Week 3: Ana Bekoach
Day 20: Line 6
- We implore you, by the great power of Your right hand, release the captive.
- Accept the prayer of Your people; strengthen us, purify us, Awesome One.
- Mighty One, we beseech You, guard as the apple of the eye those who seek Your Oneness.
- Bless them, cleanse them; bestow upon them forever Your merciful righteousness.
- Powerful, Holy One, in Your abounding goodness, guide Your congregation.
- Only and Exalted One, turn to Your people who are mindful of Your holiness.
- Accept our supplication and hear our cry, You Who knows secret thoughts.
The sixth line asks for a connection to be made (“turn to your people”) as this is the key attribute of Yesod.
OVERVIEW
YESOD – As prayer is about making the connection and Yesod relates to the tzaddik, who connects above and below. This line has special implications. This even extends to the connection between life and death. The 42-letter name bridges one reality to the next, This is found in Kaddish, the bridge that connects to healing after the separation of death. In Kaddish, there are seven words beginning with the letter Vav, from V’yishtabach to V’yishalal, as there are seven general names in Ana B’Koach. Vav is the sixth number, which again brings the chibur of 7 x 6 = 42.
INSIGHT ON 42
The Talmud discusses the significance of ’42,’ relating it to the idea of a person pure of intention (i.e., a tzaddik) observing it in ‘purity’ which is another aspect of Yesod, specifically relating to Joseph.
Kiddushin 71a – Rab Judah said in Rab’s name: The forty-two lettered Name [of God] is entrusted only to the person who is pious, meek, standing in the middle of his days, does not get angry, does not get drunk, and is not insistent on his rights. And the person who knows it, does not use it lightly, observes it in purity, is beloved above and popular below, feared by man, and inherits two worlds, this world and the world to come.