"Your hand opens, satisfying all living things with favor."
(Psalm 145:16)

Pei is the seventeenth letter, and its shape is like an open mouth, facing to the left, with a tooth exposed. Similar to how the ayin represents eyes and the ability to see, pei is the ability to speak.

The word "peleh" or "miracle" starts with a pei, emphasizing what a blessing the gift of speech is to mankind. It separates us from the animals that cannot articulate ideas, and thereby gives us great power and responsibility. Words can uplift, educate, and unite. However, words can easily destroy a person and their reputation, which is considered "l'shon hara" (evil speech.)

Its numerical value is 80, which is the age Moses led the Jews out of Egypt and spoke the Oral Law to the nation.

"Chalom" in Hebrew means "Dreams," like that of Yakkov Aveinu (Jacob our Father) who dreamt of angels traveling up and down a ladder between heaven and earth. The gestural qualities of these paintings explore the dreamlike spiritual qualities of the Hebrew letters.