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There have been various mystical numerological reflections about the fact that, according to the system of gematria, the Hebrew letters of chai (חַי) add up to 18 [2] (see Lamedvavniks etc.). For this reason, 18 is a spiritually meaningful number in Judaism. Many Jews give gifts of money in multiples of 18 (see below). [2]
This is used in the case where a number is represented by two or more Hebrew numerals (e.g., 28 → כ״ח ). Similarly, a single geresh (U+05F3 in Unicode, and resembling a single quote mark) is appended after (to the left of) a single letter to indicate that the letter represents a number rather than a (one-letter) word.
The Hebrew word for "life" is חי , which has a numerical value of 18. Consequently, the custom has arisen in Jewish circles to give donations and monetary gifts in multiples of 18 as an expression of blessing for long life. [4]
Gematria is form of cipher used to generate a numerical equivalent for a Hebrew word, which sometimes is invested with symbolic meaning. For example, the gematria of "chai" (the Hebrew word for life) is 18, and multiples of 18 are considered good luck and are often used in gift giving.
The number 36 is twice 18. In gematria (a form of numerology used in Judaism), the number 18 stands for "life", because the Hebrew letters that spell chai, meaning "living", add up to 18. Because 36 = 2×18, it represents "two lives". In some Hasidic stories, disciples consider their Rebbes and other religious figures to be among the Lamedvovniks.
The letter is named "tsadek" in Yiddish, [1] and Hebrew speakers often give it a similar name as well. This name for the letter probably originated from a fast recitation of the alphabet (i.e., "tsadi, qoph" → "tsadiq, qoph"), influenced by the Hebrew word tzadik, meaning "righteous person". [2]
In numerology, gematria (/ ɡ ə ˈ m eɪ t r i ə /; Hebrew: גמטריא or גימטריה, gimatria, plural גמטראות or גימטריות, gimatriot) [1] is the practice of assigning a numerical value to a name, word or phrase by reading it as a number, or sometimes by using an alphanumerical cipher.
To indicate a double meaning, where both the gematria of the word or phrase should be taken, as well as the plain meaning. For example, to give chai חַ״י (meaning "life" as pronounced, and "eighteen" as a gematria) dollars to tzedakah means to give eighteen dollars to tzedakah, thereby giving another person life, and drawing the blessings ...