The Letter Lamed (KB)

We are nearing the end of the month of Tishrei, or Libra, which is ruled by the planet Venus and represented by the letter Lamed. Before we exit this month, let’s draw upon the power of this letter to carry us forward as we embark upon the new year. Lamed is a letter that extends both upwards and downwards, symbolizing its ability to connect us to both the Upper World and the world in which we live. Like an angel or a tzadik (righteous person), Lamed is a conduit: Her feet touch the earth but she also flies high above. Lamed is the last letter in the Torah and it joins with Bet, the first letter in the Torah, to create the word Lev, meaning “heart.” The word “Lamed” itself is spelled Lamed, Mem, Daled and is an acronym for “lev meivin daat,” meaning “a heart that understands wisdom.” The idea here is that we can study and we can analyze, but the only way to understand—the only way to gain wisdom and not simply knowledge—is through the heart. Our heart is the conduit that allows each of us to draw from the well of Light within.