General: Correlation Between the number seven and Shevu'os

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General: Correlation Between the number seven and Shevu'os

Phil Abelson asked:

Hi and Good wishes. As an aside I am a member of Bet Midrash chofetz Chaim in 
Johannesburg South Africa which was originally founded by Rabbi Chrysler. I do 
not want to take up to much of your time however, having just completed 
Masechet Shevuos an interesting question arises.Please can you point me in the 
direction to locate the answer or answer for me:

What is the connection between the number seven, Shavuot,Shevuah etc?

Many Thanks Looking forward to hearing from you,
Phil Abelson, Johannesburg, South Africa
----------------------------------------------
The Kollel replies:

Nice to hear from you. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity of meeting 
sometime.

I have on occasion, written about the number seven and its connotations in my 
Parshah sheet. As a matter of fact, this week's sheet contains a short article 
about the seven x seven Omer days, taken from the Zohar (see 
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/parsha/chrysler/index.htm). 

The Medrash Rabah (Parshas Emor Perek 29, 10:11) writes that all the sevens are 
special 
The seventh Heaven - Arvos.
The seventh land - Teivel.
The seventh generation - Chanoch.
The seventh of the Avos - Moshe.
The seventh son - David.
The seventh king - Asa.
The seventh year - Sh'mitah.
The seventh Sh'mitah - Yovel.
The seventh day - Shabbos.
The seventh month - Tishri. 

The reason for this I assume, is because Hashem created the entire nature 
around the number seven. Consequently, just as regarding the realm of the 
supernatural, the tenth is holy, so too, in the realm of the natural, the 
seventh is special (sometimes even holy).

The only connection I know between the number seven and Shevu'ah, is that of 
the Ramban at the beginning of Parshas Matos (at the end of Pasuk 3). It is 
based on Kabalah, and I quote even though I must admit, I don't really 
understand it.

The Ramban there, to explain why it is that a Neder takes effect even on a 
Mitzvah, which a Shevu'ah does not, explains that whereas the latter, which is 
a derivative of the word 'Shiv'ah', is based on the seven Sefiros (from Chesed 
to Malchus). The former, on the other hand, a derivative of the word 'Dirah' 
[dwelling]) is based on the Sefirah of Binah (I think), from which the seven 
Sefiros 'evolve'. And it is because it is on a higher plane than Shevu'ah that 
it can take effect even on a Mitzvah, even though Shevu'ah cannot.

You are probably aware that the Chasam Sofer used to learn Maseches Shevu'os 
(49 Daf) between Pesach and Shevu'os. I like to attribute the connection 
between the Masechta and the Chag (Shavu'os) to the oath that we made at Har 
Sinai to keep the Torah; and the use of the plural (Shavu'os) to the fact that 
Hashem too made an oath that He would never forsake us ('Ani le'Dodi ve'Dodi 
Li').

Be'Virchas Kol Tuv.
Eliezer Chrysler.

Please convey my kindest regards to your esteemed Rav Sh'lita.

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