The Letter Samech: Symbol of Support and Enclosure

The letter Samech symbolizes the support of the fallen. Therefore, it also represents the concept of enclosing like a protective wall. On a deeper level, it symbolizes the great supporter, Hashem, as explained in the Midrash "Otiyot d'Rabbi Akiva":

"Samech, do not read as Samech but as supporter of the humble. This is Hashem, who supports the fallen. As it is stated, 'Hashem supports all who fall.' He supports the upper and lower worlds, supports this world and the next."

The connection between the round shape of the letter Samech and Hashem's support of the spiritual upper worlds and the physical world can be understood according to the concept of tzimtzum (contraction) explained in the book "Etz Chaim". Initially, the infinite light filled everything. It contracted its light (somewhat reducing its intensity) in a specific circular manner, creating a space that allows for the existence of creations. The reason for the circular contraction is "since the infinite light is perfectly equal" it had to contract equally on all sides, unlike a square or triangle with angles. This is why nothing in the natural world exists only in triangular or square forms. There is always a circular aspect, which is the spiritual foundational structure of all creation. Examples include the shape of mountains, rocks, stones, fruits, vegetables, tree trunks, stems, leaves, flowers, the head, the cylindrical shape of the body, as well as the hands, legs, and other limbs.

It follows that the infinite light surrounds and fills everything, as it is written: "The whole earth is filled with His glory." However, His presence in the created worlds is contracted to allow for their existence. An analogy can be likened to a tiny sponge in an infinite ocean. The water surrounds and fills the sponge, which is insignificant in comparison to the vast ocean. In a similar way, the entire spiritual and physical universe is relative to the infinite light. This is why Hashem is referred to as "Makom" (the Place) in many places in the words of the Sages, as He is the place of the world, but the world is not His place. 

Black Fire on White Fire

This is the secret of the whiteness of the Torah scroll parchment that surrounds the black letters and penetrates them as their place. The letters of the Torah are the "code of existence and sustenance" of the universe as the architectural plan of all creation. Just as every element in a building is listed in the architectural plan, and this listing causes its presence in the building, so every detail in the universe is contained within the recorded letters of the Torah, which ensures its presence in the universe. Just as the whiteness surrounds and penetrates the black letters of the Torah as their place, the infinite light surrounds and penetrates all existence to sustain and support it, being its place. This is the secret of the Torah being written before the world's creation as black fire on white fire.

The inner essence of this is one of the reasons for the existence of the four-headed Shin on the head tefillin. In every black three-headed Shin, there is a white four-headed Shin, representing the infinite light that can draw from it and illuminate into the soul of the person wearing the tefillin on their head. The head tefillin relates to the point of the Yud in the name of Hashem, YHVH. This Yud's point connects all creation to the infinite light. In the human body, the head with the neck is shaped like a Yud, the five fingers of the right hand parallel to Hey, the body parallel to Vav, and the five fingers of the left hand parallel to the last Hey in Hashem's name, YHVH. When one wears the head tefillin, they receive the aspect of the Yud's point that connects them to the infinite light.

Indeed, "the precepts of Hashem are just, rejoicing the heart, the command of Hashem is pure, enlightening the eyes."

Thus, through the secret of the letter Samech, all worlds and creatures, both spiritual and physical, are supported and sustained. As the language of the Midrash "Otiyot d'Rabbi Akiva" states: "This is Hashem, who supports the upper worlds, supports the lower worlds, supports this world, supports the next."

On a simpler level, this hints at the instruction to support the poor and assist them with all their needs, as clarified in the Talmud: "Samech, Ayin – support the poor."

The letter Samech first appears in the Torah at the beginning of a word, in the verse: "The name of the first is Pishon; it surrounds the entire land of Havilah." This reflects the essence of support and protection: to surround – to enclose like a fortified wall and to protect.

Its Shape and Pronunciation

Thus, the pronunciation of the letter Samech: Samech, meaning supporter. The shape of the letter Samech is like a circle with no beginning and no end, hinting at the supreme supporter, Hashem, who is beyond concepts of beginning and end, first and last, or any concepts related to the realm of creation. As it is written: "I am the first, and I am the last," and "The whole earth is filled with His glory."

On a simpler level, its shape is like that of a wall that surrounds and encloses on all sides for protection and defense, hinting at the characteristic of the letter. Even in this regard, it hints at the great protector, as it is written: "And I will be to her a wall of fire around and will be for glory within." The condition for this protection is explained in the Midrash "Otiyot d'Rabbi Akiva":

"Samech, why is it closed and not open?

Because when Israel does the will of Hashem, the Shechinah surrounds them like a wall on all four sides. They are not replaced by another seed [meaning, He does not exchange them for another nation], and their seed does not mix with another seed [and they do not marry among the nations]. As it is stated 'For Yaakov was chosen by Hashem, Israel is his treasured possession.' And it says: 'For Hashem's portion is His people, Yaakov is the lot of His inheritance.'"

Therefore, words expressing closure and protection or encirclement and encompassment begin with the letter Samech. Examples include: closed, sealed, secret, end, covering, canopy (which covers from above, for protection), oiling (covering the skin with oil), jailer (prison, a place of confinement and closure).

In the script known to researchers as "ancient Hebrew script" (which is later than the original square Hebrew script, the script of the holy letters as explained earlier in the chapter "Source of the Sacred Language and Script"), the letter Samech was written in the shape of a fish's spine. This is because in later Semitic languages that followed the sacred tongue, the fish spine was called "Samekh" (in Arabic "Samak" means fish). When the original form of the letter Samech, which means 'support' in the sacred tongue, was forgotten or intentionally obscured, it was depicted as a fish's spine because of its meaning in their language at that ancient time.

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