November 11, 2018 · 00:03:50
Tehilim Perek 119: Letter MEM Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today we’ll discuss the letter Mem. Mem represents the Makor, the source of something, and Ma’avar, moving beyond, exiting from a point of origin. The Sefer Yetzira explains that Mem stands for Mayim, water. Water always flows from a source to a destination, its fluid quality allowing it to take the shape of its container. Water also has the ability to carry items or boats from place to place with its current, taking something from its Makor, source, and being Ma’avar, passing it along to a Makom, place. Mayim is the only thing in nature which exists in 3 forms: ice, which is solid, water, which is liquid, and a cloud, which is like a gas. This is all represented by the Mem. People who desire to grow in ruchniyos, spirituality, and from level to level, are also represented by the Mem because they aspire to return to their Source, the Creator. The Mem, with a numerical value of 40, also represents Torah which was given in 40 days. We know that “Ain Mayim elah Torah, only Torah is water for the parched soul.” As water flows to the lowest place, Torah can only be attained by someone who is truly humble. The Tikkun Hanefesh, rectification of the soul, is also considered a movement represented by the Mem, as learning Torah repairs our Midos, character traits. Mem is spelled: Mem Mem Sofit, similar to Vav , Vav Vav, and Hei, Hei Hei. The difference is that the Mem