[Avodah] Vov K'tia

[Cantor Wolberg]

When God promises Pinchas that His covenant of peace be with him, the  
vov in the word "shalom" is split. Generally, a split or incompletely  
written letter renders the Torah pasul until it is repaired.  
Obviously, I needn't tell this group the various brilliant insights  
and commentaries as to the explanation of the vov k'tia. However, I'd  
like to submit my own
insight. When Pikuach Nefesh is involved, we can violate all but three  
of the Torah's mitzvot.  I submit that the vov k'tia is allowed  
because the act of Pinchas involved Pikuach Nefesh -- hence, the Torah  
is still kosher even with the incomplete letter of the vov.

On a more mystical level, the gematria of vov is six. In mathematics  
six is the second smallest composite number, its proper divisors being  
1, 2 and 3. Since six equals the sum of these proper divisors, six is  
the smallest perfect number. Even though Pinchas did what had to be  
done, it nevertheless damaged the smallest perfect number (vov). I see  
a similarity to the account of Yaakov wrestling with the "angel" and  
even though victorious, he suffered the physical impairment because  
the mysterious man (or angel) touched him on the gid hanasheh causing  
a permanent limp.

ri
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