כִּ֤י אֵ֣ל גָּד֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה וּמֶ֥לֶךְ גָּ֝ד֗וֹל עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Car l’Éternel est un grand Dieu, un grand Roi, au-dessus de toutes les divinités.
Sha'arei Orah
Now, the mystery of the Simple Blast of the Shofar-Tekiyat Shofar Peshutah-תקיעת שופר פשוטה, is the Name HaShem-יהו״ה. In contrast, the Short Blasts of the Shofar-Tru’at Shofar-תרועת שופר, is the title God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם. Thus, the Simple Blast-Tekiyah-תקיעה followed by the Short Blasts-Teru’ah-תרועה is mercy-Rachamim and judgment-Din. The verse that indicates this is,39Psalms 47:6 “God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם has ascended with the short blasts-Teru’ah-תרועה, HaShem-יהו״ה with the sound of the Shofar.” Likewise, the verse states,40Numbers 10:5-7 “When you sound short blasts-Teru’ah-תרועה, then they should travel… and when you gather the congregation together, you shall sound a long blast-Titka’u-תתקעו, and not sound the short blasts-Tari’u-תריעו.”41Also see Ginat Egoz of the same author, Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, translated as HaShem Is One, Vol. 3 (The Letters of Creation, Part II), section entitled, “The Order of the Shofarot.”
Sha'arei Orah
The mystery of this third letter of the Name HaShem-יהו״ה, called Vav-ו, includes six names, corresponding to six Sefirot. These are E”l-א״ל, corresponding to the Sefirah of magnanimity-Gedulah, Elohi”m-אלהי״ם, corresponding to the Sefirah of might-Gevurah, HaShem-יהו״ה, corresponding to the Sefirah of splendor-Tiferet, HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת, corresponding to the Sefirah of victory-Netzach, God of Hosts-Elohi”m Tzva’ot-אלהי״ם צבאו״ת, corresponding to the Sefirah of majesty-Hod, and the Living God-E”l Chai-א״ל חי, corresponding to the Sefirah of foundation-Yesod. You thus have learned that the mystery of the Vav-ו of the Name HaShem-יהו״ה includes six holy names of HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He.
Sha'arei Orah
After this introduction, I now will explain. Know that the Singular Name HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, is garbed and aggrandized with the holy names, and that all the holy names adhere to the truth of this Name HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He. Each holy name indicates a specific matter unto itself. How is this so? When HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, desires to have mercy and compassion on His world, He then dons the garment of kindness and compassion. Then, His Great Name HaShem-יהו״ה takes out the banner of kindness-Chessed and mercy-Rachamim, and engraved on that banner is the name E”l-א״ל. The sign for this is the verse,122Numbers 2:2 “Each man by his banner, according to the signs-Otot-אותות.” When HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, takes out this banner, He then bestows goodness, compassion, shows grace to His creatures and rejoices in them. This is the secret of the verse,123Psalms 104:31 “May the glory of HaShem-Kevod HaShem-כבוד יהו״ה be toward the world, may HaShem-יהו״ה rejoice in His works,” and is the secret of the verse,124Genesis 21:33 “And he called in the Name HaShem, God of the world-HaShem E”l Olam-יהו״ה א״ל עול״ם.” He then dons and is aggrandized in the raiment engraved with the quality of E”l-א״ל. This is the meaning of the words,125In the Yom Kippur liturgy. “Almighty King-E”l Melech-א״ל מלך, Who sits on the throne of mercy-Rachamim-רחמים.” This is also the meaning of,126Exodus 34:6 – The thirteen attributes of mercy. “HaShem-יהו״ה, HaShem God-HaShem E”L-יהו״ה א״ל, Merciful-Rachum-רחום and Gracious-Chanoon-חנון,” and is the meaning of the verse,127Deuteronomy 4:31 “For, HaShem-יהו״ה your God, is a Merciful God-E”l Rachum-א״ל רחום.” The sign for this is the verse,128Psalms 95:3 “For HaShem is a Great God-E”l Gadol HaShem-א״ל גדול יהו״ה, and a great King above every power-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם,” in which Elohi”m-אלהי״ם refers to the quality of judgment-Din. In other words, the quality of kindness-Chessed is greater than the quality of judgment-Din.