Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

category:  Chassidut

Bringing down abundance

The Rav Name: Rabbi Yitzchak Arad

Hi! Can one calculate where the shefa is coming from with their name so they know how to address it?
Thank you!

Shalom and thank you for your question! If I understood correctly, you would like to know how to draw down abundance from the Heavenly spheres to the physical world, especially on an individual level, perhaps by using the numerical value of your Hebrew name, to somehow connect with your spiritual source?

Assuming that this is what you meant, I will start out by saying that this is the field of Kabbalists. There are true Kabbalists and there are charlatans. There are also some Rabbis who know enough about the topic to give you tips on your individual personality perspective, when you provide the details of your Hebrew name, and your Hebrew date of birth.


The word Torah comes from the root ‘Horaah,’ which means teaching. The Torah teaches us how to perform our unique role in the world, in an individual way. When we do this, we are automatically drawing down abundance, ‘Shefa,’ as you mentioned. The word for commandment in Hebrew is ‘mitzvah.’ The word ‘mitzvah’ is connected to the root ‘Tzavta,’ to join. This means that when we perform a commandment of the Torah, we are joining, connecting with G-d’s infinite energy, and bringing down a ray of it, so to speak, to this physical world, making it a more spiritual place. The same is true of actually studying Torah. When we study Torah, we connect with G-d’s infinite wisdom, drawing down more G-dly energy to the physical world.

What happens if we are looking for blessings of abundance in the material realm, to have a good income so that we can perform the commandments without too much pressure from material concerns such as money, for example? The Torah tells us to separate a tithe from our income for tzedaka, (translated often as charity – but referring to the OBLIGATION of using the resources G-d gives us to help our fellow needy person. This mitzah, as well as keeping the Mitzvot of Shabbat and the Sabbatical year, also show our trust in G-d, so that these mitzvot of tithing our income, keeping the Sabbath day, leaving the land in Israel to lie fallow on every 7th year of the Shmitta cycle, all of these are commandments which especially show our trust in G-d and thus potentially open ul channels of abundance.

Moreover, the Hebrew word ’emunah,’ faith, comes from the root ‘imun,’ which means practice, (and also trust, as distinct from faith.) To have faith in G-d and trust in Him, we must practice. Practice what? Practice investing in the performance of the mitzvot and the study of Torah, and then believing that G-d will come through for us. Even when our faith is tested because we must deal with various challenges, the fact that we are trying and trusting despite the challenges, merits the drawing down of more abundance.

Sometimes a person is investing in the spiritual side of life, but needs also to make more effort in the material realm, like actively searching for ‘parnassah,’ income, and sometimes a person is investing in the material realm, working very long hours or something similar, while the spiritual side is being neglected.

When all of this is in balance, and yet there is still a lack of income, or another major challenge, it is appropriate to seek extra guidance from Torah personalities.

The tractate ‘Pirkei Avot,’ (Ethics of the fathers,) gives an extremely important tip, and that is, “Take for yourself a Rabbi and acquire for yourself a friend,” meaning that we should keep up a constant connection with those who can guide us in Torah and mitzvot. All of the above takes on individual character according to the individual circumstances and challenges a person deals with. This is the optimal path for each individual to draw down abundance.

Best of luck!

Sources

תלמוד בבלי – מסכת שבת, צ”ז, א. תניא פרק י”ח, מ”ב. ראש אמנה פרק יז. מצודת דוד לרדב”ז מצוה א. אור נערב חלק ב פרק א.