PARSHA MATH

‫רֹאש‬-‫על‬
ַ ]‫דיו‬
ָ ָ ‫דו( [י‬
ָ ָ ‫שתֵי )י‬
ְ -‫סמַך ְ אהֲרֹן אֶת‬ ָ ְ ‫ויקרא פרק טז כא ו‬
‫שרָאֵל‬ ְ ‫עונֹת בְנ ֵי י‬ ֲ -‫כ ָל‬-‫על ָיו אֶת‬
ָ ‫דה‬ ָ ַ ‫חי וְהִתְו‬
ַ ַ‫עיר ה‬
ִ ‫ש‬
ָ ַ‫ה‬
Aaron the High Priest placed his hand(s) upon its head and confessed all the sins of the
Jewish People.

The verse is written ‫“ ידו‬his hand” and is read ‫“ ידיו‬his hands”. The Gemara (Menachos 93b)
derives the concept of s’micha (placing of one’s hands) is done in such a way that one’s
hands appear to be a single hand, i.e. one places one hand directly atop of the other hand.

The ritual of confessing and then sending the he-goat into the wilderness and throwing it off the
cliff reflects the potential of atonement for the Jews

The numerical value of ‫ ידו‬is 20 (Yud=10, Dalet=4, Vav=6). When our spiritual soul directs our
physical activities, all 20 “fingers” (10 faculties of the G-dly soul and the 10 faculties of the
“animal” soul) of the two hands are united (appearing as if one hand).

KAF (numerical value 20)

The Power to Actualize Potential
The literal meaning of the letter kaf is "palm" - the place in the body where potential is
actualized. This awareness is reflected in the custom of placing one palm on the other upon
awakening (placing two hands together to reflect one), upon awakening before reciting the Modeh
Ani prayer. Thus, are initial action for the day reflects our daily understanding that our mission
involves actively actualizing our potential.

FIND THE HEBREW WORDS IN THE BOX ON THE LEFT FOR THE
SIX UNDERLINED ENGLISH WORDS LISTED ON THE RIGHT

 Twenty pieces of silver for which Yosef's brothers sold

‫שכ ח י ס‬ him.
‫כ ק י ע ו‬  Twenty cubits, the maximum height of a Sukkah.
 Twenty gerah, the full value of a shekel, symbolizing the
‫כ כ ל ק כ‬ union of two half-shekels.
 Twenty years, the age to become a soldier and pursue a
‫ת ס ה ב ה‬ livelihood.
‫ר כ ף ס ל‬  The twenty years Yaacov worked for Laban.
 The twenty sefirot of the two countenances of the crown.
 PARSHA MATH

NOTES FOR TEACHER OR PARENT

Age group – 12 years and up

Objective of this lesson:
Appreciate math in the Parsha
Introduction to concepts within Judaism of 20 and the letter KAF

ANSWER SHEET

‫ס‬ ‫י‬ ‫ח‬ ‫ש‬

‫ו‬ ‫ע‬ ‫י‬ ‫ק‬
‫כ‬ ‫ק‬ ‫ל‬ ‫כ‬
‫ה‬ ‫ב‬ ‫ס‬ ‫ת‬
‫ף‬ ‫ר‬

Chassidus teaches that a person places both hands on the sacrifice to connect to the animal.
Everyone has a G-dly soul and an animal soul. The ten figures of the two hands allude to the 10
faculties of one spiritual soul influencing the 10 faculties of the animal soul. Thus, the activities of
one’s animal soul (eating, drinking, etc.) are expressed in a spiritual fashion of Torah & Mitzvos.

The two letters of the full spelling of the word kaf, are the
initial letters of the two Hebrew words: koach ("potential") and
poel ("actual"). Thus, the word itself kaf hints at the power
latent within the spiritual realm of the potential to fully
manifest itself in the physical realm of the action.

For more information on the meaning of Hebrew letters:

Rabbi Ginsburgh The Inner Dimension www.inner.org

Rabbi Aaron Raskin, Letters of Light

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/137068/jewish/Letters-of-Light.htm

www.parshapages.com