It turns out, even the shapes of the letters themselves can hold profound secrets about creation.
Let's dive into a fascinating interpretation from Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Genesis. The rabbis focus on the verse "Behibare’am" (Genesis 2:4) – usually translated as "when they were created" – and find something remarkable in the word's very construction.
Rabbi Abahu, quoting Rabbi Yoḥanan, makes a startling claim: "Behibare’am – with a heh [beheh] He created them [bera’am]." The letter heh (ה) becomes central to understanding creation itself. What's so special about this particular letter?
Well, Rabbi Abahu explains, unlike other Hebrew letters that require the tongue to pronounce them, the heh doesn't rely on any specific part of the mouth. Think about it: you can almost breathe a heh. The implication? Just as the heh is formed effortlessly, so too did God create the world "with no exertion or toil." As Psalm 33:6 says, "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made."
But the story doesn't stop there. Rabbi Yuda Nesia poses a question to Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, a known master of aggada (Jewish storytelling and folklore): What's the meaning of "Praise Him who rides in the highest heavens, by His name the Lord [beyah shemo]..." (Psalm 68:5)?
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman interprets beyah as a reference to God being available to address the grievances of the world. Every province has officials to hear complaints, he says. So who addresses the complaints of the entire world? God, of course! He is over the grievances [biya] of His world.
However, this interpretation isn't the only one. Rabbi Elazar offered a different perspective: "For beyah Hashem is the Rock [tzur] of the world [olamim]" (Isaiah 26:4). Here, beyah is understood as the letters yod (י) and heh (ה), and tzur ("rock") is read as tzar, "He fashioned." This suggests that God created the world through these two letters.
So, did God create this world with the heh and the World to Come with the yod, or vice versa? Rabbi Abahu’s earlier statement comes back into play: “Behibare’am – with a heh [beheh] He created them [bera’am],” suggesting that this world was created with the heh.
The rabbis delve deeper into the symbolism of the heh. It's closed on all sides except for an opening at the bottom. This, they say, alludes to the fact that all the dead descend to the netherworld. But there's a small protrusion at the top, hinting that they are destined to ascend from there. And the "window" on its side? That represents the possibility of repentance, an escape from the netherworld.
In contrast, the yod, the smallest letter, represents the World to Come. Its "bent stature" reflects the humility (or even the bowed posture) of the wicked in the future. As Isaiah 2:17 says, "The loftiness of humanity will be bowed and the haughtiness of men will be brought down and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day."
Returning to the theme of effortless creation, Rabbi Berekhya, quoting Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon, emphasizes that God created the world without exertion. It was, as Psalm 33:6 reminds us, simply "By the word of the Lord." He compares it to a king rebuking his slave, who stands there astounded. Similarly, Job 26:11 tells us, "The pillars of heaven sag, astounded at His rebuke."
So, what are we left with? A profound appreciation for the power and mystery embedded in the Hebrew alphabet. A reminder that even the smallest details can reveal deep truths about creation, repentance, and the worlds to come. And perhaps, most importantly, a sense of wonder at the effortless power of the Divine. Think about that the next time you write – or even just breathe – a heh.