He
knew how to join together (le-tsa-ref) the letters by means of which
the heavens and the earth were created." This is because he was"filled
with the spirit of GD,with wisdom and understanding."
Ex 31.3, T.B. Berachoth 55a
"The Lord by wisdom founded the earth." Pr. 3.19
Tzeruf: Permutating— the act of combining
Combining and permutating the letters of the Hebrew alphabet with specific breathing techniques and contemplation on specific body centers produces ecstacy almost immediately. The
continuous, monotonous repetition of letters and sounds excites the
mind, rather than dulls it. This is done in combination with various
bodily and breathing techniques. This Hebrew letter combination technique is called Tzeruf.
Tzerufim is the plural for the Hebrew
word "act of combining". It means "to join, to permutate (mental
Hebrew letter permutation)".
The technique of Tzeruf (also spelled
as Tseruf or Tzerf) uses language to cut through its structure and
enables super rational realm quickly. Its aim is at disorientation
following repeated pronounciation of now meaningless phrase. Out of that
comes "meaning beyond meaning.”:
In combination with specific breathing
techniques and contemplation on body centers meditation on letter
produces ecstacy almost immediately. (“Kab. Way of Jew. Myst.”)
“Every word of Gd is permuted (tzeruf). He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." (Pr. 30:5) Madregot: levels from “Oztar Eden Ha Ganuz,” p. 84 “Med & Kab”
"Move the letters about" says R. Shem
Tov Seph “By means of combining the letters of the ineffible names
as recorded in the “SPR ITsIRH” (i.e., the sealing
names enumerated in the first chapter, being permutations of IHV0}
This teaches that true knowledge depends on Gd's saying, which must be permuted and tested through such permutation.
"A permutater (me-teref) for silver a furnace for gold,
but Gd tests the heart."
(Pr. 17:3 p. 323)
“He [Gd] permuted the speech according
to its letters and its vocalizations. [niqqudav].”
R. Shabbati Donnolo’s (Italy) "Long"
recension of the “Sefer Yezirah.” In his “Commentary on Sefer
Yezirah”, fol. 69c: 913-982 (Idel, “Golem,” p.75)
Abraham Abulafia and Tzerufim
Abulafia calls his "science of the
combination of letters" Hochmah ha-Tseruf (;urm vnfuj), a
methodical guide to meditation with the aid of letters and their
configurations. The letters do not have to mean anything. This method
utilizes letters in a certain manner to attain the divine language.
"Know that the method of Tseruf (;urm)
can be compared to music; for the ear hears sounds from various
combinations, in accordance with the character of the melody and the
instrument..." (Abulafia, MS Munich 285f 75b)
The continuous, monotonous repetition
of letters and sounds excites the mind, rather than dulls it. This is
done in combination with various bodily and breathing techniques.
There are two stages in the creation process, according to Abulafia,
1) the combinations of the alphabets and
2) the combinations of the letters of the divine name
Shefa Formula: To bring
down the Shefa (by Abraham Abulafia, 1200AD) Permutation of formula that
spells "king" while moving head up and down to sound of vowel "o" and
"i"; forward and backward to the "u"; right and left to the "a" "e";
which commemorated the presence of the "king" in the 6 spatial
directions
The meditation upon the letters of the
Hebrew alphabet, in combination with themselves and the Divine Name,
can produce ecstatic experiences, according to many Kabalists, including
Abraham Abulafia, a master of “tzeruf” during the 1200’s in Spain.
Meditation performed by a pure human being on any letter was just like
meditating on the entire Creation.
The method of Tzeruf uses
language to cut through its own structure and enables the mystic
super rational realm very quickly. The Kabalist who practiced this
extraordinary form of contemplation, studies a biblical phrase until the
rational meaning is lost, and in the disorientation following the
repeated pronunciation of new meaningless phrase comes "meaning beyond
meaning.” Combined with specific breathing techniques and
contemplation of body centers meditation on the letters produces
ecstasy almost immediately.
“Kabbalah, the Way of Jew. Mystic., p. 76
The
gate of the secret of zeruf [combination of letters], we asked the
sage, “Anytime we ask you anything your answer is, ‘Great is the power
of the zeruf.’” He answered to us, “You know that by the combination of
the letters of His names, Gd created everything. And our ancestor,
blessed be his memory, out of the the combination of the letters which
he was taught...he achieved the entire gist of His unity and the
strength of all the formations, and he almost reached that degree that
he knew how to form excellent formations, namely formations of thought
[yezirot mahshaviyot], and this is the reason he called his excellent
book by the name “Sefer Yezirah.”
late 13th or early 14th century kabalistic text “Gates (of the Old Man)”, ”She’arim” .Ms. Oxford 2396, fol. 53b;, mentioned by Schole, Idel, “Golem”, p. 111-112, 118
Stages of Letter Permutation
MIVTA; Articulation of Letters
MIKJTAV; Writing the Letters
MASHAV: Contemplating the Letters (“Kabbalah, the Way of Jewish Mystic”, p. 77)
These three levels are similar to “Sefer Yetzirah’s” three levels of the sephorim in Chapter 1.
Abulafia used several methods.
Dilug, Dillug: Skipping, free association of ideas using any
among several standard methods of letter manipulation. This can be done
with simple letter permutation, ciphers, gematria. When working within
the same system (such as gematria), one is "skipping." But if several
methods are used, it is called "jumping." Both used by Abulafia and
Albotini with Kefitzah "jumping" Each of these
meditative techniques lead to a high level of enlightenment. (“Kabbalah,
the Way of Jew. Mystic., p. 77)
Abulafia says one must compl.
alter nature and personality and transpose oneself from the state of
feeling to intellect, from the path of imagination to one of burning
fire. Otherwise, he will find his visions altered, through processes
demolished, and reveries confounded. The sphere is what
refines and tests regarding the Scripture which states “A refinery
(metzeruf) is for silver...” (“Otzar Eden ha Gonuz, from “Med. &
Kab., p. 81)
Dilug, Dillug: Skipping fre
association of ideas using any among several standard methods of letter
manipulation. This can be done with simple letter permutation, ciphers,
gematria. When working within the same system (such as gematria), one is
"skipping." But if several methods are used, it is called "jumping."
Both methods are used by
Abulafia and Albotini with Kefitzah "jumping" Each of
these meditative techniques lead to a high level of enlightenment.
The Best Times to Permutate Letters
The best hour to permutate the letters
is at midnight wrapped in a prayer shawl and phylacteries,
surrounded by candles, according to Rabbinic sources.
Start writing the sacred letters.
Gather speed as you permutate them. You will begin to feel a warm,
glowing sensation at the heart. This is the sign of the descending
“shefa” or the “divine influx”. Singing certain names
according to the prescribed melodies will attain ecstasy with some
sensations of air, heat, rushing water, or oil, as described by
Merkabah mystics. (“Kab. Way of Jew. Mystic, p. 96)
See also Raavid on “Sefer
Yetzirah” 6.4, cf. “Ozar Eden HaGanuz” 26b, “Sef. HaCheshek” 31b.
Abulafia discusses the concept of tzeruf in detail in “Or
HaShekel”, p. 89).
A Method to permutate the letters
Begin the
contemplation by focusing on the crown of the head or the “Beginning of
the Beginning.” Then, move down to the middle of the face, or the
“Middle of the Beginning” and finish the segment by concentrating on the
back of the head or the “End of the Beginning”. Similarly, the top most
point of the heart, the center point of the hear and the back point of
the heart; so on downward through the abdomen, and the base of the
spine.”
Bibliography
“Jewish Mysticism,” Abelson, p. 100
“Kabbalah, The Way of the Jewish
Mystic” by Pearle Epstein. Pages 73-81 The path of the Letters,
Tzruf, permutation, Shefa, Abulafia
GEMATRIA
GAMATRIA, Gematria, GMATRIA;
each letter is given a numerical value and other words with same value
are equivalent of the originals. Metatron=Shaddai=314
Gematria (fr. Gk); is one of the aggadic hermeneutical rules for
Interpretation of prayer (Torah, in
the "Baraita of 32 Rules, no.. 29 which links words and phrases of
the liturgy with names from the Merkabah tradition and angelology
according to the numerical value of the letters of the alphabet for them
in accordance with set system
Whereas the word is normally
employed in the sense of manipulation acc. to no. value, it is
sometime found with the meaning of 'CALCULATIONS' (Avot
3:18).(Talmud) Joseph b. Zakkai knew "the heavenly revolutions and
gemariot.";parallel source is "the heavenly revolutions and
calculations" (Suk. 28a; BB134a; Ch. Albeck, "Shisha Sidrei
Mishnah 4, 1959 p. 497)
Perhaps formed in Babylon. First
appeared inscription of SARGON II (727-707BC) which states that the king
built wall of Khorsabd 16,283 cubits long to corr. w/no. value of his
name.
End of the Geonic period
(7-11thc)Widespread in Hellinistic period among the Magi and
interpreters of dreams Gnostics equated 2 holy names ABAZAS and
MITHRAS on basis of equiv. no. value(365 corr. to days of solar year)
Apparently introduced in Israel during
2nd Temple, even in the Temple itself, Greek letters being used to
indicate numbers (Shek. 3:2).
In Rabinnic literature first appears in statements by TANNAIM of 2nd c..* (Scholem, Kabal. 337)
Italy (9th c before Megaillat
Anim'az by Ahimaz of Oria mysticism spread from Italy to Germany then
France (beg. 11th c peaked half 12c and 13th c.
12th c. known as HASIDEI ASHKENAZ says mysteries transmited 870 to R. Moses ben Kalonymus in Lucca by Abu AHARON, son of
R. Samuel ha-Nasi of Bagdad, afterwards K. went to Germany where he laid the foundation of mystical tradition of Hasidei Ash.
TMIRH Temurah, Form of cryptic writing which substitutions are made for letters according to one code or another.
Notariqon- (notarikon) combining letters
ATBASH is most common form where
first letter is substituted for the last letter of the alphabet, the
second for the penultimate, etc.
ALBAM is a similar form of substitution, where the first letter is replaced by the twelth, the second by the thirteenth, etc.
AVGAD is a form where each letter is replaced by the one succedding it so that a=b, b=c, etc.
AQ AYK BChR
AQ BEKER; The Qabalah of 9 Chambers
Interception of 2 horizontal and
2 verticle lines forming 9 squares. Used for Kamea's to determine the
number value of the sigils.
Divide alphabet (22 letters and final forms) into three groups, each with 9 letters.
This arrangement is considered important in the formation of Sigils or Symbols from the names of planetary Spirits.
1st group of 9 represents 1-9, and the divisions of the world ruled by the order of ANGELS.
2nd 9 represents numbers 10-90 and all the things which are in the 9 cirlce of HEAVEN.
3rd 9 contained the 4 last
letters of the alphabet and final forms of K, M, N, P, & S,
represent no. 100-400 and 4 elements of Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and the
5 final forms symbolizing the 5 unions of bodies.
(from the Aleph, the lines which
enclose the groups of 3 letters the 9 follow figures constructed to
form a powerful amulet. (Kamea of Alphabet, Budge, A. Amulets", p. 405
AQ Beker: where any letter in
any one of 9 boxes can be substituted for any other letter in the same
box. AChS BChR s where 8 boxes are used and letters in any box are
interchangeable. Endless variety.
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