According to the Torah, salt (מלח Melakh) is not just a culinary ingredient but a symbol of enduring spiritual significance.

In this article e delve into the mystical significance of salt as revealed in the third book of the Torah, Vayikra. Known for its association with offerings and rituals, salt carries profound Kabbalistic meaning that extends beyond its practical uses.

The Hebrew word for salt, melach (מֶלַח), appears twelve times in the Torah, with a notable emphasis in Vayikra 2:13: “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant of your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” This repetition highlights the importance of salt in sacred rituals and its role in maintaining the divine covenant.

To be honest, everything has deep meaning. But salt is more relevant to us since we use it everyday and seems simplistic. Let’s uncover the deeper secrets behind this humble substance and how it can be harnessed for personal growth and spiritual elevation.

Salt is rooted in the Sephira of Gevurah

In Vayikra, salt is mentioned in the context of offerings. The Torah instructs that salt must be added to every sacrifice, reflecting its crucial role in these acts of Kedusha (holiness).

But why salt?

Salt is intrinsically linked to rigor (Gevurah) and transformation. Its ability to preserve and even cook food—such as fish placed between layers of salt—highlights its potent, transformative qualities. In Kabbalistic terms, salt represents the aspect of judgment and severity, which can be both a force of preservation and a tool of purification. It’s interesting because, while alone salt is… well, salty – when we combine with other foods, it enhances their taste.

This is very much like what we learn from Shaar Ruach HaKodesh when the Arizal explains that a divine name can be split into its main parts and the milui, the complete spelling of the letters. If we divide both of them, then the milui has more power than the main part, but combined the full name is more powerful than both parts.

In Kabbalah, salt’s connection to rigor is balanced by its interaction with bread, which symbolized goodness and rooted in Chessed. Bread, associated with nourishment and sharing, counters the severity of salt. Plus, the words for bread (לחם) and salt (מלח) are the exact same.

This interplay between salt and bread reflects a deeper spiritual idea: the balance between judgment and mercy.

The Covenant of Salt and the power of Gevurot

According to Kabbalistic teachings, salt symbolizes the concept of eternity. This idea is echoed in a verse from the second book of Divrei HaYamim 2-13:5, where it is stated that God made a “salt covenant” with King David and his descendants. Salt, with its enduring nature and resistance to decay, represents a perpetual commitment and unending existence, which is remarkable, considering all things physical tend to decay.

In Kabbalistic tradition, the “Covenant of Salt” is regarded as a divine pact symbolizing eternal continuity. Salt, known for its preserving qualities, represents an unbreakable bond and an everlasting presence. Just as salt preserves food, it signifies the eternal covenant between Hashem and Israel.

Salt’s capacity to absorb and neutralize impurities aligns with its role in spiritual cleansing. In many cultures, salt is employed in rituals for purification and protection, symbolizing the removal of spiritual impurities and negative energies. It acts as a medium for sanctifying spaces, objects, and individuals, preparing them for elevated spiritual experiences, and can be something as simple as an Epsom salt bath, which is completely kosher.

Moreover, salt’s elemental nature—derived from earth and water—reflects the balance of grounding and fluidity in Avodat Hashem. Earth provides stability and strength, while water offers adaptability and flow. Salt, as a product of both, reminds us to maintain both steadfastness in our principles and flexibility in our actions.

The Ritual of Salt and Bread

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 167:5) instructs that before reciting the Hamotzi blessing, condiments or salt should be available on the table so that the challah can be dipped immediately afterward. This practice adds a layer of significance to the beracha (blessing). According to the Mishnah Berurah (167:27), dipping the bread in salt not only enhances the taste of the first bite but also brings greater honor to the blessing itself.

The Rema adds a deeper spiritual dimension to this custom by connecting it to the mizbeyach (altar) in the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple). Since all offerings on the altar required salt, our table serves as a miniature mizbeyach, and having salt present symbolizes this connection. Additionally, it is said that the salt serves as protection against prosecuting angels during the brief period of silence after the Hamotzi, invoking the “covenant of salt” (based on the sacrifices mentioned in the Torah)​

Some follow the custom more strictly, dipping the bread three times in salt after Hamotzi, as the Arizal teaches one should do in order to bring down the lights of Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferet, each one a name יהוה which is gematria 26 (3 x 26 = 72).

In everyday interactions, whether personal or professional, applying the principle of balancing rigor with kindness leads to more constructive outcomes. By addressing harshness with compassion, we can resolve conflicts and nurture positive relationships.

The teachings from Vayikra remind us to integrate harshness into all aspects of life, because that’s what makes it tasty. Just as salt is essential to offerings and bread, infusing kindness into our actions helps create a more balanced and harmonious world. This reflects the divine plan of creation—where harshness and dinim are not meant to be destroyed, but sweetened to continuously build and refine the world.

Conclusion

As mentioned before, salt’s ability to preserve and its resistance to spoilage are seen as metaphors for spiritual endurance and protection. Salt has the power to neutralize negative energies and to act as a barrier against spiritual impurities

The mystical secrets of salt, as revealed in Vayikra, offer deep insights into the intricate balance between rigor and compassion. This seemingly simple substance, teaches us that even in moments of judgment, kindness must be present to create harmony. Its role in ancient offerings and daily eating reminds us that true spiritual growth comes from integrating these contrasting forces.