Aleph א

In this alphabet art series I explore biblical and Jewish-spiritual ideas, as they reflect through the shapes or associated meaning of each letter.

This project is based on my personal musing and not on any Jewish teachings. Any connection to other teachings is unintentional.

My hope is that through this art we get a deeper glimpse into our realities, our worlds illusions and the hope that can be found in the power of the Hebrew letters.

Aleph (א) is the first letter in the Hebrew Alphabet. Its shape can be broken into three parts; one 'line' passing through the middle and two mirroring parts on the side.

In this art I explored a combination of a few ideas:

1. the story of creation starts with the second letter of the alphabet, skipping Aleph, insinuating that Aleph is what existed prior to the process of creation.

2. As discussed in my book "The Way to Fall and Rise" water was the substance that existed before creation itself.

3. The mirroring affect in the letter is a reminder of the splitting of the water in two; the water above and the water below. The center line is the Rakiah, the valley of the shadow of death were we must cross through the fire and be forged, coming out the other side stronger and more rooted in our authenticity and our faith. (this topic is discussed further in "The Way to Fall and Rise")

4. The splitting of water in two combined with the Rakiah as a pillar of fire connects the Aleph to the story of the Jewish people marching towards their freedom. The pillar of fire provided the Jewish people light and warmth in their darkest moments, helping them cross the challenging terrain of the sea's bedrock as the water split for them, as it did in creation.