AYIN
The Hebrew letter Ayin connects
the path from Tiferet to Binah. This letter has a numerical value of 70
which reminds us of the 70 bulls sacrificed at Sukkot, the 70 interpretations
of the Torah, and the 70 nations. Ayin is also the first letter in the word
Olah (sacrifice, burnt offering). To travel from Tiferet to Binah, we must
sacrifice our own individual point of view in order to understand all the
70 correct but different ways in which things may be understood. Additionally,
70 is the numerical value of Sod (secret). By moving from the seat of the
Self (Tiferet) to that place where thought gives birth to the world (Binah),
secrets of creation are revealed to us. Furthermore, the remnant of a sacrifice
is Aphar (ashes). However, by permuting the letters of Aphar, we arrive
at the word Raphah (healing). By noting that after the destruction of the
Temple, prayer was replaced by sacrifice, we begin to realize that the "remnant"
that is left behind within us after praying is something which is also very
healing to the soul. The letter Ayin also stands for Eeain (consider, reflect,
meditate), and when spelled out as a word, Ayin has a numerical value of
130 which is the same as "ladder", "the priests", and
"Sinai". Hence, through reflection upon the true meaning of things,
we can ascend like a priest and arrive at the source of revelation within.
Exercise:
Study other points of view. In
Judaism, we believe that there are truths which are absolute. Not everything
is relative. There are things which are right for everyone and things which
are wrong for everyone. But on the other hand, we also understand that the
greatest truths cannot be encompassed within a single point of view. Hence,
there is a reason why the Torah was given to a community at Sinai rather
than just a single individual. Only through a community can all the different
facets of truth exist. Thus, while for every passage in the Torah I have
my own favorite interpetations, nevertheless in order to move into a larger
reality, I must also be open to the magnificent insights and understandings
of others. For reason, it is also important to study Torah and Talmud with
a group. Otherwise, you may fall into the error of thinking that your truth
is the only truth and that all other points of view are wrong. To move along
the path from Tiferet to Binah, we must acknowledge that our understanding
is only one small piece of a much larger understanding, and that the whole
Torah is present only when we come together and share as a community.