Tehillim 4 — Connection to “Ein Od Milvado”

“Ein Od Milvado” — Codes in the Torah, Tehillim, and the “Aleinu Leshabeach” Prayer

Tehillim 4:3 בְּנֵי אִישׁ, עַד-מֶה כְבוֹדִי לִכְלִמָּה — “Bnei ish ad-meh kevodi likhlimah” — (people, how long will my honor be put to shame?). David HaMelech encoded one of the 72 Names of HaShem in this pasuk from Tehillim 4, a Name that nullifies sorcery and the influence of negative forces. This Name — אעמ — appears in the Arizal’s Siddur and is formed from three pesukim described in the Torah at the crossing of Yam Suf, but not according to the system of the Zohar HaKadosh; rather, in direct order (yosher). We encounter this Name several times in the Torah in connection with Yaakov and Yosef, always for nullifying sorcery and intentions to kill or cause harm. 1. Against sorcery and all negativity (Bereishit 46:4) When Yaakov was about to descend to Egypt but was afraid of this descent because he understood how deeply Egypt was steeped in black magic and impure forces, the Almighty reassured him with these words: אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ מִצְרַיְמָה וְאָנֹכִי אַעַלְךָ — “Anochi ered imecha mitzraymah ve’anochi a’alcha” — (I will descend with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up). The Sages say that HaShem reassured Yaakov that He was descending with him, and taught Yaakov this Name to protect his family. 2. Against murder (Bereishit 27:42) In Parashat Toldot, Rivka warns Yaakov of Esav’s intention to kill him: הִנֵּה עֵשָׂו אָחִיךָ מִתְנַחֵם לְךָ לְהָרְגֶךָ — “Hineh Esav achicha mitnachem lecha lehorgecha” — (behold, Esav your brother is consoling himself with the intention of killing you). This pasuk reveals how Rivka transmitted a secret code to Yaakov so that he could protect himself from Esav. 3. Against murder and hatred (Bereishit 32:11) In Parashat Vayishlach, while returning to his homeland, Yaakov asks the Almighty for help before meeting his brother Esav, who hated him: הַצִּילֵנִי נָא מִיַּד אָחִי מִיַּד עֵשָׂו — “Hatzileini na miyad achi miyad Esav” — (please save me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esav); For the second time, Yaakov uses the Name of HaShem that his mother revealed to him for protection from Esav. 4. Against sorcery and for salvation (Shemot 13:19) Upon leaving Egypt, Moshe remembered Yosef’s request to carry his bones out of that country, since Yosef was certain that the Egyptians would use sorcery to keep his remains in Egypt for their own benefit: פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם וְהַעֲלִיתֶם אֶת-עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה אִתְּכֶם — “Pakod yifkod Elokim etchem veha’alitem et-atzmotai mizeh itchem” — (Elokim will surely remember you; carry my bones up from here with you). Aleinu Leshabeach Remarkably, the Name אעמ also appears in the concluding prayer “Aleinu Leshabeach” (it is incumbent upon us to praise), which we all recite every day. We know that it consists of two parts. At first, this prayer consisted only of the first part, and it was with this prayer that the Jews, under the leadership of Yehoshua bin Nun, besieged the impregnable city of Yericho. It ends with the words: “Ki Ad-nai hu ha-Elokim ba-shamayim mima’al ve’al-ha’aretz mitachat ein od” — (that the L-rd is the only G-d, from the heights of heaven and to the depths of the earth — there is none other). The last three words, מתחת אין עוד, also form the same Name — אעמ. The Mekubalim teach that during the prayer it is beneficial to pause after the word “mitachat”, before “ein od,” and have kavanah for the Name אעמ: May all problems (illnesses, earthly judgments, debts, sorcery, ayin hara — each person names their own problems) fall ⬇️ into “mitachat” (the depths of the earth), because “ein od” — there is nothing else — there are no illnesses or problems, no other reality, and no one who can take action against you or decide anything to your detriment — there is no one but HaShem. We send all that is bad (indicating with our hands) into “mitachat” (the depths of the earth), and look at the letters, forming the phrase: “Ein od milvado.” Then any problem can be resolved and negative forces dispelled. “Ein od milvado” It is remarkable that the famous Matrix of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin — אין עוד מלבדו — “Ein Od Milvado” — has the same rashei teivot (initial letters), forming the very same protective and salvific Name — אעמ.   Aleinu Leshabeach Prayer “Aleinu leshabeiach la-Adon hakol latet gedulah leyotzer bereshit. Shelo asanu k’goyei ha’aratzot velo samanu kemishpechot ha’adamah. Shelo sam chelkeinu kahem vegoraleinu k’chol hamonam shehem mishtachavim lahevel varik umitpalelim El El lo yoshia. (recited while bowing) Vaanachnu mishtachavim lifnei Melech Malchei hamelachim ha-Kadosh baruch hu. She-hu noteh shamayim veyosed aretz. Umoshav yekaro bashamayim mima’al ushchinat uzo begovhei meromim. Hu Elokeinu ve’ein od acher. Emet malkeinu ve’efes zulato, kakatuv ba-Torah: “veyadata hayom vahashevota el levavecha Ad-nai ki hu ha-Elokim ba-Shamaim mima’al ve’al haaretz Mitachat ⬇️ Ein Od — מתחת ⬇️ אין עוד”. Al ken nekaveh lach Ad-nai Elokeinu lir’ot meherah betif’eret uzecha leha’avir gilulim min ha’aretz veha’elilim karot yikaretun. Letaken olam bemalchut Shaddai vechol bnei vasar yikreu vishmecha. Leh afnot elecha kol rish’ei aretz. Yakiru veyed’u kol yoshvei Tevel. Ki lecha tichra kol berech tishava kol lashon. Lefanecha Ad-nai Elokeinu yichre’u veyipolu velichvod shimcha yekar yitenu. Vikablu chulam et ol malchutecha. Vetimloch aleihem meherah leolam vaed. Ki hamalchut shelcha hi ul’olemei ad timloch bechavod. Kakatuv be-Toratecha: Ad-nai yimloch leolam vaed. Vene’emar: vehayah Ad-nai le-Melech al kol ha’aretz bayom hahu yihyeh Ad-nai Echad ushmo Echad”. Translation: “It is incumbent upon us to praise the Master of all, to proclaim the greatness of the Creator of the universe. For He did not make us like the nations of the world, nor make us resemble the nations of the earth. He did not give us their portion or our lot like that of all their multitudes. For they bow to vanity and emptiness and pray to gods that cannot save. But we bend our knees, bow down, and offer thanks to the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He. He stretched out the heavens and established the earth, and His Throne of Glory is in the heavenly heights, and the abode of His might is in the highest heights. He is our G-d, and there is none other. He is truly our King, and there is none else. As written in His Torah: “And you shall know this day and take it to heart, that the L-rd is the only G-d, from the heights of heaven and to the depths of the earth there is none other. Therefore, we hope in You, L-rd our G-d, to soon see the splendor of Your might, removing idols from the earth and destroying false gods. The world will be perfected under the sovereignty of the Almighty, and all human beings will call upon Your Name; all the wicked of the earth will turn to You. All the inhabitants of the world will recognize and know that before You every knee must bow and every tongue swear allegiance. Before You, L-rd our G-d, they will kneel and fall, and honor Your glorious Name; and they will all accept the yoke of Your kingship, and You will soon reign over them forever and ever, for the kingship is Yours, and You will reign in glory for all eternity. As written in Your Torah: ‘The L-rd shall reign forever and ever.’”   (Based on a lecture by Rav Yisrael Yakobov, “Tehillim 4,” for Sila Tehillim)