The Letter Nun and Its Connection to Food Kashrut

The letter Nun is similar to the letter Vav but is longer. The Zohar explains the concept of the two pipes through which food and air pass into the human body to sustain life; these are the trachea and esophagus. Since the esophagus is responsible for material consumption, it represents this world, while the trachea facilitating spiritual breathing represents the spiritual world to come.

When a person pursues material desires represented by the esophagus and consumes non-kosher food achieved dishonestly, symbolizing foolish behavior (derived from the letters of 'esophagus' inverted), they intensify the materialistic power within the esophagus, turning the letter Vav into the word 'satan' within their body. This dominance can lead one to transgress all prohibitions and commandments due to the spiritual dullness caused by impure consumption, as explained in the Talmud, resulting in insensitivity to the accumulated spiritual impurity.

However, the word ‘the Satan’ has a numerical value equal to the number of days in a year minus one—Yom Kippur, where there is no consumption through the esophagus, leaving Satan without control, allowing a person to rectify themselves through repentance on this significant day. Reading further in the Zohar, by fulfilling the mitzvah of shofar blowing, where the air from the trachea passes through the shofar, akin to "the voice of Jacob" it shortens the letter Nun in ‘satan’ back to a rectified ‘esophagus’.

In the book of Job, after Job complains about his plight, it's mentioned: "Then Hashem answered Job out of the storm and said: Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, for I will ask you, and you shall instruct me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand." The phrase 'out of the storm' is written connected, with the letter Nun bent instead of a final Nun. Menachot Shei cites the Midrash: "This teaches that Hashem bent him like a snake that walks on its belly to speak with him".

Additionally, in the Midrash "Missing and Surplus Letters", it states: "Job argued with the heavens, saying: Master of the Universe, perhaps you confused 'Job' with 'enemy'? It says [in Job’s complaint]: 'Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?' When Hashem revealed himself to him, He said: I count the hairs of a person (interpreting 'out of the storm' as 'counting a hair'), hinting at His detailed response, I did not confuse a hair with a hair, nor confuse Job with an enemy."

Here we see another example of a small element containing abundantly, in the secrets of our holy Torah, as in the seventy faces of the Torah, like a radiant, multi-faceted diamond reflecting truth from all sides.

The Meaning of the First Fourteen Letters in Succession

Continuing from the explanation of the letter sequence from Alef to Yud in the previous section, we now examine the sequence from Yud to Nun:

The person who successfully navigates worldly challenges hinted at by the first nine letters, attains eternal life alluded to by the letter Yud. As the scales of justice (Kaf) tip in his favor, his body will rebuild from a small bone to its original shape (Kaf) and rise to life, receiving abundant spiritual and physical bounty as symbolized by the letter Lamed, and wisdom, foreseeing the future in the light preserved by Hashem for the righteous, ascending thereafter to a higher spiritual level of self-nullification (Nun) and eternal union (Nun) of the soul with the Infinite Light.

The Meaning of the First Five Letters in the Tens Series

Aside from the straightforward sequence meaning mentioned above, which is simple and foundational, from the letter Yud opening the tens sequence, promoting divine reward in the afterlife, these letters also carry intrinsic guidance for earthly life, as a continuation from the guidance up to the letter Yud. While the earlier letters concerned general divine worship, the tens series focuses on Torah study and the virtues attained by properly engaging with it:

As a spiritual person (Yud) labors and utilizes his creative intellect, forming, innovating, and shaping (Kaf) Torah insights (Lamed), unlocking its secrets (Mem) flows through him like water, renewing and uplifting his character to achieve humility (Nun) and loyalty (Nun).

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Summarizing, the letter Nun expresses the eternal spiritual soul, free from death and cessation, embodying the soul’s inherent quality to lovingly submit with graceful humility to its Creator, staying loyal always. The bent and straight Nun symbolize male and female and the secret of their unity, aiming for a single complete soul striving to cleave to the Infinite Light, "to delight in Hashem and enjoy the radiance of His Divine Presence, for this is the true pleasure, greater than all worldly pleasures".

However, like any delicate, precious vessel, its significance and prestige make it vulnerable and fragile—the soul. Its high level of spiritual refinement, leading to humility and loyalty to fifty gates of holiness, is equally exposed to falling into the depths, up to fifty gates of impurity, influenced by the evil inclination lurking to mislead and bring down, as the scripture states: "The wicked watches the righteous and seeks to slay him." But a person can overcome and succeed in every trial if he chooses and is determined, as written: "Sin [evil inclination] is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

The Letter Nun in a Person’s Name

Considering the above, when the letter Nun appears in a person’s name, especially at the beginning, he receives refined soul and high spiritual sensitivity, which can elevate him to graceful humility and absolute loyalty to his Creator, his family, and all his acquaintances. He can achieve exalted sanctity, superior understanding beyond ordinary human society, learning secrets of creation and life, and unmistakable integrity. Because the letter Nun represents the high spiritual soul. Conversely, through human choice, its spiritual power can be used negatively, leading to severe, painful downfalls, extreme disloyalty, acts of negligence, suffering, and trials, predominantly regarding the breach of covenant, the secret of the Nun.

Even with a bent Nun, representing a female aspect, much more so with a final Nun, standing, representing the male aspect, its appearance in a name brings strength for significant spiritual elevation, humility, devotion to Hashem, and impressive social leadership, or, G-d forbid, steep spiritual decline and negative leadership. One may be dearly loved or entirely shunned by acquaintances.

Therefore, a person with the letter Nun in their name should channel its power towards good deeds and holy life as instructed by the Creator in the laws given to us. Beware greatly of the evil inclination, likened to the primordial serpent hinted by the letter Nun, awaiting to bring ruin, especially concerning sanctity of covenant.

Even here, as with all soul ailments and dangers, the remedy is setting fixed times for Torah study. Increased and consistent daily Torah study will provide practical guidance in every trial and high internal illumination, strengthening and sustaining one through all temptations, particularly concerning sanctity. The love of Torah filling the heart is the only love capable of nullifying all improper desires. As Rambam advises to avoid sinful thoughts: "Divert thoughts to words of Torah, expanding mental focus on wisdom. Thoughts of illicit relations only dominate when the mind is free from wisdom [Torah wisdom], of which it is said: 'Beloved hind and graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; always be intoxicated in her love.'" Through Torah study and character refinement, one will be properly rectified in humility and loyalty, living eternal life clinging to Hashem.

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