They stretch, bend, or take on a new form entirely. It's more than just aesthetics; according to Jewish tradition, these final forms, the sofit, hold a profound secret, a key to understanding redemption itself.

In Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating text that weaves together biblical narrative, aggadic legends, and mystical insights, we find a remarkable teaching about these letters. Rabbi Eliezer connects the five letters that have these final forms—Khaph, Mem, Nun, Pê, and Zaddi—to pivotal moments of redemption in Jewish history, and even to our future hope.

Think about it. Each of these letters, in its own way, whispers of liberation.

Rabbi Eliezer begins by connecting Khaph, twice over, to Abraham's journey. Remember God’s command, "Lekh Lekha"—"Get thee out of thy country" (Gen. 12:1)? It was with this call that Abraham was redeemed from Ur of the Chaldees, setting out on the path that would define a nation. The Khaph, doubled, echoes the urgency and the promise of that first step toward freedom.

Next, we have Mem, also appearing twice, and linked to Isaac's experience with the Philistines. They told him, "Go from us; for thou art much mightier (Memennu M'ôd) than we" (Gen. 26:16). Isaac was asked to leave, yes, but it was a recognition of his strength, his burgeoning power. The Mem here signifies a reluctant acknowledgment of a destiny that could not be contained.

Then comes Nun, again, doubled, calling to mind Jacob's plea for deliverance from his brother Esau: "Deliver me, I pray thee, (Hazilêne na) from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau" (Gen. 32:11). The Nun embodies the vulnerability and the desperation of that moment, the fervent hope for rescue.

The letter Pê is linked to the redemption from Egypt. God says, "I have surely visited you, (Paḳôd Paḳadti) and seen that which is done to you in Egypt… I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt" (Ex. 3:16, 17). Paḳôd – visitation or remembering. The doubled Pê here is powerful, a promise fulfilled, a nation pulled from the depths of slavery.

Finally, Zaddi speaks of the future, of the ultimate redemption. The Holy One, blessed be He, will redeem Israel from the oppression of the kingdoms. "Behold, the man whose name is (Zemach) the Branch; and he shall grow up (yizmach) out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord" (Zech. 6:12). Zemach, the branch, a symbol of hope and renewal. The Zaddi looks forward, toward a time of complete and lasting peace.

But here's where the story gets even more interesting. This secret, the mystery of the Redemption, wasn't just floating around. It was passed down, carefully and deliberately.

According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, these letters were first given to Abraham, who then passed them on to Isaac, who gave them to Jacob. Jacob, in turn, entrusted the secret to Joseph. Remember when Joseph, on his deathbed, says, "But God will surely visit (Paḳôd yiphḳôd) you" (Gen. 50:24)? He was invoking that very promise of redemption, the one encoded in the letters.

The narrative continues: Joseph's brethren received the secret, and then Asher, Jacob’s son, passed it on to his daughter Serach.

Who is Serach? You might not recognize her name immediately, but she plays a crucial role in this story.

When Moses and Aaron came to the elders of Israel in Egypt and performed signs, the elders went to Serach for confirmation. They told her about the signs, but she remained skeptical. Until... they uttered the words "Paḳôd yiphḳôd"—"God will surely visit you."

Serach recognized the code, the key to unlocking the promise. "He is the man who will redeem Israel," she declared, "for thus did I hear, Paḳôd Paḳadti—'I have surely visited you.'" (Ex. 3:16)

And what happened then? "Forthwith the people believed in their God and in His messenger" (Ex. 4:31). Serach, the daughter of Asher, held the key that unlocked their faith, their hope, and ultimately, their freedom.

What a powerful image: the secret of redemption, passed down through generations, entrusted to a woman who, with a single phrase, ignited the spark of belief. It makes you wonder: what secrets are we holding, what promises are we carrying, and how might we, too, play a role in the unfolding story of redemption?