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When I was a little child, I remember being taught that each of the Hebrew letters had a corresponding body part. I am sure I learned what they were at the time, but I've long forgotten most of them.

When I try to look for information on this, I can find a lot of people mentioning the concept, but not an actual list of which letters were for each body part.

Can anyone guide me?

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    There is an Artscroll book that may have what you're looking for (although it's been a while since I read it, so I'm not certain): artscroll.com/Books/9781422610367.html
    – Salmononius2
    Commented May 29, 2019 at 21:46
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    Certain letters may have been named after body parts, directly. Yod = hand; kaf = palm; ayin = eye; peh = mouth; resh = head; shin = tooth.
    – DanF
    Commented May 30, 2019 at 0:58
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    @Salmononius2 I own the book and I don't remember it touching this at all.
    – ezra
    Commented May 30, 2019 at 2:34
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    @Dr.Shmuel is right, it was as a memory aid for when I was a child. I would be interested to have seen the deleted comment!
    – Alpehbet
    Commented May 30, 2019 at 3:31

2 Answers 2

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You may be looking for a concept discussed in Sefer Yetzirah. I don't have a proper copy nearby, so this excerpt (presumably the first section) from a Tikun Leil Shavuos may be helpful:

קשר עשרים ושתים אותיות התורה בלשונו וכו'.‏ אויר רויה גויה, ארץ קר וחום ובטן, ושמים ראש, זהו אמ"ש:‏
שבתאי, שבת, ופה. צדק, אחד בשבת, ועין ימין. מאדים, שני בשבת, ועין שמאל. חמה, שלישי בשבת, ואף ימין. נגה, רביעי בשבת, ואף שמאל. כוכב, חמישי בשבת, ואזן ימין. לבנה ,ששי בשבת ואזן שמאל. זה בג"ד כפר"ת:‏
ואלה שנים עשר מזלות: טלה, ניסן, כבד. שור, אייר, מרה. תאומים, סיון, טחול. סרטן, תמוז, המסס. אריה, אב, כוליא ימין. בתולה, אלול, כוליא שמאל. מאזנים, תשרי, קרקבן. עקרב, מרחשון, קבה. קשת, כסלו, יד ימין. גדי, טבת, יד שמאל. דלי, שבט, רגל ימין. דגים, אדר, רגל שמאל. זהו ה"ו, ז"ח, ט"י, ל"ן, ס"ע, צ"ק.‏

This works out to be something to the effect of (translation mine, on the fly): Aleph - the גויה; bet - mouth; gimel - right eye; daled - left eye; hei - liver; vav - the מרה (humor); zayin - the טחול; ches - the מסס; tes - right kidney; yod - left kidney; kof - right nostril; lamed - the קרקבן; mem - abdomen; nun - the קבה; samech - right hand; ayin - left hand; pei - left nostril; tzadi - right foot; kuf - left foot; reish - right ear; shin - head; tav - left ear.

The B'nei Yissoschor quotes the Sefer Yetzira in the first chapter for each month, and explains the connection between the month, zodiac sign, organ, and letter.

It is possible (likely?) that the list you learned as a child is entirely different, but I believe this list is somewhat authoritative.

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  • I don’t think even the gaon learned Sefer yetizrah as a kid; could be wrong though
    – Dr. Shmuel
    Commented May 29, 2019 at 23:18
  • @Dr.Shmuel The Vilna Gaon? I suspect he at least recited Tikun. However, this is a possible list, that could have been taught separately. It's a list, at least.
    – Menachem
    Commented May 29, 2019 at 23:22
  • Sorry, I missed that part. You’re right. (Also, it’s not a stretch, Vilna Gaon did a lot in his childhood)
    – Dr. Shmuel
    Commented May 29, 2019 at 23:25
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    Ahhh, yes, this is exactly it! My mother taught me a little dance that I could do when I recited it and this certainly corresponds to what I remember of that. Thank you!
    – Alpehbet
    Commented May 30, 2019 at 3:30
  • I stand corrected- he did just that! See R. Chaim Volozhon intro to sifra detzniyusa.
    – Dr. Shmuel
    Commented Oct 26, 2020 at 9:21
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According to Sefer Yetzira. The face includes :
The ב is the right eye representing חכמה חסד , also Sunday and the moon.
ג is the right ear, גבורה, Monday, and Mars.
ד is the right nostril, Tuesday, תפארת, and the sun.
כ is left eye, Venus, נצח, Wednesday .
פ is left ear, הוד, Thursday, and Mercury.
ר is left nostril, יסוד, Friday, and Saturn.
ת represents the mouth while circling the whole of the face corresponding to action, שבת, Jupiter, and מלכות.

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    Where does the Sefer Yetzirah say this?
    – Dani
    Commented Oct 16, 2020 at 0:42
  • Sefer Yetzira written by Aryeh Kaplan I believe it’s chapter 4
    – David Jacobson
    Commented Oct 26, 2020 at 4:03
  • Based on the Sefer Yetzira on Sefaria.org, the order of the planets from ב to ת is שצ''מ חנכ''ל, whereas you listed them the opposite direction. Either way, I suppose I ought to correct my response.
    – Menachem
    Commented Oct 26, 2020 at 5:02
  • It’s all about where you are looking from!!!! Keep in mind zeir anpin is behind you......
    – David Jacobson
    Commented Dec 10, 2020 at 5:56

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