Today is 17th day of the Omer.

Pey (also spelled peh, pei, feh, fey) is the seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Numerical value: 80
Sound: “P” with a dagesh (dot) and “F” without a dagesh
Meaning: Mouth, Open, Blow, Scatter, Edge

This means the mouth (as the means of blowing), (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; according to: – accord (-ing to), command (-ment), mind, speech, spoken, talk, two-edged, wish, word.

Ancient Hebrew Alphabet Pey
The Semitic word “pey” means a “mouth” and there are several ancient Semitic pictographs believed to be this letter, none of which resemble a mouth. The only exception is the South Arabian pictograph p. This pictograph closely resembles a mouth and is similar to the later Semitic letters for the letter “pey”. 

This pictograph has the meanings of speak and blow from the functions of the mouth as well as the edge of something, as the lips are at the edge of the mouth. 

The modern Hebrew name for this letter is “pey” and as previously identified it is the Hebrew word for mouth. There are two sounds for this letter, the stop “P” and the spirant “Ph” or “f”.

The early Semitic p evolved to the letter p in the middle Semitic scripts. The letter continued to evolved into the p in the late Semitic script. This letter evolved into the פ and ף (final pey) in the modern Hebrew script. The middle Semitic p became the Greek Π and the Latin P.

Begin each night’s count with the blessing:
Hebrew: “Baruch atah YAHWEH Eloheinu Melekh Ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al S’firat Ha-omer.”

(English: Blessed are You, YAHWEH our Elohim, King of the Universe who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.) 

Please click The Refiner’s Fire 2022 Omer

Psalms 119:129-136 TLV PE פ

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful.
Therefore my soul obeys them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of Your words gives light,
giving understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I opened my mouth wide and panted,
for I longed for Your mitzvot.
¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is fitting to those who love Your Name.
¹³³ Direct my footsteps in Your word,
and let no iniquity get mastery over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression,
and I will keep Your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make Your face shine on Your servant,
and teach me Your decrees.
¹³⁶ Streams of water run down from my eyes,
because they do not observe Your Torah.

By Rabbi Simon Jacobson DAY 17       TIFERET OF TIFERET:  Compassion in Compassion

Monday evening, May 2  we count seventeen days of the Omer. True compassion is limitless. It is not an extension of your needs and defined by your limited perspective. Compassion for another is achieved by having a selfless attitude, rising above yourself and placing yourself in the other person’s situation and experience.  Am I prepared and able to do that? If not, why? Do I express and actualize the compassion and empathy in my heart? What blocks me from expressing it? Is my compassion compassionate or self-serving? Is it compassion that comes out of guilt rather than genuine empathy? How does that affect and distort my compassion? Test yourself by seeing if you express compassion even when you don’t feel guilty. Exercise for the day:  Express your compassion in a focused and constructive manner by addressing someone’s specific needs.