בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
Painting by: Baruch Nachshon z”l
The Numerical Blueprint of Justice: 26 Verses
In the last “open” section (Parsha Petucha) of parshat Kedoshim – Vayikra chapter 20, there are exactly 26 verses. As is well known, 26 is the numerical value (Gematria) of the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter Name of Hashem ($Y-H-V-H$).
When we set aside the very first verse (“And Hashem spoke to Moses, saying”), which serves as a general introduction, we find that the remaining verses are divided into four distinct groups that correspond to the four letters of G-d’s Name.
- The Final Heh ($H$): Divine Intervention (5 Verses) – Verses 2–6
These five verses correspond to the final letter Heh, which has a value of 5. These verses discuss serious transgressions where, ideally, a human court should intervene. However, the text emphasizes that if the community or the court fails to act, the Almighty Himself will “set His face” against the individual. This represents the lowest level of the Name’s manifestation—where G-d’s presence enters the physical world to rectify a failure in human justice.
- The Yud ($Y$): The Ideal Standard (10 Verses) – Verses 7–16
The letter Yud has a value of 10. Correspondingly, these ten verses focus on the ideal state of the Jewish people: “You shall be holy, for I am Hashem your G-d.” In this section, the punishments described are carried out by the earthly court. According to the Arizal and the Kabbalists, the Yud represents Chochmah (Wisdom) and the “Right Side,” associated with Avraham of which it says “one was Avraham” (Ezekiel 33, 34). Here, Israel are fully “one and unified” with the Divine Will, acting as G-d’s direct emissaries on earth to maintain the sanctity of the camp.
- The First Heh ($H$): The Attribute of Justice (5 Verses) – Verses 17–21
These five verses correspond to the first Heh of the Name. These verses deal with severe violations of family sanctity and forbidden actions that carry the penalty of Karet (spiritual excision). Unlike the previous section, these are matters where the hand of man is not seen; the punishment is purely Divine. The Jewish people are not involved in the process. This represents a state where the individual has moved away from the collective holiness and is being dealt with by G-d alone.On the second day of creation, which corresponds to the “Left Side” and the first Heh of the Name according to the Kabbalists, G-d created a “separation” between the upper and lower waters. This was the first instance of division in the universe. In this sense, the kabbalists align all types of division to this aspect of the “Left Side.” We should also mention that because these transgressions result in the soul being “cut off” (Karet), this is an additional reason that they belong to the realm of “separation.”
- The Vav ($V$): The Connecting Pillar (6 Verses) – Verses 22–27
The letter Vav has a value of 6. These final six verses serve as the “Middle Pillar,” connecting the higher spiritual ideals with the practical reality of the Jewish people. They discuss the general lines of sanctity, i.e the holiness of Israel and their covenant with Hashem, leading to the need of distinction between the holy and the impure. It aligns with the attribute of the Middle Line (Vav), which is characterized by “Generality” (Klaliut). The Middle Line synthesizes and includes everything within it, bridging the specific details of the law with the broad sanctity of the Covenant.
The “Problem” of the Final Verse
There is a structural difficulty regarding the final verse of the chapter (Leviticus 20:27): “A man or a woman who has in them a ghost or a familiar spirit shall surely be put to death; they shall pelt them with stones; their blood is upon them.” Why is this specific law (about necromancy and sorcery) placed here at the very end? It seems out of place because the preceding verses were general statements about holiness and the Covenant. Logically, this verse should have been grouped earlier with the other specific court-ordered deaths.
The Solution: A “General Principle” (Binyan Av)
We can resolve this using a teaching from the Sifra (a Halakhic Midrash). Here the Sages learn from this verse a Binyan Av (a foundational prototype). Anywhere the Torah says “their blood is upon them,” it implies the specific execution method of stoning (Sekilah).
The Wonderful Conclusion
Because this verse serves as the source for a general linguistic rule that applies throughout the entire Torah, it is no longer viewed as a “private” or “specific” law about sorcery. Instead, it is a General Verse (Klal). This makes its placement perfect:
- It follows the other general verses regarding the holiness of Israel.
- It aligns with the attribute of the Middle Line (Vav), which is characterized by “Generality” (Klaliut). The Middle Line synthesizes and includes everything within it, bridging the specific details of the law with the general rules of court justice.
The Spiritual Permutation: Subduing Evil
The specific order of the letters derived from this section ($H-Y-H-V$) is the Divine permutation associated with the Hebrew month of Tevet. According to the Sefer Yetzirah, the defining characteristic of this month is Rogez (Anger/Stirring).
In a holy context, external “anger” – to be differentiated from internal anger which is forbidden and severe – refers to the spiritual energy used to subdue and break the power of evil. Just as a punishment is intended to remove negativity from the world, this specific arrangement of G-d’s Name is invoked to suppress the forces of darkness and allow holiness to prevail. By studying the laws of justice and holiness, we tap into the structure of the Divine Name. We pray that through our efforts to increase sanctity, the Almighty will subdue those who oppress the Jewish people, especially at this time. May we merit the fulfillment of the legacy of our forefather Avraham—who fought the first Jewish war for the sake of Heaven, setting out from Hebron, the city of Patriarchal courage—and see the restoration of the Divine Presence in our midst, the rebuilding of the Sanctuary, and a world defined by the ultimate holiness of Hashem.