Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi

Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi
Portrait of Hacham Agassi painted by Mrs Ruth Gila, Beit Meir , Israel

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

And G-d remembered Rachel

וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת רָחֵל

Beraishit 30.22- בראשית


22.’ And G-d remembered Rachel- וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת רָחֵל (968+4 words=972=18), and G-d hearkened to her, and He opened her womb- וַיִּשְׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּפְתַּח אֶת רַחְמָהּ (2276=17=8counting final Mem as 600).

Rashi comments here that Hashem remembered Rachel in that she had given her sister Leah the signs on her wedding night and that she was frightened that Jacob would divorce her as she was barren (Tanchuma Yashan 20), and she would have to marry Esau who had heard that she had not borne children.

Jacob at this stage was in his 91st year. Rachel was in her 28thyear.

The number 91 is the joint gematria of the Names "Hashem"-יהוה and "Adnut"- אדני.

The number 28 is the gematria of the word "Koach"- כחwhich means "powerful/mighty".

Now Joseph could be conceived. Joseph was to be Rachel's first child and the eighthson of the two main wives-Rachel and Leah. He was the 11th son of Jacob and his 12thchild (including Dina).
And G-d remembered
וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים
889+2 words=891=18
And G-d hearkened to her
וַיִּשְׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ אֱלֹהִים
1118
The number 1118 is the gematria of the verse of the Shema prayer. Hashem heard Rachel through the Prayers of Jacob. Jacob knew that it was time for her to conceive and he prayed for her.

Hear O Israel Hashem is our G-d Hashem is One
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יהוה אֶחָד
1118
In the light of Rashi's comment to the previous verse these words could also be understood as Hashem listening also to Leah's prayer for her sister to have a male child. "Vayishma Aileah"- וַיִּשְׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ can be understood as "Vayishma El Leah"- וַיִּשְׁמַעאֶל לֵאָה.
Thus Hashem heard all three of them praying for Rachel to conceive and he hearkened to her.

The gematria of the words “and he opened up her womb”- וַיִּפְתַּח אֶת רַחְמָהּ is 1158+3 words =1161=1+8.

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