Receiving gracefully is an art — and in doing so, you become a giver
Alef represents the Source of all, and beis signifies the creation of this world. Gimmel is the next step in the process. It’s about turning potential into action.
The root gimmel-mem-lamed can spell gomel — to give. A core purpose of man’s existence is to emulate Hashem in being a selfless provider. For this reason, the gimmel is in the shape of a human being (Shabbos 104a).
We see the same root in gamal, a camel. Camels have incredible endurance; they can go for long periods of time, sustaining themselves through a harsh desert — once they fill themselves up, that is (Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Bereishis 21:8).
If we want to be givers, we need to nourish ourselves first. Once we’ve developed our own resources, then we can support people through their own challenge-filled deserts. We can be gemalim who are gomlim.
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