Notarikon is a Jewish method of interpretation and Kabbalistic method of biblical interpretation that involves treating words as acronyms or abbreviations to uncover hidden meanings. The term derives from the Greek notarikon (related to shorthand or notation) or possibly Latin. In this method, each letter of a word is seen as the initial letter of another word, forming a phrase, or a word is broken into smaller components to reveal deeper insights. It is commonly used in the Zohar and other texts to decode the Torah’s esoteric layers, complementing other interpretive methods. In the context of the Zohar, notarikon is employed to reveal spiritual truths. For example, in the Genesis 4:9 section, Eicha (אֵיכָה, “How”) is interpreted as a notarikon for Aleph-Yud (א”י, meaning “where is”) and Kaf-Hei (כ”ה, a Name of the Shekhinah), linking the lament for Jerusalem’s destruction to the Shekhinah’s exile. Similarly, in the Genesis 1:1 section, Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית) is read as Bayit Reishit (house of the beginning), connecting Binah and Malchut as “houses” built by Chokhmah. Notarikon thus unveils the Torah’s mystical unity, showing how words encode divine processes, such as Malchut’s rectification or the end of the Tikkun (Zechariah 14:9), often tied to countering the erev rav’s impurities (Genesis 3:1 section) and restoring Jerusalem (Psalms 147:2).