Yichud Hashem (Unification of the Name of G-d) This chart presents a number of ideas from Torah in a fashion that

shows a relat ionship between them based on the Four-letter Name of G-d. There are actually fi ve parts to this Name when the top part of the first letter (called the "cusp" o r "apex" of the Yod) is included. The information on this chart is from traditio nal Jewish sources. We are adding to this chart as we discover additional materi al. Last updated June 24, 2008 Letters of Yehida Level Vav Hay Yod The of Soul YHVHcusp on the Yod Chaya (Singular) Neshamah (Life Force) Ruach (Breath) Nefesh (Spirit) Atzilut Adam Kadmon Worlds (Soul) Beriah (Nearness) Yetzirah (Creation) Asiya (Formation) Concept Post In Eden Genesis / "Existence" up Pre-existence to Time Eden Name(s) Eden (Making)1:1 prior to Creation (Genesis 1:1) Elohim YaH Ehyeh of G-d YHVH-Elohim (Vocalization of YHVH) Including; EL, Elohim, Eloha, YHVH, YHVH Tzvaot, Elohim Tzvaout, El Chai, Shadda Tiferet, Binah Chokmah Keter, Sefirah Demons Angels ArchangelsEmanation Sefirot(further Image of representing the as Middot of: Hesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzah, Hod, Y SpiritualG-d iHVH (Adonai) consideredsix upper and lower Keter) Y Atik Partzufim (Ancient Malkut esod Yomin(personae)of Days) and Arikh Anpin, (Long Face or Great Face, the Infi Ze'er Patient Imma (Mother), "Jerusalem above," (Upper) Shekinah, Leah Abba (Father) One) nitelyAnpin (the "small face" or "impatient one"), Son, Groom, King, Metatron, Z Nukvah (female)Daughter, Bride, "Lower Mother," "Lower Wisdom," Jerusalem, (Lowe ion, Jacob, Joseph CharacteristicAsiya Deuteronomy Yetzirah lower face Numbers Leviticus Exodus Genesis Book Lower Upper Five Ish Enosh Gever Torah Beriah Adam oftitle Atzilutandlower (Toledano Beriah -- Gardens of (level Ladderface of Atzilut Hebrewface offorJacob's of) "person"ofYetzirah r) Shekinah, Rachel andand lower face of tradition) of Betzalel Gold-Embroidered Turban Israelites Levites Priests High Priest's Mashiach B'naiPriests All manner Knowledge of Understanding Wisdom 35:31) SpiritIsrael Vestments (Exodusof G-d workmanship Purple Gold -Colors the Body ofof the Ephod Checkered Garment (Exodus 28:5-6) Blue Under-coat Over-garmentHigh Priest Sacrifice: Scarlet of Blue and Red) (Mixture(Red) Sacrifice: Asiyah Yetzirah Beriah Atzilut -World affected Sacrifice: Mineral Vegetable Animal Human -Kingdom rectified Sacrifice: Salt Flour, water Flock, oil, birds Priests, Levites, -- andelevated laymen, owners Kingdomherd,wine by Sacrifice: Action Emotion Intellect Divinity -Consciousness Aspect Introductory Blessings The Level Fourth Third Elijah's yes, Cup I for Eighteen Everyone Prayer Isaiah have Westernformed Cups Eastern43:7 Psalms NorthernGate the Second ofCup Blessings First Cupwhomade ... Outsidesatisfaction CourtyardGateisfive of and Sanctuarytheto Temple (Shemonah HolyIIhaveofbyhimShema Wine name DivinityCourtyardhimgates CorrelationcreatedSouthern the Shema Consumption1:13,called for MyEzekiel's Fragrancebeyondfire TempleMyatglory ... DivineofHoliestwoSouthern GatesPesakh --have1:9,thetwothehim by ofetc.) ... (Lev.ofrevelation1:17, 2:9,Gates Esrai)Temple Aleph-Bet Nature Matter Space Time Energy Forces Earth Water Air Fire -Elements P'shat Remez D'Rash Sod Level Action Word Thoughtofof Human Mind of Interpretation Willwithin the Sod Parallel at(Korbanos) SacrificesNature (Torat (P'sukei d'Zimra) Level Mashiach) Sloth Lust Frivolity, Anger Evil Shelter Clothing Melancholy Food Water Air Human Mouth Nose Ears Eyes Beyond Facial ofPride Feet Legs Torso andPleasure Head NeedsCausticity, Boasting, BodilyPoints LettersDescription, VowelforSounds MusicalParallel -- Characteristic Above Foundationsthe Aleph-Bet Head Idle Talk Hebrew Text and Abbreviations Hebrew Text The red footnote section of some of these notes often contains Hebrew text. If yo u want to be able to view and print the Hebrew text, download a self extracting Hebrew font file (sefer.exe) designed for this purpose. Abbreviations The following list of abbreviations are used mostly in the footnotes (shown in r ed) to these texts. The most common ones (shown below) are used extensively in th e texts as well as the footnotes. Most commonly used b. ben, bar; son of. R. Rab, Rabban, Rabbenu, Rabbi. Also Rabbah (of the Midrash) Ab. Aboth. A.P.B. The Authorised Daily Prayer Book, S. Singer. Ar. or Ar. Aruk. Talmudic Dictionary by R. Nathan b. Jehiel of Rome (d. 1106) Arak. Arakin. ARN. Aboth d'Rabbi Nathan (a late Talmudic treatise). A.V. Authorised Version of the Bible.

A.Z. Abodah Zarah. Bacher A. T. W. Bacher, Die Agada der Tannaiten. Bacher Ag. Pal. Am. W. Bacher, Die Agada palastinensichen Amoraer. B.B. Baba Bathra. BDB Brown, Driver, and Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Bek. Bekoroth. Ber. Berakoth. Bez. Bezah. Bik. Bikkurim. B.K. Baba Kamma B.M. Baba Mezi'a. Codex M. Munich Codex of the Midrash. Cur. ed(d). Current edition(s). Dor Dor Dor Wedoreshaw, by I. H. Weiss. Ed. Eduyyoth. E.J. or EJ. Ez Joseph, commentary by R. Enoch Zundel b. Joseph of Bialistock (19th century). Er. Erubin. E.V. English (viz. American-Jewish) Version of the Bible. Geogr. Geographie, by A. Neubauer. Git. Gittin. Glos. Glossary. Graetz. Graetz H., Geschichte der Juden. Hag. Hagigah. Hor. Horayoth. Hul. Hullin. J.E. Jewish Encyclopedia. J. or J.T. Jerusalem Talmud. Jast. M. Jastrow's Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud, Bible and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature. Kel. Kelim. Ker. Kerithoth. Keth. Kethuboth. Kid. Kiddushin. Kin. Kinnim. Krauss. S. Krauss, Talmudische Archaologie. Levy. J. Levy, Chaldaisches Worterbuch. M. Mishnah. Mah. Maharzu, commentary by Ze'eb Wolf Einhorn (19th century). Maim. Moses Maimonides (1135-1204). Mak. Makkoth. Maksh. Makshirin. Meg. Megillah. Mek. Mekilta. Oldest Rabbinic Commentary on Exodus. Men. Menahoth. Mielziner, Introduction. M. Mielziner, Introduction to the Talmud. M.K. Matnath Kehunah, commentary by Issachar Ber Ashkenazi (16th and 17th centur ies). M.K. Mo'ed Katan. MS.O. Oxford Manuscript. MS P. Paris Manuscript Codex 147. MS.T. Temanite Manuscript. MS.V. Vatican Manuscript Codex 30. M.T. Massoretic text. Naz. Nazir. Ned. Nedarim. Neg. Nega'im. Nid. Niddah. Pes. Pesahim. Pesik. dRK. Pesikta di R. Kahana.

Pesik. R. Pesiktha Rabbathi. Pir.R.El. Pirke di R. Eliezer. Radal. Commentary by R. David Luria. Rash. or Rashash. Commentary by R. Samuel Strashun. Rashal Notes and Glosses on the Talmud by R. Solomon Luria (d. 1573). Rashi Commentary of R. Isaac Yizhaki (d. 1105). R.H. Rosh Hashanah. R.V. Revised Version of the Bible. Sanh. Sanhedrin. Shab. Shabbath. Sheb. Shebi'ith. Shebu. Shebu'oth. Sonc. ed English Translation of the Babylonian Talmud, Soncino Press, London. Sot. Sotah Suk. Sukkah. Ta.an Ta'anith. Tanh. Tanhuma. T.B. Babylonian Talmud. TdbE. Tanna debe Eliyahu. Tem. Temurah. Ter. Terumoth. Tosaf. Tosafoth. Tosef. Tosefta. Y. A Yefe Anaf, commentary of S. Yaffe on Ruth R., Esther R., and Lamentations R. Yeb. Yebamoth. Y.K. Yefe Kol, commentary of S. Yaffe on Song of Songs R. Y.M. Yede Moshe, commentary by R. Jacob Moses Ashkenazi. Y.T. Yefeh Toar, commentary by R. Samuel Jaffe Ashkenazi. Zeb. Zebahim. The books in this table are sorted alphabetically (or rather alephbetically in H ebrew) according to the Hebrew names of the books. `Amos Greek/English Hebrew Name Name `Ezra Bamidbar Beresheet Daniyel Devarim 1 Divre HaYamim 2 Divre HaYamim Ekha Ester Haggai Havakkuk Hoshea Iyov Kohelet Mal'akhi 1 Melakhim 2 Melakhim Mikha Mishle Nachum Nechemyah 'Ovadyah Rut Shemot 1 Shemu'el 2 Shemu'el Shir Hashirim

Shofetim Tehillim Tzefanyah Vayikra Yechezkel Yehoshua Yesha'yahu Yirmeyahu Yo'el Yonah Amos Zekharyah Ezra Numbers Genesis Daniel Deuteronomy 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Lamentations Esther Haggai Habakkuk Hosea Job Ecclesiastes Malachi 1 Kings 2 Kings Micah Proverbs Nahum Nehemiah Obadiah Ruth Exodus 1 Samuel 2 Samuel Song of Songs Judges Psalms Zephaniah Leviticus Ezekiel Joshua Isaiah Jeremiah Joel Jonah Zechariah The Etz Chaim Torah Study Group It is a Tree of Life to those who take hold of it, and those who support it are praiseworthy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace. Bring us back Lord to You, and we shall come, renew our days as of old. (Torah S ervice Blessing) YashaNet's Etz Chaim Torah Study Group is based out of the state of New Hampshir e in the USA. We meet for all-day studies on Saturday (11:00am-6:00pm) alternati ng between locations in the Concord and Nashua areas. We also have studies on Tu esday evenings (4:30 - 8:00pm) at a Milford, New Hampshire location.

The Etz Chaim Torah Study Group approaches the entire Bible, including the books of what is usually called the "New Testament" as Hebrew texts. In order to be p roperly understood, they must be interpreted in the literary/cultural/historical /religious context that their authors wrote them in. Typical of the resources our group uses in this approach are: * The Complete Jewish Bible and Jewish New Testament Commentary (both by David S tern) * Jewish Bible commentaries such as the Talmud, Midrash Rabbah, Zohar, Targums * Writings of important Torah scholars such as Rashi, Maimonides and Nahmanides * Qumran texts (Dead Sea Scrolls) and modern commentaries * Ancient Jewish texts mentioned in the Bible, such as the books of Jasher, Enoc h, Jubilees. * Ancient historical accountings (Josephus, Eusubius, Tacitus) * Information from other Messianic Torah-observant organizations (i.e., SANJ - S ociety for the Advancement of Nazarene Judaism, www.nazarene.net) * Information from modern "traditional" Jewish sources (i.e., Project Genesis, w ww.torah.org) * Modern Bible commentaries by Messianic authors such as Mark Nanos, Joseph Shul am, etc. The leadership of this group follows a Torah-observant lifestyle as part of thei r faith in the Messiah, Yeshua. This is not a requirement to participate in the studies, however we follow the kosher commandments given by G-d with regard to f oods people bring to our meetings. Starting Your Own Torah Study Group There are quite a number of factors to consider. The Etz Chaim Torah Study Group has been at this for the past few years. The following opinions stem from what we have learned. What is a "Torah Study" group? By the strictest definition, "Torah study" is the examination and analysis of th e first five books of the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deutero nomy. These books are often referred to as the "Pentateuch," or the "Books of Mo ses." However, as the term "Torah" means revelation of/from God, Torah study sho uld include the entire word of God. The Etz Chaim Torah Study Group has two Bibl e studies each week, covering books from Bereshit (Genesis) to Revelation. We view the first five books of the Bible (Torah proper) as being the foundation to interpreting the rest of the Scriptures. The balance of the Tenakh is to be understood in light of the Torah's principles, and the "New Testament" is to be interpreted according to what has been established in the Torah/Tenakh. In addition to this, a proper understanding of Scripture is based on correct int erpretation of the texts. As all the books of the Bible are Hebrew documents, a basic understanding of "Hebrew thinking" and "rules of interpretation" are impor tant. There are many resources available, some are free (articles available via the Internet), some inexpensive (books) and others that require a more substanti al investment. It all depends on your resources, and how serious you want to be about your study. When our group does Torah study, we have at least a half-dozen translations avai lable at all times, however we strongly recommend a Stone Edition Chumash for th e Torah portions, and the Jewish New Testament and Jewish New Testament Commenta ry, for the books of the "New Testament." A complete listing of our recommended resources will be published on this web site soon. For now, you may How many people should you have? A Torah study "group" can of course be as few as two people. Of course the more people you have the more opinions you have and, (hopefully) the more fun as well . Then again, too large a group can create a number of problems -- everything fr om accommodations to being hard for the person running the study to control. Our own group began as four people and has grown to ten, though not everyone can ma ke every meeting. We find this to be a good number, although it's a "snug" fit w hen everyone shows up and we all sit around the same table. Including new people later on.

Here is one of those areas where you have to "strike a balance." On the one hand , you don't want to turn someone away who is interested in learning more about G -d. On the other hand, if you're in the middle of studying a particular book or subject, it is both difficult for someone coming in "late" to catch up, and also can be frustrating for the group to have to "slow down." Our group has never ex cluded anyone, but have tried to make time before and after the actual "session" for someone to spend time with a new person to get them "up to speed" with ever yone else. Where to meet. As small groups can't afford to rent places, this usually means meeting at someo ne's home or office. We are fortunate in our group as we have six separate locat ions that we can and do meet at. Rotating locations gives everyone a chance to p lay host, helps us all get to know one another better, and takes the pressure of f one person (family) always having to be ready for a group to invade! We have f ound that sitting together at one large table is best, as being too far apart (i .e. in a living room without proper table space) frustrates the discussion. Bein g around one table not only adds to the intimacy of the conversation, but makes it easier to reach over and grab either a concordance or a slice of pizza from t he person across from you. (See "Munchies" below!) How often to meet. Naturally, a true "Torah study" (for the purpose of following and studying the w eekly parsha), should be held on Shabbat, either Friday evening or Saturday day. Our own group meets twice a week. On Saturdays we study the Torah portion for t he week. We also meet Wednesday evenings to study one of the books of the "New T estament." (See "What to Study?" below.) How long each meeting should last? We "make a day" out of our Shabbat meetings, which typically go from about 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Most of the day is spent in study/discussion, with time allowed for lunch and snacks, prayer and friendly conversation. (See "Munchies" below) Our Wednesday evening meetings go for 3 or more hours. Some people leave early f or work/family reasons, others stick around later into the evening. There are so me "Bible Studies" that meet for one hour -- that's barely enough time to get yo ur coat off, never mind doing any serious research and discussion. We recommend two hours as a minimum block of time to set aside. Munchies! We plan our food for Shabbat ahead of time, making sure we don't end up with 5 d eserts and no main course! Generally, the person/family hosting the study for th at day makes the main dish. The others split up the side dish(es), snacks, deser t and beverages. Of course, everyone knows to bring only Biblically kosher food. Disposable dinnerware is a plus for quick clean up. A typical day might involve some bagels or fruit upon arrival (you can't study on an empty stomach!) with co ffee/juice. While this is served, we begin our study (after a prayer) which goes for 2-3 hours before we break for lunch, (during which time discussions never s top!) Sometime during the latter part of the afternoon, some sweet stuff usually finds its way onto the table. No one leaves our Shabbat study hungry for food o r the Word of God! Our Wednesday meetings are conducted after everyone has already had dinner, so w e don't usually plan anything, though someone always seems to show up with some type of snack for everyone! What to Study? The Shabbat Torah study should follow the established calendar of weekly reading s, known as the parshat for the week. By following this program, you will cover the five books of the Torah in one year. (The cycle repeats annually.) Although it would be ideal to start at Genesis 1:1, you don't have to. Start when you are ready! Our Wednesday study has followed the following path: Matthew-Romans-Hebrews-Reve lation. With each study, we built upon what we was learned in the previous one(s ). Leadership & Organization There are several roles here. It may be that the person scheduling locations and

times, coordinating the food, outlining the study, and doing most of the teachi ng may be the same person. Then again, perhaps not. We recommend splitting those duties up as much as possible, with one person making sure it all gets done. Preparation for the study is critical and falls into two parts: 1. Whoever is leading the study should have an outline of things to discuss. It also helps to have some challenging opinions to throw out for discussion. A high ly recommended approach is to sign up to receive weekly Torah commentaries from such groups as Project Genesis at www.torah.org. Our group leaders gets about 12 -15 such commentaries each week from which they glean a lot of helpful insight. 2. Everyone should know a week beforehand what the subject matter is and be enco uraged to prepare some questions & comments. Leave some time at the end of each meeting to discuss what the next week's discussion will be about. You may even w ant to prepare a handout with an outline of things to read or think about betwee n then and the next meeting. One last practical note -- don't be shy about asking folks to help pick up, do d ishes etc., before leaving! You can have some great discussion while one washes and one dries! Any questions? The Etz Chaim Torah Study Group About our Methodology The Etz Chaim Torah Study Group approaches the entire Bible, including the books of what is usually called the "New Testament," as Hebraic texts. In order to be properly understood, these texts must be interpreted in the historical, literar y, cultural and religious context that their authors wrote them in. Such a metho d of interpretation involves a great deal of study into the Judaism of the proph ets, the Messiah and his early followers. It also means a solid understanding of the Torah, as found in the first five books of the Bible, and expanded on in th e remainder of the Tenakh ("Old Testament"). A great deal of attention is given to historically parallel religious texts, including the Talmud, Midrash Rabbah a nd Zohar, as well as later Jewish Torah scholars such as Rashi, Maimonides and N achmanides. These studies are not stagnant. We are continually publishing update s. We invite anyone who has a desire to learn more about the Hebrew Scriptures, to follow along, submit ideas or send in questions. If you are new to Torah-base d Messianic studies, we strongly urge you to begin with the Matthew study and bu ild from that point. Current Studies: Brit Chadashah Studies Our "Introductory level" study. Go to our online Matthew Study Our "Intermediate level" study. Go to our online Romans Study Our "Advanced level" study. Go to our online Revelation Study Topical Studies Come study the fundamentals of "The Way of God". Go to our online Judaism 101 Stud y Outline Study Notes from our recent public seminar - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE, BEIN G UPDATED A work in progress about life in the Millennial Kingdom. Help us put this study t ogether Quotations that will inspire deeper thoughts about God and life