NightShul: Lamed Vavnik
Wednesday, February 15
7:30 pm
Numerology has been a tool of Jewish mysticism since the time of the Talmud. The marriage of Talmudic gematria (numerology) and later mystical traditions gave birth to a rich series of legends about 36 righteous people on whose merit the world stands – the so-called “lamed-vavnikim,” or the “thirty-sixers” (future Jewish basketball team?).
Is it hyperbolic to suggest that, by being one of 36 EMJCers who donate to our campaign to purchase a new High Holy Day Machzor, the world will stand on your merit? Well… yes. But when you sit in the pews next September, holding a brand-new machzor with your name on the bookplate (along with 35 others), you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you were one of a select group of donors who made the transition possible, and you’ll have the gratitude of the entire congregation.
Will you be a lamed-vavnik?
Whether you will or not, be sure to join me for a NightShul teaching next Wednesday night on the origins of the lamed-vavniks. We’ll delve into Talmud, mystical texts, and Chassidic lore, and we’ll answer the question, if you were a lamed-vavnik, would you even know? I hope to see you there.
Rabbi Sam
