A THOUSAND FOR ONE

Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was seized in 2006 by Hamas, has been freed in a deal that involves the release of 1,027 Palestinians.

There are laws in the Torah regarding kidnaping and how to ransom back without encouraging further acts of terror, but it is Suchot – a time of happiness. The Cabala explains, There are two types of happiness: bounded happiness and happiness without boundaries.

The happiness during the seven day holiday of Suchot is without boundaries, as is said: Simcha Peretz Geder/Happiness Breaks All Boundaries. The Law is the law, but happiness is beyond the law. An interesting cabalistic side-note, Aleph means both 1000 and One.

Aleph is the first letter of the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet but also has the meaning of Thousand and a gematria of One. Aleph also means a teacher in Aramaic and Leader in Hebrew. Perhaps, God willing, this represents a new direction between two ancient peoples.

Gilad Shalit is the first Israeli soldier returned home after being captured in 26 years; 26 is the gematria of the Four Letter Name of God, YHVH – during Suchot a light, beyond Name, is brought into the Sucha through the crudely thatched roof. The most hidden is revealed.