Noon (נ)

The letter Noon stands for the number 50.

Noon represents different forces/elements which are elemental in our lives:

1. Neshima (נשימה) - inhale or breath; This word shares its root with the word Neshama (נשמה) - the soul. The common root suggests that our soul in some way is tied to our very breath. A connection that is reinforced in the biblical story when G-d creates man by blowing breath into his nostrils.

2. Neshifa (נשיפה) - the exhale; Both inhale and exhale, in Hebrew, start with the same letter - showing that the process of inhaling and exhaling is not truly separate; they are both part of the same breath. What appears as two distinct steps are actually a united process. One cannot live with inhale alone, nor with exhaling only. It is the balance of receiving and let go of what we have that allows us to keep breathing.

3. Na'a (נע) - movement; like ripples in the water, or a revolve around an axis, or the movement breath, our life is in constant motion, whether we notice it or not.

4. Negia'a (נגיעה) - touch; as the air touches our breath and our lungs as it enters our body, as we touch each other in our soul or with a comforting hug - being able to touch; to sense the existence of things other than ourselves, is a deep need all humans and animals share.

5. Nitzal (ניצן) - sprout; every growth, improvement, flourishing, creation - it all starts with a spark, a sprout of life and inspiration.

   
   

In the context of these basic life forces, it is possible to see Noon as a letter representing deep and basic truths of life itself. It is very possible that this is why in the Bible there is one place where the Noon receives a very special appearance - used almost like brackets; where one Noon is facing forward and at the end of the sentence, the other Noon is facing the other side. There too, as commentators suggest, it is due to the connection between Noon and the Aron Ha-Kodesh (the tabernacle). The two Noons can be found in the book of Numbers, at the end of chapter 10, before and after 35-36.

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In this alphabet art series I explore biblical and Jewish-spiritual ideas, as they reflect through the shapes or associated meaning of each letter.

This project is based on my personal musing and not on any Jewish teachings. Any connection to other teachings is unintentional.

My hope is that through this art we get a deeper glimpse into our realities, our worlds illusions and the hope that can be found in the power of the Hebrew letters.