Understand the Fragrance of Hashem’s Holy Name
(c) written 2009 By Rivka Sari
(G-d is Shemen (oil) from where the word of Torah comes from the fragrant water of the heavens) Written by Rivka Sari (c) 2010 For the study of Torah Aromatherapy classes
שם
There are two Hebrew words of the form שם (SHeM and SHaM), and they relate to one another. let’s break it down. The noun שם (shem) means name. Where this noun comes from we know is G-d. In other words, we know what exactly a name meant to the Hebrews, or what it means in the Tanach. It was a description of the child and the circumstance that the child was born in. In the Jewish custom and tradition a child’s name is not given before they are born.
This is a relationship with the root שמה (shmh), from whence comes the word שמים (shamayim) meaning the fragrant heavens or fragrant waters. The word בסמין is the word for fragrant spices. Notice there is only a small difference in the spelling of the two word.
The Tanach’s common word for (the) heaven(s); which is the the natural but also referred to in the Talmud as the fragrant sky, or the mental sphere and also the abode of Hashem (G-d). Etymologically, the relation between שמה (shmh) and שם (shem, the relationship is clear and well defendable as also being related.
In the Tanach, names are applied to rivers (Genesis 2:11), animals (Genesis 2:19, although no animal exists in the Tanach with a personal name), cities (Genesis 4:17), humans, and Hashem.
A name may be passed on to mark ownership or another strong relation (2 Samuel 12:28). It may change to signify an intense experience or mission (Genesis 17:5, 32:28). It may be carried to somewhere as an emissary of the owner of the name (1 Samuel 25:5).
One may become noted by making a name for oneself (Genesis 11:4), and Hashem promises a name to the outcast (Zephaniah 3:19). One may be defamed and thus become a proverbial name (Ezekiel 23:10). And one’s legal children may preserve or form one’s name (Deuteronomy 25:6).
As is specifically demonstrated by the Holy Name of Hashem: a name to the Israelite (Jewish People) reflected character, personage and perhaps even certain events and deeds (Exodus 3:15, Isaiah 52:6, Jeremiah 33:2, Amos 5:8).
שם
The adverb שם (sham) means here. Preceded by the relative particle אשר (asher) it forms the meaning of where. After verbs of motion it means in old English thither. It occurs preceded by the definite article ה (he) in the meaning of there. In conjunction with the preposition מן (min) it forms משם (meshem), which means “from there”.These expressions of locality may also be applied to temporal contexts: then, when, etcetera.
Shema שְׁמַע which means listen or obey which is related to שמעת Shama which means to announce. Shama is root of the word neshamah/neshama which means spiritual soul or higher self.
Associated Tanach (Biblical) names you will find the meanings interesting.
Gershom גרשם
Samuel שמואל
Shamhuth שמהות
Shammai שמי
Shamsherai שמשרי
Shem שם
Shemeber שמאבר
Shemida שמידע
Shemiramoth שמירמות
Shem meaning:
The name Shem means Name, Fame or Reputation. It even means Identity or personality and authority. For a meaning of the name Sham means, Name, Renown. Proper Name, but is also Celebrated, Distinguished.
Hashem- encompass in it’s definition the heaven of fragrance בסמין from where the word of Torah comes from שמים the heavens . HaSHeM (the Name)is His Divine spark that He breathed into our Nostrils. HaSHeM also is related to the word SHeMeN (oil) שָׁ֫מֶן. Plural is שְׁמָנִים shemenim. The shemen (oil) reflect the character of G-d and his people, even when the Jewish people are hard pressed, there is a Jewish proverb that say “ Jewish people are like olives are that are hard pressed to yield olive oil, it is then lit to become light” so when lit like the olive oil in the Holy Temple Menorah they shine and become a light unto the nations. There is another Jewish proverb that says “When it rains trouble become oil and the waters of trouble will roll away”. Perfect description of the history and story of the Jewish people.
The word NeShaMah (soul-neshama)) we can also see the word sham שם related to shem which means name but look at the word in the beginning of the Hebrew word for soul which is Nes נס it comes from the word Ner which means light, but also from the word Nisseem נסים which means miracles.
The name we chose for our children reflect within their neshama (soul) their characters whom and what they become. Giving a child a name was not taken very lightly. Their name reflected the light of their neshama (soul) and that light is the reflection of HaSheM (G-d). This why in Jewish tradition to name our children after great family members who have passed away such as a grandparent or great grandparent or after the great our matriachs and patriarch, prophets, kings of the Tanach.
So when Jewish people use the name Hashem for G-d’s Holy name it is understand Hashem is really more than the definition meaning “The Name” it means much more than that.
The Hebrew letters of Hashem’s Holy name is acronym for
“ He who is, He who was, and He who will be”
Acronyms Yod Hey Vav Hey
V’hu hayah v’hu hoveh
וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה
V’hu yih’yeh
וְהוּא יִהְיֶה
You can literally almost hear how the name is pronounced. Try saying His Holy Name in one word. You cannot and it would silly to try. The Holy name of Hashem is so long and so Holy that G-d purposely prevent His people from taking it in Vain. We are not utter His name in idle conversation, but only in prayer. This is from the daily prayer Adon Olam. This prayer is said three times a day. Who says Jewish people never say the Holy name of G-d. Not true!
HERE IS WHAT THE ARAMAIC LOOKS LIKE
G-d is, He was and He will be
יָהוּא הָיָה, וְהוּא הֹוֶה
וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה וְהוּא יִהְיֶה
“He who is, He who was, and He who will be”
Listen to how Rabbi David Aaron describe the Name of Hashem and Finding G-d.
The following is from writings of Rabbi Daniel Lapin
SHeMoNeH = 8 Eight שמנה
The number eight represents the importance
of human creativity. We saw how G-d invites every one of us to involve
ourselves in the world and help improve nature. This underlying
symbolism of the number eight is also captured in another Hebrew word
almost identical to the word for eight. If you drop the last letter of the
Hebrew word for “eight”, you get the Hebrew word for “oil”. As I explain
in my Genesis Journeys series, Hebrew is the Hashem’s language, and so
while in English there is no connection between “not” and “note”, in
Hebrew, words that are similar are related.
SHeMeN = Oil שָׁ֫מֶן
* The standard form of the letter Nun is used, as opposed to the final Nun, in order to emphasize
the similarity between the two words.
How does oil reflect the lesson of eight? Well, G-d placed crude oil
deposits deep into the earth. For animals, oil is at best a completely
useless substance. For the animals that fell into tar pits created by the oil
deposits, it was not only useless, but downright harmful. In its natural
state crude oil is not very useful for humans either. However with the
human participation necessary to purify, refine, and extract the energy
G-d stored in it, oil has made possible lighting, Lear jets, and
Lamborghinis. Much like the symbol of the circumcision that we
discussed last week, oil is a creation of G-d’s that requires human effort to
bring it to its full potential. Thus, it has the same root as the word for
eight.
If you’ve ever wondered why it is that the English word “eight” is spelled
with a silent “gh”, the answer lies in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the language in
which G-d spoke to Adam, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has an
attached, intrinsic numerical value. This would be equivalent to saying
“A” when we mean “1”, “B” when we mean “2”, and so on. In Hebrew, the
letter with the numerical value of eight, Chet, is pronounced gutturally,
like ‘ch’ in Bach. This guttural sound in the word for eight has been kept in
many languages, such as German (acht), although it is no longer
pronounced in English.
Once you’ve grasped that the significance of the number eight is man
transcending the natural world, you won’t be surprised to see it cropping
up in other places. The Tabernacle was dedicated by the Jews over an
eight day period, as was the first Temple in Jerusalem. Hannukah, the
festival of lights, is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees over the
Greeks (roughly 2,200 years ago) and the rededication of the Temple
(which also took eight days). Not surprisingly, the holiday revolves
around the theme of oil. Greek culture idolized the human body, as can be
seen in their statuary. It should come as no surprise that they outlawed
the Jewish practice of circumcision, which implies that the human body is
imperfect. The heroic Jewish resistance fighters who rejected and routed
the Greek culture are referred to as the CHaSHMoNAIM. Do you see the
root of “eight” (SHeMoNaH) preceded by the eighth letter of the Hebrew
alphabet, Chet? These Jewish fighters were fighting for the belief that
nature can be improved upon by human cooperation and participation
with G-d, so they were naturally referred to as “The Eights.”
Editied by Ari lapin
