א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט ' כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת   
(click on the individual letters to explore )                                                                              

Shin ~ ש
"My Name is Shaddai" 

 The Personality of the letter 

Gematria: 300
Meaning: Shaddai (one of the Names of G-D)
  • Shaddai means “breast” ~ a feminine breast, giving us a picture of a mother nursing her child for the very first time. G-D is protecting us like that mother. He is nourishing and protecting us.
  • Also derives from the word “Dai” which means “Sufficient.” It is a word of power and authority.    When He decided to stop creation, He spoke the word “Dai” … “Enough”
  • Shadad is someone who is in power, all powerful. He is the author, He controls nature and everything that is happening.
  • Literally derived from the word “Shomer” (guard) D’latot Yisrael = Guard of the Doors of Israel. ​

Example: Mezuzah (Deut. 6:4-9)
  • Klaf: A animal skin. The animal has had to die in order for the word of G-D to be written on it.       
  • The Sh’ma is written on the Klaf and placed inside the Mezuzah.

Talmud, Hagigah 12a:
“What is the meaning of the verse, “G-D Almighty?” This term does not exist in the Hebrew bible, but it is actually referring to El Shaddai.
  • El Shaddai is mentioned 6 times in the Torah: Gen. 17:1, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, 48:3 and Exodus 6:3
  • It is also mentioned once in the Prophets: Ezekiel 10:5 (interesting that it’s 7x)

The 3 “tops” or “points” of the letter Shin: 
  • Mystery in the term Shaddai, Rabbis explain it is like a 3-headed manifestation of G-D, but also represents the 3 worlds: This world, the days of Messiah, and the world to come.
  • They can also represent our Ruach (Spirit), Neshamah (Soul), and Guf (Body)
  • We also see a picture of that partnership in creating humanity (as we learned in the letter Alef).
                                    א’שה = Woman       א’ש = Man
  • The letter connecting the two - the “Hey” is another representation of who G-D is.
  • The three heads of the Shin is a model of how we are designed to be: Man + G-D + Woman (G-D in the centre).

Example of El Shaddai in Genesis 17:1
  • Avraham: “And when Abraham was 90 years old and nine, the L-RD appeared to Abram, and said unto him: “I am G-D Almighty;” walk before (in front of) Me, and be wholehearted."
  • The Hebrew words are actually saying: “Ani El Shaddai” = My Name is Shaddai

                                    "If we are trusting HaShem to be that “Mother & Father” who protects,                                                                He is asking us to walk before Him plainly, with humility, and transparency,                                                                                              keeping no “skeletons in our closet.”
                                                             (reminding me of David, “search me and know my heart…”)


An acronym and the meaning of the word Shaddai: 
  • It is an acronym for the words “Shaari D’maot Yiftach”

        [ Shaari = My Gates D’maot = Tears Yiftach = Will open up ]

My gates will open up with tears, if you walk in front of me humbly …
I will let you into the gate. What does this mean?

The Torah has a heartbeat:
  • Shaddai is the One who has the authority to open the gates … which gates are we talking about?
              Remember the 3 worlds. Which gate? Answer is found in Genesis 28:17 and Jacob’s ladder (worth                      reading again)  “And he was afraid, and said: “How full of awe is this place! This is none other than                  the house of G-D, and this is the gate of heaven.”
​
                                         Shaar = Gate,  HaShamayim = THE Gate …

  • The way earth and heaven is connected is through one gate and with tears - and the tears open the gate to the world to come.
  • It is not actually our tears, but it is the Shaddai who is standing in the gates with His tears as He intercedes on our behalf
"Do we want to see our prayers being answered when we pray for somebody?
Do we want to see the power of G-D moving?
Pray with all our heart and all our being, pray with all our existence …
​
... it is our tears that will get the attention of the El Shaddai." ​