A meditation on the Hebrew letters is sparked by a statement about the Ten Commandments.
It is a common rabbinic assumption that the words of the Ten Commandments were not just inscribed on the stone tablets, they were written all the way through, piercing the stone so it could be read on both sides. Two letters, though, the final "mem" and the "samech" are completely closed letters (like the English "O"). So how could they stand in the tablets?
By a miracle.
This leads to a lovely set of stories about each of the letters and some combinations. These come from children's tales. For example, the first two letters "aleph" and "bet" together make the phrase "aleph bina" which means "learn wisdom." "Gimmel" and "Daled" mean "gemol dallim" which means "show kindness to the poor."
If so, the shape of the letters also tell a story:
"Why is the foot of the "Gimmel" stretched toward the "Daled"? Because it is fitting for the benevolent to run after [reach out to] the poor. And why is the top of the "Daled" stretched out toward the "Gimmel"? Because he [the poor] must make himself available. And why is the face of the "Daled" turned away from the "Gimmel"? Because he must give [help] in secret, lest he be ashamed."
There is much more. How beautiful that even the shape of the letters can tech us lessons in kindness!
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