We will discuss one of the most important combinations ever given to the human race, which appears in the Book of Creation (Sefer Ha’Yetzira). This sequence is known as the 42-Letter Name, as it contains 42 letters. This name existed from the very earliest times, perhaps even before the Forefather, Abraham. This name was also coded into the Torah (5 Books of Moses) which was given 500 years after Abraham’s time. The sequence is found in the first 42 letters of the book of Genesis, from the word “B’reshit” (In the beginning) to the letter bet of the word vavohu (and void). The letters are arranged according to a formula, secret to the mystics (kabbalists), which composes the 42-lettered Name.
In the first century C.E. one of the greatest Tannaim and mystics, Rabbi Nekhunia ben ha’Kana, knew that a time would come when people would lose their spiritually and would not know what to do with the meditational codes, such as the 42-lettered Name. For this reason, he wrote a prayer containing 42 words, each beginning with one of the letters of the Name. This is the Ana Bekoach prayer, so called because these are its first two words.
The Ana Bekoach prayer is divided into seven verses. In each verse, the first letter of each word is the most important part of the verse. The verses construct 7 sequences of letters, each of which carries 6 letters, to total 42.
Over the generations, the Ana B’ko’ach prayer entered the prayer book throughout the Jewish world. It is found in the Morning (Shakharit) service, in the section dealing with sacrifices, in the Afternoon (Minha) service and in the Sabbath eve service before the Lecha Dodi hymn.
The Hoshen:
Hoshen (sometimes written “choshen”) is the large sacred ornament that was fastened to the High Priest's (Ha'Cohen Ha’Gadol) linen tunic during ancient times when he served in the Temple. The hoshen was first worn by Aaron, the brother of Moses (the Book of Exodus).
The hoshen was a very elaborate breastplate containing twelve different gemstones, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Some believe the twelve stones also symbolize the twelve signs of the zodiac. The stones are: diamond (which was white quartz), emerald, sapphire (the ancient sapphire was actually lapis lazuli), ruby, topaz, garnet, citrine, peridot, amethyst, blue topaz, onyx and aquamarine.
According to biblical description the hoshen was made from fine embroidered linen in a square design with four rows containing three stones, each in a separate gold frame. The hoshen was fastened to the High Priest’s ephod with golden chains, cords and rings. One can imagine how striking this original hoshen must have been.
Now the hoshen is worn as a personal adornment and important piece of Judaica. A hoshen pendant is a very beautiful, ancient and meaningful symbol to wear and is a very unique gift.
