An Unwilling Martyr

Neda Soltan, the 26-year-old protester became an international symbol of Iranian resistance when she was randomly gunned down in Tehran.

The number 26 is associated with the Four Letter Name of God YHVH through gematria–the interchange between letters and numbers. When these four letters of the Name are arranged vertically they resemble the human form. Not only was the killing an affront to the nations of the world, but the killing was also an affront to God.

The closest idea of martyr in the Torah is what is known as Masour Nefesh/Giving Up the Soul–allowing the soul to separate from the body bringing about death for a higher purpose. The soul’s purpose in entering the body is to bring the light of the YHVH into the world; killing a human being destroys the light of YHVH in the world.

The Cabala explains that killing derives from the previous world of Tohu/Chaos identified in the Zohar-Book of Secret as the planet Mars. It is from this previous world where ego, arrogance and murder was born.

The brutal killing of this 26 old woman passionate for music loving life is a spiritual sign of God’s displeasure.