A while back I read something pretty cool from the Kav Hayashar regarding the relation to Mitzvos to Angels and Worlds. I just thought to add it with some of my own comments. -Rafi
Adopted from Kav Hayashar, Chapter 15, pages 181-183 in the Metsudah Kamenetsky edition.
“It says in the Gemara (Sanhedrin 100a) that “in the future Hakadosh Baruch Hu will bestow upon every righteous person three hundred and ten worlds. As it is written, “LeHanchil Ohavai Yesh” – “To cause those who love me to inherit substance.” Yesh, Yud-Shin, is the numerical value of 310, as brought down in Mishlei 8:21.
“The Kav Hayashar derives from the above passage as follows: When a man does a single mitzvah, a single angel is created. The Sages tell us (Chullin 91b) that each angel is 2,000 parsaos across (1 parsah = 2.8 miles), as it is written, “and its body was like [the sea of) Tarsus” (Daniel 10:6). According to tradition this sea was 2,000 parsaos wide. Now, there are 613 Torah commandments and 7 rabbinical enactments, totaling 620, the gematria of keter – “crown.” Therefore, when the Jewish people keep the entire Torah, including the Rabbinic enactments, they acquire 620 angels.”
Rafi’s note: I thought there were many more than just 7 rabbinical enactments. If that’s not the case, then what about only one mitzvah to follow whatever the Rabbis say, which is part of the 613? Whatever.
***Update 2019-03-26 *** The seven Rabbinical enactments are: 1) saying Hallel, 2) Blessings, 3) Washing hands before eating, 4) Eruv on Shabbos, 5) Shabbos candles, 6) Purim (Megillah) and 7) Chanukah. The “follow the Rabbis” mitzvah serves as reminder to bind everything together.
“Now, in this world Israel has the legal status of an almanah – a “widow.” Thus the verse in Eichah (1:1) reads, “Eichah Yashvah Badad Ha’Ir Rabati Am, Haytah K’Almanah” – “O how does she sit in solitude! The city that was teeming with people has become like an almanah.” This word is derived from a denomination of currency called a manah (=100 zuz), which is the amount that is guaranteed to a widow in her marriage contract when she remarries.
In the future, however, Israel will again have the status of a virgin bride, as it is written, “Betulat Yisrael” – “(Arise O) virgin of Israel” (Amos 5:2). A virgin bride is guaranteed a base sum of 200 zuz, but Israel will receive on top of this an addition of a third (reckoned from the “outside,” so that the addition comprises of a third from the total.”
Rafi’s note: I don’t understand this – doesn’t make sense. If Israel has the new status of a virgin, the old status of a widow should be nullified, not added on! She should only be entitled to 200 zuz and not 200+100=300!
This reminds me of the classic Chelm story where a newlywed couple run to the sage stating their concern that a child was born after 3 months of getting married. The Sage replied that it was in fact 9 months since the husband was married to her for 3 months, the wife was married to him for 3 months, and they were both married to each other for 3 months. 3 + 3 + 3 is 9 months!
Whatever.
***Update 2019-03-26 *** the difference between a fresh bride and one that was formerly an almanah is that the almanah went through a traumatic experience already, so Hashem pays her back with dividends. Someone who has past experiences has much greater consideration over one without those experiences.
I recall hearing something profound al pi Kabbalah. When a Jew starts out pure, he is represented by the letter Shin. If he sins and falls, a Dalet is added to that shin, making “Shed” which means shadow/demon. If that Jew does Teshuva, rather than the Dalet being taken away, a Yud is added to the existing shin and Dalet, making Shak-ai. The past negative experience therefore is utilized to bring out an even better result.
This is noteworthy considering the context: the Kav HaYashar was written partially to both console and strengthen Jews, not long after the traumatic experiences that went with the Chmielnitzky riots and the subsequent Shabbetai Tsvi fiasco.
“Now, the Sages tell us in Midrash Bereishis Rabbah (68:12) that three angels comprise an entire “world,” since each angel is 2,000 parsaos wide and a “world” is only 6,000 parsaos in diameter. Therefore, 600 angels equals 200 worlds. The additional 20 angels comprise another 6 2/3rds worlds. If one adds a third (from the “outside”) to the 200 it comes to 300. Then, if one adds a third to the 6 worlds it comes to 9. Finally, if one adds a third to the remaining 2/3rds it comes to a single world, totaling 310 worlds.
May it be Hashem’s will that we merit this speedily in our days, Amen.”