“The eighth letter of the alef-beis is the ches. The ches, according to the AriZal, is a fusion of two letters: the vav and the zayin. On top of the vav and zayin is a chatoteres, a bridge that unites the two.

In essence, vav represents the male principle, the hus­band. Zayin represents the female principle, the wife. The bridge that links them is G-d.

The Maggid of Mezritch illumi­nates the verse ‘The woman of valor is the crown of her hus­band’ as: the zayin, the crown, signifies the position of the woman of valor safeguarding the man.”