The Container

Cheit is one of the 12 Simple Letters: Time.

It is the eighth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. Its numerical value is 8.

Cheit corresponds to the fourth diagonal path of the Tree of Life, the path which connects Hesed to Tiferet.

Sepher Yetzirah says about Cheit: “… He made the letter Cheit king over sight, and He bound a crown to it, and He combined one with another, and with them He formed Cancer in the Universe, Tamuz in the Year, and the right hand in the Soul male and female.”

Cheit corresponds to the Astrological Sign of Cancer.

Cheit is a container, the uterus. Cheit is a door with 2 pillars: Vav and Zain. The union between Male and Female (Zain) and the descent of the Seed (Vav). Cheit is the symbol of the Fruit of the Union.

Cheit is said to be the “essence of life” (from the meaning of the word Chaim, חיים), but is also said to be “fear” (from the meanings of the words Chal, חל, and Chatat, חתת).

8 is the number of the “overcoming” (the Great Priest, Ha-Kohen Ha-Gadol,  הכהן הגדוה, had 8 vests to overcome his human condition). Kabbalah says that 8 is the “gateway to infinity”, as it represents the ascent from the Earth through the 7 Heavens (mentioned for Zain): “God is one in the 7 heavens and the Earth”.

Cheit is teaching us to overcome our fears and start giving without expecting anything in return, in order to enjoy completely our lives.