From: hiller@smartlink.net (Mimi Hiller)
Thanks to Brian Mailman (San Francisco, CA) for sharing this with us.

HOW ALEPH GOT TO BE THE FIRST LETTER

The Almighty decided to it was time to order the letters. He asked each on in turn why it should be the first.

"I'm tallest," cried the 'Lamed', "And the others will be able to see my waving crown all down the line." "No," said the Shin. "I should be first. I have three crowns, and the people should behold my glory first." And on it went down the line. Or rather, no line, because they weren't in order yet. After all the letters had given their case for being the first, the Almighty noticed the Beth hadn't spoken. "And what's your reason," the Almighty inquired.

"Oh, Lord, I have no reason. I can think of no way that I'm so special I should go first." "Then you will," said the Almighty. "My Chosen will be a humble people, and you are a humble letter." Then he noticed one of them was missing. Aleph. Where was the Aleph? They finally found it in one corner of the heavens. "Where were you? Didn't I call all the letters together?"

"Oh lord, i can't even make a sound. i don't even deserve to be in the company of the other letters. and i barely even have acrown." The Almighty was so please by this display of humbleness, in His Infinite Wisdom, placed Aleph, the silent letter, at the head of the parade of letters, with Beth following close behind.

And that's how we got the aleph-beth.

Das hebraeische AlefBeth: Alef

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