What's in a Number?

Newsletter December 9th, 2024 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

There are so many numbers packed with meaning in Jewish tradition:

1 is our monotheistic idea of God

2 are the two tablets (on which the 10 commandments were written)

3 are the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)

4 are the matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah)

5 are the books of Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)

6 are the sections/seders of the Mishnah (known by the acronym: Z'MAN NAKAT)

7 Days of the week (Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa)

(More here in the song: Echad Mi Yodea)

Of course the number 18 has special significance as the letters used to write 18 before the Roman numeral system was invented we’re chet and yud which together spell the word chai- meaning: life.

Well today we are celebrating having studied our 1,800th page of the Talmud! That’s right- our ongoing Talmud group which has read a page of Talmud every day since the cycle began January 5, 2020, just reached 1,800 pages! And that's 18 x 100-- a very full and auspicious number.

Having participated in this process, I can affirm that it is deeply meaningful to dedicate yourself to something consistently for that amount of time. Little by little, together, we have taken each folio one day at a time. For anyone who has ever applied themselves in this small but consistent way, you know how impactful it can be. Perhaps this is why Rabbi Shammai, in the Pirkei Avot, instructs us to "make Torah a regular practice." Big changes start with a commitment to repeat the desired activity again and again over time.

As we are approaching a new secular year, this is the perfect time to consider what small changes you’d like to make over time day after day in the new year, just imagine the possibilities!

Together, we are considering how every major accomplishment begins with a small step and commitment to stick with it. 

Together we are considering the future we want to build. 

Together, we’re keeping it sacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...