Dear Friends,
Sometimes there are thoroughly unexpected surprises and beauty in the most unexpected places. The end of this week’s Torah portion offers one of those treats and treasures, and one must open one’s sense of mathematical wonder to enter and embrace this marvel. Let’s go!
The patriarch, Joseph, dies at the end of our Torah portion, as we read in the very last verse of Genesis, “Joseph died at the age of 110 years.” [Genesis 50:26] What can we understand about this odd number, 110? After all, Moses will live to 120 years, which becomes the ideal age in Jewish life, as we offer warm wished to someone we love, “Until 120!”
Let’s consider the ages of Josephs’ fellow patriarchs…
Abraham lived until 175 (175 = 7 x 52. 52 = 25)
Isaac lived until 180 (180 = 5 x 62. 62 = 36)
Jacob lived until 147 (147 = 3 x 72. 72 = 49)
Joseph lived until 110 (110 = 52 + 62 + 72 or 25 + 36 + 49)
Thus, reviewing the equations, each of the first three patriarchs lived for the period of years indicated by a successively smaller prime number, 7, 5, and 3, multiplied by the square root of a successively higher basal number, 5, 6 and 7. And Joseph lived the sum of those squared numbers. The implication is that Joseph was a unique successor to his forebears, and that he completed the mathematical perfection of our early patriarchs of Israel.
By the way, there is one other great biblical figure who also lived to 110 years of age. Who? It was Joshua, who was the successor to Moses, just as Joseph was the successor to his father, grandfather and great grandfather.
What does all of this mean?
I have no idea, whatsoever! But, since we are about to (thankfully) close 2020 and welcome the secular year, 2021, while we are amid the Jewish year 5781, there probably is some numerical connections or significance. If you figure it out, please let me know!
But, yes: there are thoroughly unexpected surprises and beauty in the most unexpected places!
Shabbat Shalom, and Shanah Tovah!
Rabb Douglas Kohn
Sometimes there are thoroughly unexpected surprises and beauty in the most unexpected places. The end of this week’s Torah portion offers one of those treats and treasures, and one must open one’s sense of mathematical wonder to enter and embrace this marvel. Let’s go!
The patriarch, Joseph, dies at the end of our Torah portion, as we read in the very last verse of Genesis, “Joseph died at the age of 110 years.” [Genesis 50:26] What can we understand about this odd number, 110? After all, Moses will live to 120 years, which becomes the ideal age in Jewish life, as we offer warm wished to someone we love, “Until 120!”
Let’s consider the ages of Josephs’ fellow patriarchs…
Abraham lived until 175 (175 = 7 x 52. 52 = 25)
Isaac lived until 180 (180 = 5 x 62. 62 = 36)
Jacob lived until 147 (147 = 3 x 72. 72 = 49)
Joseph lived until 110 (110 = 52 + 62 + 72 or 25 + 36 + 49)
Thus, reviewing the equations, each of the first three patriarchs lived for the period of years indicated by a successively smaller prime number, 7, 5, and 3, multiplied by the square root of a successively higher basal number, 5, 6 and 7. And Joseph lived the sum of those squared numbers. The implication is that Joseph was a unique successor to his forebears, and that he completed the mathematical perfection of our early patriarchs of Israel.
By the way, there is one other great biblical figure who also lived to 110 years of age. Who? It was Joshua, who was the successor to Moses, just as Joseph was the successor to his father, grandfather and great grandfather.
What does all of this mean?
I have no idea, whatsoever! But, since we are about to (thankfully) close 2020 and welcome the secular year, 2021, while we are amid the Jewish year 5781, there probably is some numerical connections or significance. If you figure it out, please let me know!
But, yes: there are thoroughly unexpected surprises and beauty in the most unexpected places!
Shabbat Shalom, and Shanah Tovah!
Rabb Douglas Kohn
