Hebrew Letters Aleph to Beth, Symbolic Spiritual Transformations, from Unity to Tzimtzum
“The world was created by the divine energy that flows through the Hebrew letters.” — Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534–1572)
Hebrew Alphabet Letters Create the Universe
“The letters of the Torah are the building blocks of the universe, and every word and letter has a deep spiritual meaning.” — Baal Shem Tov (1698–1760)
The doctrine of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet creating the universe is a concept that is rooted in Jewish mysticism and is particularly associated with the Kabbalah. The Kabbalah is a system of Jewish mysticism that originated in medieval Spain and has been influential in Jewish thought and spirituality ever since.
According to Kabbalistic tradition, the Hebrew alphabet is believed to be the building blocks of creation. Each of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet is associated with a specific divine attribute or characteristic, and it is believed that these letters were used by God to create the universe. This concept is sometimes referred to as “cosmic language” or “creative speech.”
The earliest written sources for this doctrine can be found in the Sefer Yetzirah, an ancient Jewish mystical text that is believed to have been written in the early centuries CE. This text presents the idea that God used the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, along with the ten sephirot (divine emanations), to create the universe.
The doctrine of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet creating the universe has had a significant influence on Jewish thought and spirituality, particularly within the Kabbalistic tradition. It has also had an impact on other mystical traditions, such as Hermeticism and Christian Kabbalah.
The Transformation of Aleph to Beth
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” — Rev Dr Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955)
The transformation from the Paleo-Hebrew letter Aleph to Beth and the modern Hebrew letters א (Aleph) to ב (Bet) can be seen as a symbolic representation of the process of spiritual transformation, creation, and the journey from potential to actualization.
In both Paleo-Hebrew and modern Hebrew, Aleph and Bet are the first two letters of the alphabet. In Kabbalah, each Hebrew letter holds spiritual and mystical significance, and the order of the letters reflects the divine process of creation.
Aleph (א)
“The letter aleph is the key to unlocking the secrets of the Torah and the mysteries of the universe.” — Zohar 1:15a
Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is often associated with the concept of oneness, unity, and the primordial state of potential.
In Kabbalah, Aleph represents the infinite divine light (Ein Sof) and the initial state of existence before the Tzimtzum, where everything is still undifferentiated and unified. It is said that the letter Aleph contains the potential energy of all the other letters in the Hebrew alphabet. In terms of spiritual transformation, Aleph can symbolize the beginning of the journey or the state of pure potential.
Bet (ב)
“The letter bet is the symbol of the house, the home, and the sacred space of the Temple, where the divine presence is manifest.” — Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (1934–1983)
Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is associated with the concept of duality, differentiation, and actualization.
In Kabbalah, the letter Bet is connected to the act of creation itself, as the Torah (the Hebrew Bible) begins with the letter Bet in the word בראשית (Bereshit), meaning “In the beginning.”
The transformation from Aleph to Bet signifies the process of bringing the potential into existence and the emergence of the finite world from the infinite divine light.
Symbolic Transformation
“Every person has the potential to become great, to transcend their limitations and connect with the divine.” — Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810)
The spiritual transformation from Aleph to Beth can be understood as a symbolic journey from the state of pure potential (Aleph) to the process of creation and actualization (Beth).
In personal spiritual growth, this transformation can represent the process of moving from a state of undifferentiated potential to realizing and manifesting one’s unique purpose and potential in the world.
This transition also reflects the Kabbalistic idea of the divine light being channelled through the ten sephirot, which are aspects or attributes of God’s nature.
The sephirot are often depicted as a tree or a series of interconnected spheres, with Keter (crown) at the top, representing the initial spark or point of contact between the infinite and the finite, and Malkhut/Shekinah (kingdom) at the bottom, symbolizing the final manifestation of divine energy in the created world.
The journey from Aleph to Beth echoes this process of divine energy descending through the sephirot to create the world and bring forth the multiplicity of creation.
Correspondences with Lichfield Cathedral
“Lichfield Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, with its intricate carvings, soaring vaulted ceilings, and magnificent stained-glass windows.” — King Charles III (as Prince Charles, Prince of Wales) (1948 — )
We have shown earlier that the Paleo-Hebrew letter Aleph represents the position and orientation of Lichfield Cathedral as it has been constructed on the Earth and how it relates to the heavens. This defines its potential.
The Paleo-Hebrew for Beth symbolises the “house of God” that the cathedral is as a place of worship. It also symbolises the “house of God” that the soul is in Jewish thought. Its design helps us understand this relationship in our journey to cleave (Devekut) with God. We showed how this is mapped out in the floor plan of Lichfield Cathedral.
Summary
In summary, the symbolic change from Aleph to Beth, in both Paleo-Hebrew and modern Hebrew, represents a spiritual transformation from potential to actualization, unity to differentiation, and the process of creation from the divine source.
Eye of Heaven — Lichfield Cathedral, a Theory of Everything
Dr Nick Stafford
Footnotes
AI Chat GPT was used to research aspects of this article.
