The Secret of the Letter Aleph: The Power of the Breath of Schoolchildren
Monday, Parashas Vayigash, Zos Chanukah 5762 - A Shiur (Torah class) for the Children of the Talmud Torah
A fascinating article on the power of the letters of prayer and Torah, and especially on the cosmic power hidden within the letter 'Aleph' that emerges from the mouth of a child. The Rav explains how breath untainted by sin shakes the upper worlds, nullifies harsh decrees, and sustains the Throne of Glory.
The Rambam rules, contrary to the opinion of the Raavad, that in the Holy Temple, they would light the Menorah twice a day. The Raavad holds that they would light the candles only at night, whereas in the morning, the verse "Every morning when he cleans the lamps" refers only to cleaning the Menorah. However, the Rambam holds that "when he cleans" means actually lighting the candle—they clean and light. Therefore, we have the custom to light Chanukah candles in synagogues in the morning during the Shacharis (morning) prayer as well, according to the opinion of the Rambam.
The holy children are the aspect of the Menorah. When they start to become serious, waking up in the morning for prayer and saying every word and letter of the prayer with intention—this is the key to everything.
A Flame of Letters
Pronouncing the letters of prayer ignites a flame within a person's heart. A human being is composed of matter, a body that is the aspect of an animal, upon which Hashem, may He be blessed, has grafted a soul. The only way to purify the material body is through the letters of prayer.
The entire festival of Chanukah corresponds to the letters—the goal is to illuminate the hidden light within the letters. When saying the letters of prayer, one must pronounce each letter slowly, repeating it again and again with patience, because every letter is a blazing fire.
A person must yearn so deeply to learn Torah and pronounce its letters, just like Hillel the Elder. In the month of Teves, when snow fell in Jerusalem and they did not let him enter the Beis Midrash (study hall), he climbed up and lay on the skylight under a meter and a half of snow, just to hear words of Torah. This is the self-sacrifice required to merit the light of the Torah.
Shaking the Upper Worlds
When a young child says the letter Aleph, even the supernal angels tremble. No angel or Seraph can grasp the light created when a child says Aleph. All the supernal angels, the Seraphim, and the Erelim listen, and they are all shaken.
Why? Because the child is the aspect of "breath untainted by sin." The moment he descends from Heaven, at the age of five or six, he still retains the taste of the Garden of Eden; he still remembers a little of the supernal light from there.
No one can grasp the concept and the Divine will hidden in a child saying "Kamatz Aleph – Ah." Even the exalted angels of the worlds of Yetzirah (Formation), Beriah (Creation), and Atzilus (Emanation) cannot grasp this light. Within the letter Aleph are concealed the secrets of the Holy Name.
The Foundation of the Throne of Glory
The letter Aleph is divided into three parts: the upper point (a Yud), the letter Vav in the middle, and the lower point (a Yud). On the upper point of the Aleph alone stand 1,405 myriads of worlds, and it contains 72 holy names.
"All the 32 paths of wisdom and the 50 gates of understanding—everything emerges from the letter Aleph. There is no calculating the wisdom that is revealed when a child says it."
When a child says Aleph, he nullifies all harsh decrees from upon the Jewish people. Through the breath of a child's mouth, it is possible to nullify any harsh decree and save Jews from death. The Throne of Glory, the heavens, and the earth—they all stand upon the letter Aleph of the children.
If the children do not say Aleph, the Throne of Glory would collapse, Heaven forbid, and there would be destruction in the world. When we teach the children "Kamatz Aleph," we are simultaneously strengthening the Throne of Glory, the heavens, and the earth so that they do not collapse.
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