

T HE F IFTY G ATES OF U NDERSTANDING The 50 gates are really 49 days or 7 weeks of self-elevation and self-evaluation (followed by one day of prophetic revelation), that the Israelites strived for from the time of the Exodus from Egypt until the time they received the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. It is said that all of Israel experienced prophecy at this time and heard the voice of God (Kol Hashem) declare the first two commandments.



How is it possible for an entire nation to be able to experience prophecy? This is the secret of the 50 Gates of Understanding.



Being worthy of receiving prophecy requires character improvement. There are 49 aspects of character that the Israelites worked on developing while they wandered in the dessert of Sinai. These aspects correspond to the combinations of the 7 lower sefirot which are called midot or character qualities from the Hebrew.



The counting is done backwards from the highest level to the lowest since prophecy is energy transferred from God to man: Hesed - kindness - Abraham (epitomized quality)

Gevurah - judgement power - Isaac

Tipheret - beauty - Jacob

Netzah - victory eternity - Moses

Hod - thankfulness - Aaron

Yesod - foundation - Joseph

Malkut - kingdom - David

Shavuot - the day of the giving of the Ten Commandments, the revelation and prophecy These are teachings on Godly character development, and follow as such: Hesed in Hesed - study Gevurah in Hesed - attentive listening Tiferets in Hesed - orderly speech Netzah in Hesed - understanding Hod in Hesed - intuitive insight Yesod in Hesed - awe Malchuts in Hesed - reverence Hesed in Gevurah - humility Gevurah in Gevurah - joy Tiferets in Gevurah - purity Netzah in Gevurah - attendance on scholars Hod in Gevurah - debate with colleagues Yesod in Gevurah - discussion with students Malchuts in Gevurah - deliberation Hesed in Tiferet - knowlege of the scriptures Gevurah in Tiferet - moderation in business affairs Tiferets in Tiferet - moderation in worldly affairs Netzah in Tiferet - moderation in pleasure Hod in Tiferet - moderation in sleep Yesod in Tiferet - moderation in conversation Malchuts in Tiferet - moderation in frivolity Hesed in Netzah - patience Gevurah in Netzah - good naturedness Tiferets in Netzah - trust in the sages Netzah in Netzah - uncomplaining acceptance of suffering Hod in Netzah - knows his place Yesod in Netzah - is content with his lot in life Malchuts in Netzah - limits his words Hesed in Hod - does not claim credit for his achievements Gevurah in Hod - is beloved Tiferets in Hod - loves God Netzah in Hod - loves mankind Hod in Hod - loves acts of charity and kindness Yesod in Hod - loves straightforwardness Malchuts in Hod - loves admonition Hesed in Yesod - shuns honor Gevurah in Yesod - is not conceited with his learning Tiferets in Yesod - does not delight in dictating decisions Netzah in Yesod - shares the burden of his fellow man Hod in Yesod - and judges him favorably Yesod in Yesod - directs him to the truth Malchuts in Yesod - and to peace Hesed in Malchut - is composed in his learning Gevurah in Malchut - asks pertinent questions and answers to the point Tiferets in Malchut - listens and adds to his learning Netzah in Malchut - studies in order to teach Hod in Malchut - studies in order to practice Yesod in Malchut - increases the wisdom of his teacher Malchuts in Malchut - Notes accurately what he has learned Shavuot - Quotes a thing in the name of the person who said it The secret to understanding the correspondences is to recognize how the respective patriarchs perfected these character traits in their lives.



1. Abraham learned all he could of God and lived a life of kindness sharing this knowledge.

2. Issac always listened attentively to his father.

3. Jacob never spoke hastily but was a master of speech.

4. Moses gained the highest level of understanding possible and was able to

speak to God face to face ... and so on through ...



46. Moses learned all he could in order to teach the people.

47. Aaron learned all he could in order to be an example of practicing

the commandments.

48. Joseph increased the wisdom of his father Jacob, his teacher.

49. David recorded his experiences in his Psalms. 50. Yeshua speaking according to the will of the Father in Heaven. The coming of the Ruach haKodesh in Acts 2.