Tehilim Perek 119: Letter MEM
Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today we’ll discuss the letter Mem.
Mem represents the Makor, the source of something, and Ma’avar, moving beyond, exiting from a point of origin.
The Sefer Yetzira explains that Mem stands for Mayim, water. Water always flows from a source to a destination, its fluid quality allowing it to take the shape of its container. Water also has the ability to carry items or boats from place to place with its current, taking something from its Makor, source, and being Ma’avar, passing it along to a Makom, place.
Mayim is the only thing in nature which exists in 3 forms: ice, which is solid, water, which is liquid, and a cloud, which is like a gas. This is all represented by the Mem.
People who desire to grow in ruchniyos, spirituality, and from level to level, are also represented by the Mem because they aspire to return to their Source, the Creator.
The Mem, with a numerical value of 40, also represents Torah which was given in 40 days. We know that “Ain Mayim elah Torah, only Torah is water for the parched soul.” As water flows to the lowest place, Torah can only be attained by someone who is truly humble. The Tikkun Hanefesh, rectification of the soul, is also considered a movement represented by the Mem, as learning Torah repairs our Midos, character traits.
Mem is spelled: Mem Mem Sofit, similar to Vav , Vav Vav, and Hei, Hei Hei. The difference is that the Mem has a regular Mem followed by a Mem Sofit, representing giving birth.
It takes 40 days for the formation of an embryo. The continuing process of gestation is also represented by a Mem. As the baby develops in the umbilical liquid, its form changes. This too is represented by the Mem, the force of movement. It is spelled with a Mem Sofit because by the time of birth the baby in the womb’s fluid looks different.
The word for embryo is vlad, which has the numerical value of 40, as does a mother’s chalav, milk. Aim, the word for mother, spelled Aleph Mem, is 41. Both the embryo and the milk come from the Mother, who is one above 40.
The Mem is comprised of a Chuf and Vav. Vav is the letter of connection and unification, while Chuf is the letter of giving form to something. These letters both make up the Mem which signifies the joining or movement from one form and place to another.
Last but not least, all of the Sofit, final letters, represent the times of Mashiach. The Mem stuma, closed Mem, AKA Mem Sofit, is a sign that when Mashiach comes, “Mila ha’aretz day’ah es Hashem k’mayim l’yam mechasim, the world will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the earth.” The world will move to a new order, and all Maves, death, will end forever.
In the next episode of Nach Daily we’ll be utilizing the letter Mem to Move on to the letter NuN!
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
