From Troubles to Treasures: The Hidden Wisdom Inside Hebrew Words

A conversation with Esther Monovich is nothing short of captivating. Every word she speaks carries meaning, sometimes more than one. Listening to her requires attention, because her ideas move quickly and deeply. It can be challenging to follow, but it is certainly rewarding.

"I believe that where I am today is connected to the personal processes I have gone through in my life," Esther begins, sharing some of her background.

"My father came from a very important family connected to the Gur Hasidic community. Unlike his family, however, he chose a more modern and progressive path and joined the national religious community. That is the environment in which I grew up."

For many years Esther herself also belonged to the national religious world. Only in recent years, she says, did she experience a deeper spiritual transformation.

"I call it my return to teshuvah," she explains. "I truly feel that I have come home. Some people question the wording, but I once heard from Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburgh that in the messianic era even the righteous will return to teshuvah. For me, that is exactly the process I was fortunate to experience."

Discovering the Secrets Within Words

"Words have always been close to my heart," Esther continues, describing the passion that eventually shaped her life's work.

"I have always been curious about the terminology and roots of words. I loved examining them from every possible angle."

Her natural interest in language also influenced her career. For years she worked as a literature lecturer at a college. But after strengthening her faith, she began lecturing about Judaism as well.

What makes Esther's lectures unique, as well as the books and cards she has published, is her focus on what she calls "the secrets of words."

"I try to read every word I encounter and ask what message it wants to convey," she explains.

This journey began when she trained herself to follow the weekly Torah reading word by word.

"One time, while reading Parashat Yitro, I noticed the verse that says, 'And all the people saw the sounds.' Immediately the question arises: how can you see sounds? Sounds can only be heard."

She later encountered explanations from commentators. One interpretation says that Moses heard the voice of Hashem coming from all directions, while the Jewish people saw fiery letters descending from Heaven.

"But when I read the verse," Esther says, "I noticed that the word 'sounds' can also be read as 'all letter.' That idea fascinated me, because examining letters and discovering what they teach us is exactly what I love to do."

Since that moment, Esther says she has explored thousands of words in the Hebrew language, uncovering moral and spiritual insights hidden within them.

Words That Reveal Deeper Lessons

Esther shares several examples.

"Take the word 'metzora,'" she says. "You can divide it into two words meaning 'found evil.' A metzora is someone who found evil in his friend and spoke lashon hara about him, which is why he was punished with leprosy."

Another example is the Hebrew word for air.

"The word 'avir' can also be read as 'Or Y H,' the light of Hashem."

She points to another fascinating connection.

"The word 'todah,' meaning thank you, is related to the word 'toda'ah,' meaning consciousness. When we remove one letter, we are left with 'todah.' When do we truly say thank you? When we look at the world with a good eye."

Esther emphasizes that she does not present these ideas as formal Torah interpretations.

"Heaven forbid that I would claim to interpret the Torah like the great sages," she says. "But when I later discover that great commentators expressed ideas similar to what I noticed, it gives me a sense of completion. Our holy language is extraordinary. Everything exists within it."

The Spiritual Power of Words

Esther insists that her work is not simply a linguistic exercise.

"My goal is very clear," she says. "Through the secrets of words, I want to learn how to serve Hashem properly."

She offers another example.

"The word 'parnasa,' livelihood, can also be read as 'resen pe,' meaning restraint of the mouth. When a person does not guard their speech, it can harm their livelihood."

She continues with another insight.

"The word 'refuah,' healing, can be read as 'Or pe,' the light of the mouth. When we speak good words and especially when we pray and say Tehillim, we can merit healing with Hashem's help."

Even the word for love carries a deeper message.

"The word 'ahavah' points to the light of the Holy One, blessed be He. After all, who loves us more than Hashem?"

Esther also points out that even difficult situations can contain hidden blessings.

"The word 'mashber,' crisis, can become 'mebasser,' bearer of good news."

She says these patterns constantly remind her of the importance of guarding one's speech.

"Our words carry tremendous meaning. They should never be used lightly."

Turning Troubles Into Treasures

Many of Esther's insights have spread widely among the public.

One famous example is her interpretation of the word for troubles.

"The word 'tzarot,' troubles, can become 'otzarot,' treasures," she explains.

How does this transformation occur?

"It comes through the letter Aleph," she says. "Aleph represents the Master of the Universe. When a person connects to Hashem, even difficulties can become treasures."

For Esther, this idea is not just a slogan.

"When a person truly lives this way, they begin to experience life differently."

Finding the Gift Inside Difficulty

Where do all these ideas come from?

"It is divine assistance," Esther says. "These ideas simply burst out of inspiration."

She believes that anyone who looks deeply at Hebrew words can discover meaningful insights.

To illustrate her point, she offers a challenge.

"Take the Hebrew word for difficulty, 'koshi'. What word do you see inside it?"

After thinking for a moment, I suggest that difficulty can make the world feel dry and lifeless, like straw ('kash').

Esther smiles.

"It all depends on perspective," she says. "Inside the word for difficulty you can also find the word 'gift.' Even in hardship, a person can choose to see the gift hidden within it."

The True Essence of a Person

Before concluding, Esther shares one of her favorite Hebrew words: "adam," meaning human being.

When the word is written vertically using its full letters, something surprising appears.

Aleph
Dalet
Mem

"When we examine the remaining letters," she explains, "we discover the word 'mitpalel,' meaning one who prays."

For Esther, this reveals a profound truth.

"What is the essence of a human being? To pray."

She adds that one of the Hasidic masters even suggested that a person should be described as a "mitpalel."

"Our entire existence," she says, "especially in times like these, should be focused on prayer."