Parshas Bo
Exodus 10:1 - 13:16

The Jewish Servant And Circumcision ©

By Dr. Akiva G. Belk

This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria is dedicated in loving memory to Mr. Gary Lee Belk and Mr. Donald Wayne Belk, may they rest in peace.

Two weeks ago in Parshas Shemos in the article entitled “Spirituality-Part of the Entire Package” we stated, “...Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov are the Patriarchs of Judaism, they actually observed Spirituality. And in addition to this, the twelve sons of Yaakov were also Spiritualists... [Since] the Torah was given to B’nei Yisroel 193 years after Yaakov’s death... in the year 2448 C.E. [it means] mankind had been observing some form of the Seven Noaich Commands for thousands of years prior to the giving of the Torah... Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov observed Spirituality. Yet they did not just observe Spirituality, they also observed Torah mitzvohs.”

Holy reader, one of the mitzvohs that the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov observed was Bris Milah, Circumcision. Bris Milah is NOT a requirement of Spirituality. Bris Milah is NOT part of our basic operating system. Bris Milah is required of Jews and Jewish Ehvedim on the eighth day after birth. Bris Milah is also required of converts to Judaism. Spiritualists are not required to observe Bris Milah.

Bris Milah was one of the Torah Mitzvahs observed prior to the giving of the Torah to B'nei Yisroel. Mystically we observe the connection in this week’s parsha with Ehved {[the Jewish] servant} and Mohel {to be circumcised}. We read, “And every [Jewish man’s] servant purchased with money, you must circumcise [then] he may eat [the Pesach offering].” Exodus 12:44 This was first commanded to Avraham which was given when he was 99 years of age. The time between Avraham's observance of Bris Milah and the giving of Torah was 401 years. {61 years from Avraham’s Bris Milah to Yaakov’s birth, plus 147 years of Yaakov’s life plus 193 years B'nei Yisroel was in Mitzriam following Yaakov’s death = 401 years}. There is a point to this. The Gematria for Shi Moh Nawh {eight} equals 401. It is on day eight that a male child is circumcised in accordance with the Torah. In addition the Gematrias of Ehved {[the Jewish] servant} and Mohel {to be circumcised} are each 76.

401 = The Years of observing circumcision from Avraham to the Giving of the Torah.

Shi Moh Nawh {eight}
401 = Hey 5 Nun 50 vav 6 Mem 40 Shin 300


Ehved {[the Jewish] servant}
76 = Dalet 4 Bais 2 Ayin 70

Mohel {to be circumcised}
76 = Lamid 30 Vav 6 Mem 40

Chassidim, mystically we see the connection between our father Avraham’s observance of Bris Milah and the giving of the Torah in the Gematria 401. This was the connection of the agreement between the Creator and Avraham. This agreement is revisited and remembered on day eight when each Jewish male is commanded to enter into the cut agreement with his parents and the Most Holy, blessed is He! Then the one who would appear to be lower, the Ehved, is elevated through this same agreement of circumcision. The Ehved is elevated from being one who observes Spirituality in the form of the Seven Noaich Commandments to one who observes the position of a Jewish Ehved through circumcision. Even though the Ehved is not Jewish, that one observes many more special mitzvahs because of being an Ehved.

For example:
-The Ehved is required to observe the Shabbos. {Exodus 20:20}
-The Ehved is required to join with his master’s household in eating pledges, donations and the terumah offerings at certain times of the year in Jerusalem... in the place Hashem chooses. {Deuteronomy 12:18}
-The Ehved is to observe certain High Holidays like Pesach, Shavuos, Sukkos etc... {Deuteronomy 16:1-17}

Now, dear holy reader, we see this great elevation of the person that much of society looks down on. We observe the elevation simply by becoming a Jewish Servant. That being the point, IT IS REQUIRED OF ALL JEWISH BUSINESS PEOPLE to reconsider how is it that we treat our employees... No, they are generally not our purchased Ah vaw deem {SERVANTS} BUT they are in a form of service to us. That being the situation we MUST use this same formula as to how we treat them. I am saying that the Torah makes a clear distinction between the non-Jewish Ehved and the Jewish Ehved. There is a distinction between the individual employed by a Jew as compared to the individual employed by a non-Jew. That being the situation Jews MUST be better employers just as the Torah requires Jews to be better masters. Our employees MUST observe our level of commitment to Torah values in their service to us as employees! It is sickening to learn of Jews who misuse and abuse those in their employment. The Creator will exact a great price for this! As Jewish Masters... as Jewish employers we are constantly reminded that we are held to a higher agreement than that of the Spiritualist master or Spiritualist employer. Our G-d requires this of us! Our G-d reminds us of this often... In the Torah we are commanded to remember when we were servants... We MUST NOT forget this!! We must not forget how it felt. We must not slide on how well we treat our servants and those in our employment. We are required to honor their commitment to be our servants and our employees. Our Torah requires us to be better than normal. Our Torah requires us to live on a higher level than that of non-Jews.

Dear one, if your Jewish employer is violating G-d’s commandments you might want to anonymously give them a copy of this study.

From our discussion of just several Torah Mitzvahs we should realize our many opportunities to elevate those around us through deliberate service to and observance of our Torah.

Wishing you the best!

Dr. Akiva G. Belk