Bs’d   

                 G-d is (Echad) one, Hashem and
that Divine Oneness is never more apparent then in the deep and subtle
connections between language, even secular language, and life. In this case let
us take the English language, and examine the messages that travel just below
the surface of the words themselves, for here too we can find meaning and
significance.

             “A is for Apple . . . B is for
Bird . . .”  a simple child’s chant with
an interesting twist.  There are
conceivably hundreds of words that start with each of the more commonplace and
popular letters of the alphabet.  A quick
perusal of any standard dictionary might lead one to believe that any
connection between these words is pure chance. 
But we know that there is no (mikra) accident in the world, so let us
look a little more deeply and see whether we can find in the letters a subtle
connection.  Let us look at the letter P,
which is for People and which could be a vehicle that helps connect us to
others.  P is  for  prophets
and presidents, professors, performers, politicians,
photographers, pharmacists and  painters.  P is for playwrights and peacemakers,
physicians and physicists, philanthropists and  poets, policemen and  practitioners.  P is for  press-agents and publishers, principals
and psychiatrists, psychologists and  postmen, pilots  and plumbers.

What is the common
link between all of these people? They all serve in professions
that benefit the public? They are all potential agents for
improving community service. They range in diversity from spiritual guides to
blue collar workers from educators and healers to business leaders and they provide
a gamut of services that form the infrastructure of society streamlining function
and maintaining its cohesiveness.

Since (Lashon
Hakodesh) Hebrew is the root of all languages we should be able to see a
connection to all these professions through the holy tongue. The most
obvious and striking linguistic connection between Lashon Hakodesh and English
in regard to these “P” words is that in Lashon Hakodesh the word for
worker is – Poal, indeed even a working word is a poal, a verb,  and the word for livelihood is – Parnosa. It
gets better, “P” or Peh is the first letter of the word for  pruta  a coin  classically
used by (Chazal) the Rabbis to represent the minimum monetary value – money
being the common medium of exchange in return for services rendered. (Mikra)
Coincidence?  .

             Realizing that there is a
concealed interrelationship within language, even every day secular language
can help us respect the power of speech, and help us to choose our words
wisely.  Using language with due
deference to its power will hopefully open our minds to the thought that the proper
pathway to prosperity is not only through our professions,
but through sincere prayer and philanthropy which leads to
everlasting pleasure and true inner peace.    .    

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia