbat
(Sabbath)
Eight = eighth day for the circumcision of a Jewish boy
Nine = nine months of pregnancy
Ten = ten commandments
Eleven = eleven stars (Genesis 37)
Twelve = twelve tribes of Israel
Thirteen = thirteen principles of faith (according to Maimonides)
We find these numbers and their special meanings in the final song of the
Passover Haggadah (the order of the Passover meal and prayers), Echad Mi Yodea?
(“Who Knows One?”)
Other important numbers:
36 = the 36 righteous men who are hidden in the world, on whom the continued
existence of the world depends
50 = year of jubilee and remission of debts; also Pentecost
According to the Bible, both days and months are called after their numerical
order: yom rishon (1st day of the week) to yom shishi (6th day of
the week); chodesh rishon (1st month, today called Nisan), chodesh
shevi’i (7th month, today called Tishri).
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