The Fractured Vav
This essay explores the theological significance of the vav ketia (broken vav) in the Hebrew word "shalom" (peace) as it appears in Numbers 25:12, where God grants Pinchas a "covenant of peace." Through interdisciplinary analysis drawing on Talmudic sources, mystical tradition, and contemporary applications, the work develops a comprehensive theology of sacred brokenness. The broken vav is examined as both textual phenomenon and existential structure, offering insights for medical ethics, marriage counseling, and spiritual practice. The essay integrates previous work on Kiddushin to demonstrate how sanctification operates within human limitation, arguing that wholeness emerges not despite brokenness but through its creative integration. The study includes substantial analysis of Chassidic parallels and contemporary applications, presenting the vav ketia as a hermeneutical key for understanding how meaning emerges from acknowledged limitation.