The First Ten Letters: Secrets of the Universe Hiding in Plain Sight (Mosaica Press, 2022), by Rabbi Raffi Bilek
Reviewed by Rabbi Reuven Chaim
Klein (Rachack Review)
Rabbi Raffi Bilek’s captivating
work, The First Ten Letters: Secrets of the Universe Hiding in Plain
Sight, presents nothing short of a masterfully conceived and elegantly
executed program for presenting the foundational tenets of classical Jewish Thought.
With remarkable ingenuity, Rabbi Bilek harnesses the very building blocks of
the sacred tongue itself – specifically, the first ten letters of the venerable
Hebrew alphabet – employing them as a profound heuristic device to vividly
illustrate and deeply explore a constellation of absolutely central
philosophical and theological principles that lie at the very heart of our
timeless tradition.
This is not a mere compilation of
ideas; it is a work of profound synthesis and creative pedagogy. Rabbi Bilek
adeptly and frequently deploys a rich arsenal of classical exegetical
methodologies – including the venerable arts of gematria (numerical
equivalence) and intricate orthographic analysis (scrutinizing the form and
structure of the letters themselves) – weaving them together with impressive
dexterity. Through these methods, he forges compelling and intricate
connections, effectively tethering each of these first ten letters to a
distinct, indispensable pillar of Jewish hashkafah (“worldview”). His
exploration is consistently anchored in and illuminated by a wealth of relevant
and authoritative sources, peppered with citations from the Biblical scripture
and the profound depths of the Rabbinic tradition. This provides robust textual
scaffolding and substantiation for the profound ideas he presents.
Although the core concepts themselves
may indeed form the bedrock of discourse within contemporary Jewish educational
and outreach (kiruv) circles, Rabbi Bilek’s truly significant and novel
contribution resides precisely in the unique and remarkably cohesive framework
he constructs. He doesn't merely present these ideas; he intimately roots them in
the very essence of the Hebrew language – the sacred letters that constitute
its divine DNA.
Consider, for instance: the
letter aleph is masterfully linked to the absolute, unwavering
concept of Divine Oneness (echad), thereby highlighting the supreme
monotheistic creed that stands as the central, defining pillar of Judaism – the
belief in a single, utterly unique, and transcendent God. The letter bet,
with its inherent duality of form, becomes the perfect symbol for the profound
concept of Bechirah Chofshit, “human free will.” Rabbi Bilek
eloquently unpacks the Divine rationale behind endowing humanity with this
critical choice between good and evil: it establishes human responsibility,
making us accountable agents capable of meriting reward (to accrue blessing, brachah
for ourselves) or facing consequences for our divinely significant decisions.
Similarly, the letter gimmel finds its conceptual counterpart
in the active bestowal of kindness (Gomel Chasadim), while the
letter tet resonates deeply with the essential quality of
inherent tov (“goodness”), and so forth.
Adding a significant layer of
accessibility and engaging charm to this profound intellectual structure is one
of the book's most distinctive features: its presentation as a continuous
narrative. The entire exploration unfolds organically within the framework of a
serendipitous encounter – a fictional dialogue between a learned professor and
his inquisitive former student who chance upon one another during the course of
an extended airplane journey.
This ingenious adoption of a
conversational format places Rabbi Bilek firmly within a venerable and highly
respected literary lineage within Jewish philosophical exposition. He
consciously and effectively follows the illustrious precedent established by towering
Torah giants such as Rabbi Yehuda Halevi (in his immortal Kuzari),
Rabbi Yosef Irgas, the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto), and the late Rabbi
Avigdor Miller, all of whom astutely utilized fictional dialogues as a powerful
vehicle to convey complex theological and ethical truths. Indeed, this
pedagogical genre boasts ancient and noble roots, stretching back to the
seminal dialogues penned by philosopher Plato himself (of which all later
philosophy is said to be mere footnotes).
Let it be unequivocally stated:
discerning readers are not delving into this narrative anticipating intricate
plot twists or character development; rather, they are drawn to its
unparalleled efficacy as a remarkably clear, refreshingly straightforward, and
effortlessly digestible vehicle for presenting the fundamental talking points,
the core philosophical underpinnings, of contemporary Orthodox Jewish belief
and practice. In this regard, Rabbi Bilek's chosen format is an unmitigated
triumph of pedagogical clarity.
This book thus stands as a
testament to creative scholarship and pedagogical brilliance. It successfully
transforms the abstract shapes of the Aleph-Bet into luminous windows through
which the profoundest secrets of the Jewish universe are revealed, truly hiding
in plain sight. This work is an invaluable resource for both the newcomer
seeking a structured entry point into Jewish thought and the seasoned
individual desiring a fresh, letter-based perspective on timeless truths, as
well as for educators looking for a new way of presenting the timeless tenets
that Jews hold so dear.
