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The
Almighty decided it was time to put the letters in order. He
asked each one 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 Bet hadn't spoken.
"And
what's your reason," the Almighty inquired.
"Oh,
L-rd, 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.
Alef.
Where
was the Alef?
They
finally found the Alef in one corner of the heavens.
"Where
were you? Didn't I call all the letters together?"
"Oh
L-rd, 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
a crown."
The
Almighty was so please by this display of humbleness, in His
Infinite Wisdom, placed Alef, the silent letter, at the
head of the parade of letters, with Bet following close
behind.
And
that's how we got the Alef-Bet.
To
return to All About Alef Bet Click
here.
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