Gimel

Gimel, the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is associated with the word "gamal," meaning camel, and also with "gemilut chasadim," acts of loving-kindness. The Talmud (Shabbat 104a) beautifully teaches that Gimel "runs after" Dalet (the fourth letter, associated with the poor -- "dal"), representing the righteous person who chases after the needy to bestow kindness upon them. This teaching transforms a simple alphabetical sequence into a moral lesson about generosity. The shape of Gimel resembles a person in motion, striding forward with purpose. The Kabbalists see in this the concept of benevolence that cannot remain still -- true kindness is active, not passive. Gimel's association with the camel also carries symbolic weight: the camel is an animal that stores sustenance within itself to share during long journeys through the desert. Similarly, Gimel teaches us to accumulate spiritual and material resources not for hoarding but for distribution to those in need. With a gematria of three, Gimel represents the synthesis that comes from thesis and antithesis -- the resolution of duality. Three is the number of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), the three pilgrimage festivals, and the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim). Gimel thus embodies completeness through generosity and forward movement.

Gimel is always pronounced as a hard "G" sound, as in "go" or "give." It never takes a soft sound in Hebrew. This makes it one of the more straightforward letters to pronounce for English speakers. When writing Gimel, it looks somewhat like an upside-down "L" or a figure taking a step. It has a vertical stroke on the right with a small foot extending to the lower left. In print, it is angular, while in handwritten Hebrew it may appear more rounded. Gimel does not have a final form.