Peh to Play: Shifts in the Letter Shape over Time

... According to a tradition received from [R. Yehudah] the Chassid, the initial preference is that the upper right corner of the curved pei be angular, both inside and outside. Its lower [right corner], by contrast, should be rounded on the outside, just as all the curved letters should preferably be rounded at the lower [right corner]. However, the inner edge [of the lower right corner] should be angular, so that the white space within the letter will resemble a beis, for this is a tradition received from [R. Yehudah] the Chassid. [See fig. 15]

By initial preference, the [final] pei should be rounded at its upper right [corner], just as the curved pei is [rounded] at its lower [right corner]. Nevertheless, it is a tradition received from [R. Yehudah] the Chassid that [its upper right corner] should be angular, like the curved [pei]. [The letter] should preferably be long enough so that if [its leg] were to be bent [to the left], a curved pei would be formed....²

... Peh, bent: According to the Chasid, its upper right corner should be squared both inside and out, but below it should be rounded on the outside like all the bent letters, which lekhatchilah are rounded below. However, inside it should be squared, so that the white space inside will have the form of a beis; this is the kabbalah of the Chasid. One should make a point on its face on the left-hand side; this point extends downwards to the dot inside, so that the dot and the extended point have the form of vav, and accordingly the dot should be rounded on its lower left side. One must take care that the dot does not touch, even by the smallest amount, anything except the point from which it hangs.

Peh, straight: Lekhatchilah it should be rounded on its upper right side, just as the bent form is below. But the Chasid says one should make it squared at the top like the bent form is at the top. Lekhatchilah one should make it long enough that were it bent round it would have the form of bent peh. One must take care that the dot not turn outwards, lest it resemble tav (Beis Yosef in the name of the Rosh)....³

(8) He should pay careful attention to the letters that are written large or small, to the letters that are punctuated with dots above them, to the letters that are written differently to the others, such as the letter Pé and the letters that are curved, in the way the scribes have carried on the tradition. He is to pay attention to the tittles and the number of them in each case—one letter having above it a single tittle, another having seven tittles. All the tittles have the shape of the letter Zain and are to be thin as a hair.

There are various traditions which are passed from scribe to scribe concerning the large and small letters, and the dots, and the altered letters. Ideally one does these, but their omission does not invalidate. One should take care that the dots do not resemble yods or any other letter forms (responsa of R’ Menachem Azariyah, #38).⁴

(1) There were formed seven 'double' letters: Bet [b/v], Gimel [g/j], Dalet [d/dh], Kaph [k/kh], Pe [p/ph], Resh [r/rr], Tav [t/th], each has two voices, either aspirated or softened. These are the foundations of Life, Peace, Riches, Beauty or Reputation, Wisdom, Fruitfulness, and Power. These are double, because their opposites take part in life, opposed to Life is Death; to Peace, War; to Riches, Poverty; to Beauty or Reputation, Deformity or Disrepute; to Wisdom, Ignorance; to Fruitfulness, Sterility; to Power, Slavery.

(2) These seven double letters point out the dimensions, East, West, height, depth, North, South, with the Holy Temple in the middle, sustaining all things.

(3) These seven double letters He formed, designed, created, and combined into the Stars of the Universe, the days of the week, the orifices of perception in man; and from them he made seven heavens, and seven planets, all from nothingness, and, moreover, he has preferred and blessed the sacred heptad.

(9) Pe, predominant in power, crowned, combined, and formed Venus in the Universe, the fifth day of the week, and the right nostril in man.

(1) Seven Doubles:/ Bet (ב), Gimel (ג), Dalet (ד),/ Kaf (כ), Peh (פ), Resh (ר), Tav (ת)./ They direct themselves with two tongues/ Bet-Bhet, Gimel-Ghimel, Dalet-Dhalet,/ Kaf-Khaf, Peh-Pheh, Resh-Rhesh, Tav-Thav,/ A structure of soft and hard,/ strong and weak

(2) Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT (בגד כפרת)/ Their foundation is/ Wisdom, Wealth, Seed,/ Life, Dominance, Peace and Grace.

(3) Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT (בגד כפרת)/ in speech and in transposition./ The transpose of Wisdom is Folly/ The transpose of Wealth is Poverty/ The transpose of Seed is Desolation/ The transpose of Life is Death/ The transpose of Dominance is Subjugation/ The transpose of Peace is War/ The transpose of Grace is Ugliness

(4) Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT (בגד כפרת)/ Up and down/ East and west/ North and south/ And the Holy Palace precisely in the center/ and it supports them all.

(5) Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT (בגד כפרת)/ Seven and not six/ Seven and not eight/ Examine with them/ And probe with them/ Make [each] thing stand on its essence/ And make the Creator sit on His base.

(6) Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT (בגד כפרת) of Foundation/ He engraved them, He carved them,/ He permuted them, He weighed them,/ He transformed them,/ And with them He formed,/ Seven planets in the Universe,/ Seven days in the Year,/ Seven gates in the Soul,/ male and female.

(15) Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT (בגד כפרת)/ With them were engraved/ Seven Universes, seven firmaments,/ seven lands, seven seas,/ seven rivers, seven deserts,/ seven days, seven weeks,/ seven years, seven sabbaticals,/ seven jubilees./ and the Holy Palace./ Therefore, He made seven beloved/ under all the heavens.