The core mechanism of Gematria involves assigning specific numerical values to each letter of an alphabet and summing these values for words or phrases.

At its heart, Gematria operates on a fundamental principle: every letter is also a number. In Hebrew Gematria, for instance, the first ten letters of the alphabet (Aleph to Yod) correspond to the numbers 1 to 10, the next letters (Kaf to Tzadi) represent tens (20, 30, etc., up to 90), and the final letters (Kuf to Tav) represent hundreds (100, 200, 300, 400). When a word is analyzed, the numerical values of its individual letters are added together to produce a total sum. This sum, or *mispar*, is then interpreted in relation to other words or phrases that yield the same numerical value. The discovery of such equivalences is believed to reveal a hidden connection, a shared essence, or a divine commentary. For example, in Hebrew, the word *chai* (חי, meaning 'life') has a numerical value of 18 (Chet=8, Yod=10), which is why 18 is often considered a lucky number and gifts of money are frequently given in multiples of 18.