As I explained previously, each letter in the alefbet (the Hebrew alphabet) has a numerical value. The numerical value of a word is determined by adding up the values of each letter. This year my bib number adds up to the number 12 or if you like 1 + 2 = 3. The number 12 does hold great significance in Judaism as it is represents totality, wholeness, and the completion of God's purpose. 12 also being the product of three and four, typified the union of the people with God. The number 3 is seen as the symbol of holiness. Therefore I think that my number makes this run a holy act. In many ways, helping others through selfless acts is the definition of holiness. Therefore the number I will be carrying with me along the Boston Marathon route symbolizes both the completion of God’s purpose and holiness. Maybe my raising money for this very worthy cause and finishing the race will allow me to complete God’s purpose for me that day and to bring me closer to Him through my efforts on behalf of those who we have lost and those who are still fighting this disease.
In Judaism, numbers also correspond to letters. The 12th letter of the Hebrew alefbet is Lamed. Lamed is the symbol of self surpassing or the surpassing of our limits. It implies strength of character and willpower. Lamed is teaching us the importance of striving for the better in our lives. Go beyond our limits. Perseverance will build our character and improve our lives in ways we cannot comprehend. No one can say that running a marathon is not pushing a runner beyond his physical limits. I believe that this coupled with my fundraising for Dana Farber is exactly what a Lamed is symbolizing. Lamed doesn’t only symbolize surpassing our physical limitations. It also teaches us that we must also reach beyond our intellectual limitations to find God’s purpose.
In Kabbalah, the Lamed symbolizes aspiration, contemplation of the heart, and spiritual work. The shape of this Hebrew letter actually shows us that our heart ascends in aspiration to conceive and comprehend the Divine Wisdom of God. This Divine Wisdom leads each of us to strive to the performance of great work. It inspires us to reach beyond our earthly mind, affection and physical body and perform acts of loving kindness which is what God expects us to do. What I hope my run will do is to allow me to break out of my boundaries and to going beyond my potential and to enter the superconscious mind. If I can get there, I will be able to move myself beyond the limiting beliefs I have accepted about myself and my relationship to the world and connect with the Divine Spirit. This will allow to me to open up to the experience of oneness (God) in my life.
As I reflect on all this, I believe that my number holds significant power. It symbolizes my efforts to push myself beyond my physical limits on race day and through that effort allow me to open my mind to the connectedness with the Divine. It will allow me to be open enough to accept the help from all of those donor’s loved ones who will be with me each and every step of the race. It will lift me above the gravity barrier of earthly preoccupation and connect me to the love that each person who has struggled with this disease (whether they won their fight or not) to fill me with the strength I will need to complete my task. I don’t take this lightly and plan to leave it all out there on the course on April 16th. No matter what happens on race day, I know that I will be running on the wings of love both earthly and spiritual.
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