Parshas Vezos Haberachah
Deuteronomy 33:1- 34:12

Feeling Left Out ©

By Dr. Akiva G. Belk

This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria is dedicated in loving memory to my father-in-law, Mr. Arnold Student Litman, may he rest in peace.

If you would like to dedicate a Gematria lesson for our cyberspace class in the memory of a dear friend or loved one we will do this for a gift of Chai, $18.00 American dollars.

Over the years my wife Naomi and I have a special blessing that we pronounce upon each other. This blessing is special to us. We do not have a set time or place for this bracha {blessing}. Some of the uplift from our bracha is the surprise and irregularity in which it is offered. We may go weeks without pronouncing our bracha, then all of a sudden from seemingly out of nowhere one of us will say to the other, “May Hashem Creator of the Universe bless you and all of your loved ones” to which the other responds, “Amen!” Then the one who responds amen repeats the same bracha. Our bracha is a powerful source of encouragement, love and thoughtfulness towards each other and towards all of our loved ones.

Is there a better way to encourage your soul mate than to bless her / him? Is there a better way to show love for your spouse’s loved ones? Our bracha reinforces support for each other and for each other’s loved ones.

Now, dear readers, blessings can be nothing more than empty words. Much depends upon the individual offering the blessing. Our Creator often grants the wishes of a Tzadek {righteous person}. That is why we Jews seek out righteous people for blessings. We know from experience that G-d grants many of their blessings.

This brings us to the doorstep of this week’s parsha when Moshe blessed B'nei Yisroel. We notice that Moshe did not follow the order of their birth or importance. We also notice that while pronouncing these blessings the tribe of Shimon was not mentioned. Our sages hold that the blessing of Yehudah {Judah} included the tribe of Shimon. Yet this understanding does not change the fact that the tribe of Shimon was not verbally mentioned. Even if it was Moshe’s intention to include the tribe of Shimon with Yehudah, because Shimon is omitted it has impact. This is significant. Notice that we do not read of any anger displayed by the descendants of Shimon. What a display of self restraint! We do not read of bickering because of this omission. No emotions seem to be displayed. Why?

Observing what the Torah says as well as what the Torah omits is very important. We must stop to examine some possibilities. At first this would seem like a political disaster... an insult... but it wasn’t. The omission of Shimon was to teach us a lesson about feeling left out.

What does it feel like to be the last kid selected to play baseball? What does it feel like to be completely omitted? On the other hand, what does it feel like to live in a community for years and to be among a few select individuals that are never invited to the Rav’s home for a Shabbos meal? What does it feel like to be on the Rosh Ha Yeshiva’s staff for years and never receive an invitation to a Shabbos meal? What does it feel like to shlep the Rosh Ha Yeshiva’s sukkah back and forth for years without ever being invited for a Sukkos meal? What does it feel like being the poor family in the community? What does it feel like being the rich family in the community? What does it feel like being a community leader? What does it feel like not being welcome in a community? What does it feel like not being a carbon copy of black hat, white shirt, black slacks, beard, etc.? What does it feel like to be excluded from a bar mitzvah... bat mitzvah... a chassanah {Jewish wedding}... a Sheva Berachos {one of the evening meals in the seven days following a chassanah to which friends and family are invited}... etc.?

Dear readers, the tribe of Shimon teaches us dignity when verbally omitted! The tribe of Shimon teaches us security in being B'nei Yisroel. The tribe of Shimon teaches us restraint when feeling left out! Being verbally omitted from the last blessing of Moshe Rabbeinu is extremely significant! It is by far more important than being omitted from a Shabbos or Sukkos meal. It is more important than being the isolated poor or rich family.

What are we to learn from this? The center letter of Shimon is an Ayin. The Ayin represents sight or insight. The Gematria for the Ayin is 70 which speaks of the seventy wise men, the elders of the Bais Din, the Jewish Court. In order the first, third and fifth letter spell Shaw Ahn, meaning “to support / to be smooth / to be quiet.” The second and the fourth letters are connecting letters. The Gematria of Shimon is 466 which relates to Tawm Choo, meaning “supported”.

Shimon
466 = Nun 50 Vav 6 Ayin 70 Mem 40 Shin 300

Shaw Ahn {to support / to be smooth / to be quiet}
466 = Nun 50 Vav 6 Ayin 70 Mem 40 Shin 300

Connecting Letters
466 = Nun 50 Vav 6 Ayin 70 Mem 40 Shin 300

Tawm Choo {supported}
466 = Vav 6 Chof 20 Mem 40 Sav 400

Holy reader, while it may not be nice or proper to be omitted by one’s community, rav or religious leadership, etc.; keeping a holy perspective is important. That is what the tribe of Shimon did when they were verbally omitted. They realized that they were part of B'nei Yisroel. They were included in the blessing for B'nei Yisroel. They realized that even though they were verbally omitted from Moshe’s blessing they had a responsibility to be supportive of B'nei Yisroel. They realized this was the time to remain quiet. It was not the time to speak up. They understood their role in this omission.

I don’t like to think of the concept that being left out is a test. However in the case of Shimon it was deliberate. It was to demonstrate how one must still be supportive of their brothers and sisters even when it appears they have been overlooked. It was to teach dignity in pain. It was to teach confidence in the Torah’s wisdom. It was to help all who are feeling left out.

Wishing you the best!

Dr. Akiva G. Belk