Bracelets in the Kabbalah
A considerable amount of charms, amulets and other items are being marketed as Kabbalah Jewelry.
These items vary in design as well as cost, with some of them being made of gold, silver and other metals such as pewter,
and incorporating precious and semi-precious stones.
Designs for these charms are varied and can be extremely simple, such as the well known Kabbalah "Red String" which is in reality nothing more
than a braided red string with perhaps a small charm such as a heart included.
Many types of jewelry said to be derived from Kabbalah symbols are said to give protection against evil, like kabbalah bracelets for example, otherwise known as the evil eye.
These charms may include a palm known as a Hamsa or Hamesh (five) in Hebrew with an open eye in the center.
The five fingers are to symbolize the five books of the Torah, Judaism's most sacred book of laws.
The eye in the middle is the 'All Seeing Eye' or Eye of the Almighty, said to be always on the lookout against the forces of evil.
Red String Bracelet
According to tradition, a red string is wound around the stone marker over Rachel's grave seven times, while reciting various Hebrew prayers.
Including Psalm 33, the mystical prayer Ana B'Koach and Asher Yatzar.
The string is then cut into bracelet size lengths and is worn on the left hand as a symbolic request for spiritual and physical protection and blessings.
No one actually knows how or exactly when the custom of wearing a red string began.
But we do know that every detail contains deep significance.
Rachel according to Kabbalah
The name Rachel is related to the Hebrew word, rachil, meaning "a lamb" or "sheep".
A lamb stands still while it is being sheared. This symbolizes humility.
The lesson is that we must humble ourselves before G-d like a lamb before its master.
Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother) also represents the World of Speech.
It represents another form of humility, in that speech has no "power" in and of itself.
It merely reveals the thought of the one who is speaking. So too, we should submit ourselves to the Will of G-d.
The Ideals of Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother)
Just as Rachel did not envy Leah's good fortune (only her good deeds), similarly we pray that no one envy our success.
Just as Rachel prayed for children and was answered, we pray that the childless be blessed with children.
And just Rachel was cured of her affliction, so too may the ill be returned to good health.
Why a String and the Color Red?
Every morning, "a thread of grace prevails" and G-d renews the world for another day. The string symbolizes that "thread of grace."
While the Hebrew word for "red," adom, emphasizes the unique relationship between man and his Creater.
For example, adom is related to many words such as adama "earth, dam, "blood," adam "man," and Adam HaElyon, "Supernal man."
Red also reminds us of teshuva, the need to return to G-d by improving our ways, as the sages say, "If your sins be as crimson, they will be as white as snow."
The Seven Times and the Left Hand
The "seven times" correspond to seven days of the week, symbolizing the need for G-d's constant protection.
It also symbolizes the seven emotional attributes, the seven times a bride encircles a groom, and the seven G-dly emanations (sefirot).
It may also recall the merit of the seven Holy Shepherds responsible for bringing the Divine Presence down to Earth.
It is also known that the left heart is full of blood and is home to the Nefesh, the vitalizing animal soul in a person.
Wearing the string around the left hand reminds the person of the "battle" that must be waged against one's selfish urges.
The Meaning of Psalm 33
The number 33 correlates to the concept of the teshuva, as the Talmud (Sanhedrin 103a) states that the wicked King Menashe repented for 33 years and G-d received him."
We also find that the 33rd day between Passover and the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) is a time that is associated with elevation and situations changing for the better.
The Psalm itself consists of three parts: an introduction, a middle part consisting of seven "sections" of recognition,
and a conclusion thanking and praising G-d for his deliverance.
Ana B'Koach
This mystical poem consists of seven lines with six words per line. The total of 42 words corresponds to one of the Holy Names of G-d.
The initial letters of each word also refer to this Holy Name. Interestingly, the Jewish people made 42 stops on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Each step represented another step on the ladder of holiness. According to the founder of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov,
each individual must make the same spiritual journey during his/her lifetime.
Perhaps saying this mystical poem is a way of asking for G-d's assistance and protection during these 42 stages of one's life.
About Wearing the Red String
As you can see from all this, the Red String Bracelet is a means, rather than an end.
It serves as a channel to help awaken in ourselves and in the One Above our desire for connection and protection.
Wearing the Red String signals your intention to open yourself up to receive G-d's blessings by trying to become a better person,
by performing acts of goodness and kindness, and by remembering that humility is not only an attribute of G-d, its the sign of a G-dly person.
Finally, wearing the Red String signals your belief in the righteous merit of our Rachel Emeinu (Our Mother).
'Bendel' Bracelet
The 'Bendel' Kabbalah bracelets are composed of the braided red string with gold or silver interlocking weaves.
Charms included can be the heart, Star of David, Chai (meaning life) and the Hamsa Hand charm.
Other Kabbalah Bracelets themed designs include ones like the one shown above which consists of the Star or David of hexagram inside a circle.
The Star represents the six days of the Creation, with the seventh day or Shabbat in its center.
The meaning refers to when G-d created the heavens and the earth, and all that is upon the earth, in six days, then rested on the Sabbath.
The circle around the star refers to complete circle of life itself, for example: from birth to death.
Other well known Kabbalah symbols include Pomegranates, one of the five ancient biblical fruits, Fish Amulets (purported to bring good luck and prosperity),
and Hebrew letters, each of which has a special Kabbalah designation. For example, the letter Aleph refers to traits such as independence, leadership, and originality.
The two letters Youd and Aleph, when joined together, refer to one who has traits of creativity, vision and inspiration.
The many varieties of Kabbalah Bracelets available online have something to offer all purchasers, and prices can vary from less than $20 to hundreds of dollars.
It's not the price, though, but the symbolism that draws people to want to possess these mystical symbols of protection and good luck.
Merkaba Protection Charm Bracelet
The Tree of Life or Utterances of Sephirot is a mysterious Tetrahedron (a shape with four triangular surfaces) that can be traced back to Biblical times,
and to this day it has great meaning to those who study Kabbalah. According to the story of Creation in the Book of Genesis,
there were two divine trees in the Garden of Eden: the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge.
Eventually, Adam and Eve "took a bite" at the Tree of Knowledge, but as a result lost direct access to the
Tree of Life when they were subsequently expelled from the heavenly garden.
The Zohar, or Book of Splendor, is describing in great detail the spiritual knowledge emanating from the Tree of Life.
It was written by Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai.
The Merkabah, a three-dimensional variation of the Star of David, is geometrically similar to the Tetrahedron.
In fact it can be contained within it.
Those who are familiar with the Biblical history of the Merkabah are aware that the Prophet Ezekiel encountered a "Chariot with four wheels,
driven by four angels, each with four faces." The Prophet's experience in encountering this Divine Presence had influenced Kabbalistic scholars later on.
The "Four Faces", or Chayot, represent the four earthly seasons, while the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet represent the echoes of Creation itself.
Both the Hebrew letters and the Four Faces are prominent features in the Tree of Life.
Studying the geometry of the Sephirot reconnects the scholar with Divine Wisdom and fosters peace and harmony around the Tetrahedron.
Celebrities Attached to Kabbalah
The study of the Kabbalah and the charms that accompany it are very popular with Hollywood celebrities, including Madonna, Demi Moore, and Rosanne Barr.
Madonna appears to be one of the most serious of the group as she is a regular attendee of the Kabbalah study center in Los Angeles.
Leather Kabbalah Bracelet with Gold Evil Eye Charms Madonna is perhaps the most noted Kabbalah follower among "Celebs".
Her fascination into this realm of thought had brought her to Israel, where she visited to the graves of early Kabbalistic scholars.
Though she hasn't yet taken the ultimate step of actually converting to Judaism, she has delved intensely into various areas of Jewish religious and mystical studies,
and has even adopted the Hebrew name of "Ester". The 'discovery' of the mysteries of the Kabbalah has drawn her and other celebrities to not
only wear Kabbalah jewelry and charms, but to actually take intensive courses in Kabbalah studies.
Many of these courses are being offered by well known Jewish scholars and are conducted in several languages other than the traditional Hebrew.
Kabbalah Abundance Bracelet On her last trip to Israel, she was accompanied by fellow Hollywood personalities Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher.
Sports personalities, including British football star David Beckham and his wife Victoria have also become interested in this discipline,
and David is known to wear a "Red String" Kabbalah bracelet.
Other well known celebrities that have shown great interest in Kabbalah are Elizabeth Taylor and Britney Spears, just to name a few.
It is no wonder that this ancient spiritual method is gaining so much popularity, as many people in our modern world understand that
satisfying their material needs wouldn't bring them happiness.
Perhaps people who actually reached material fulfillment - i.e the Rich & Famous - understand this particular lesson best.
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