SKG Articles: Shabbat Beshalach

Shabbat Beshalach is the anniversary of the moment in history when The Shem Ha Mephorash, the 72-Part Name
of God, commonly known as the 72 Names of God, was first revealed. Every year on this special Shabbat, the
energy that fuels The 72 Names is released again into the cosmos. We connect to this influx of energy by using the
tools of the kabbalists.

The Shem Ha Mephorash is one of the most powerful tools of kabbalah. It is derived from the Torah, Exodus 14:19-
21, and was traditionally invoked in ancient Israel only during the Holiest of ceremonies during the Jewish High
Holy Days. The 72 names are not "names" in the literal sense, but visual mantras that are activated spiritually
rather than vocally.

The Kabbalah is an Object-oriented, cosmogenetic Code. Beyond their literary values, each. Hebrew letter
represents an Object of that Code. When those Objects are combined in certain ways, Divine Energy and
Emanation is expressed. The Hebrew letters of the Shem Ha Mephorash are designed to give the individual
direct, dynamic access to the Energies and benefits Its Divine Emanation.

The shapes, sounds, sequences, and vibrations of the individual triads (three letter combinations) within the 72
Name radiate a wide range of energy forces. The Light they emit purifies our hearts. Their spiritual influence
cleanses destructive impulses from our natures. Their sacred energy removes rash and intolerant emotions, fear,
and anxiety from our beings. The Hebrew letters are instruments of power. In fact, the Hebrew word for “letter”
actually means pulse or vibration, indicating a flow of energy. The Hebrew alphabet transcends religion, race,
geography, and the very concept of language. The three letters signify three spiritual forces—a positive charge, a
negative charge, and a ground wire—to create a circuit of energy.

In ancient times, The Name Itself is an expression of Divine Emanation, of a harmonic Nature, that could not be
spoken; it had to be intoned. Only the High Priest was equipped by the Divine to access the harmonic Code
embedded within the 22 Hebrew letters and interwoven in scripture that, being intoned and expressed, gave rise to
the Emanation of God, effecting at-one-ment between the Divine and the entire nation of Israel; globally.

Since only the High Priest could intone the code of the 72 Name, many Kabbalists believe it is only necessary to
view the Shem Ha Mephorash's Parts or Names to access and receive the benefit of their individual Emanations.
Hebrew being read from right to left, top to bottom, the First Name is in the upper right corner of the 72 Names of
God chart, the Second Name is next in the top row, etcetera, ending the cycle in the lower left corner. (72 Name
Chart)

The 72 triads of the Shem Ha Mephorash are listed in the Sefer Raziel (Book of the Angel Raziel) which is said to
be given to Adam upon his leaving the Garden of Eden. The construction of the 72 Names is detailed in the Zohar,
Portion Beshalach. The Zohar (Portion Beshalach) derives the letter combinations from Exodus 14:19-21. Each of
these three verses, in the original Hebrew, has exactly 72 letters. The verses read:

19: And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of
cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them;

20: and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud, and darkness here,
yet gave it light by the night there; and the one came not near the other all the night.

21: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind
all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

The 72 Name consists of 72 three-letter "words," which are made by the following formula: Word one is the first
letter of verse 19, the last letter of verse 20, and the first letter 21. Word two takes the second letter of 19, the
second-to-last of 20, and the second of 21. Repeat 70 more times.

From this, the Zohar goes on to tell us it was Moses, not God, who parted the Red Sea allowing the Jews to
narrowly escape Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. Moses had a special formula. The formula that he used to
overcome the laws of nature was the 72 Names of God.

Similary, 13th century Kabbalah, Abraham Abulafia wrote in regards to the power of and his experience with the 72
Names:

“When I came to the night in which this power was conferred on me, and midnight — when this power especially
expands and gains strength whereas the body weakens had passed, I set out to take up the Great Name of God,
consisting of seventy-two names, permuting and combining it. But when I had done this for a little while, behold, the
letters took on in my eyes the shape of great mountains, strong trembling seized me and I could summon no
strength, my hair stood on end, and it was as if I were not in this world. At once I fell down, for I no longer felt the
least strength in any of my limbs. And behold, something resembling speech emerged from my heart and came to
my lips and forced them to move. I thought—perhaps this is, God forbid, a spirit of madness that has entered into
me? But behold, I saw it uttering wisdom. I said: ‘This is indeed the spirit of wisdom.’”

Challenges such as stress, anxiety, illness and depression all contribute to a chaotic life. So how do you rid your
life of the obstacles to your happiness and change it for the better? The 72 Name is a tool for you to achieve “mind
over matter” consciousness. On Shabbat Beshalach, we get the opportunity to connect with the seed level of mind
over matter consciousness. We can awaken our desire to take complete control over our lives and achieve the
miracles and personal breakthroughs that we deserve.

Click here to Purchase 72 Name Tools.

Click here to see examples of 72 Name Meditations.

Click here for more information the 72 Names.

Click here for the full 72 Name Chart.