The DNA of the World

The DNA of the World and the Pasuk from Shirat HaYam—“Adonai Ish Milchamah”

When the Torah is taken out in synagogues, the following pasuk from Tehillim 68:2 is recited: יָק֣וּם אֱ֭לֹקים יָפ֣וּצוּ אוֹיְבָ֑יו וְיָנ֥וּסוּ מְ֝שַׂנְאָ֗יו מִפָּנָֽיו “Yakum Elohim yafutzu oyvav vey anusu mesan’av mipanav”—(G-d will arise; His enemies will be scattered, and those who hate Him will flee from Him). The rashei tevot of the first four letters of this verse form Hashem’s Holy Name, יאיא. This is the Name through which the world was created. The Mekubalim say that it is one of the Creator’s most powerful Names. The Maggid of Mezeritch taught that the world was created through the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as it is written: “Bereishit bara Elohim et haShamayim veet haAretz”—where “et” is את —(alef-tav)—the DNA of the world. Hashem took the letters יאיא and created the world through them—for יא has the gematria of 11, and twice יא equals 22, the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. In the prayer “Shirat HaYam”, we also find this Holy Name, through which the Almighty created the world: ה׳ אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה ה׳ שְׁמֽוֹ׃  “Adonai Ish Milchamah, Adonai Shemo”—(the L-rd is a warrior; the L-rd is His Name). In the text of the prayer, the Holy Name “Adonai” is written as follows: Here too, we find the DNA Name of the world—יאיא. Moses Rabbeinu, through the words “Adonai Ish Milchamah”, hints that this Name is also connected with war. It is therefore beneficial for all soldiers, and for everyone engaged in a physical or spiritual struggle, to pray with kavanah directed toward Hashem’s salvific Name.   (Based on a lesson by Rabbi Israel Yakobov—“The Secret Meaning of Tehillim” for Silatehilim.com)