Luck at the Tip of Your Fingers

Increasing use of cellular phones, faxes and modems requires additional California telephone area codes. The current proposal calls for the San Fernando Valley to retain its 818 area code, giving the San Gabriel Valley and Burbank a new 626 code. The director of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Center and representatives from other Chinese organizations file a complaint based on cultural traditions.

What does it mean?

According to traditional Chinese beliefs, eight is the most fortuitous number, signifying prosperity. To have two eights in an area code doubles the potential for good fortune. Although the numbers 626 are not

unlucky in sequence, they are not as powerful as 818. Also, some people note that 626 together totals 14, which is negative because the number 4 is associated with death. Consequently, many Chinese San Gabriel residents opposed changing their area code. Pacific Bell rejected their complaint, claiming that they couldn’t consider cultural impact when assigning area code numbers. An administrative law judge will review the case.

Observant Jews also believe in the power of certain numbers. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical equivalent, and the word chai, meaning “life,” is made up of two letters totaling 18. When making money gifts, many Jews will use multiples of 18, especially at a child’s birth, a bar or bat mitzvah, upon recovery from illness and as donations to charity. Giving in units of 18 is an affirmation of life.