Vayikra 11:42

כֹּל֩ הוֹלֵ֨ךְ עַל־גָּח֜וֹן וְכֹ֣ל הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עַל־אַרְבַּ֗ע עַ֚ד כׇּל־מַרְבֵּ֣ה רַגְלַ֔יִם לְכׇל־הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ לֹ֥א תֹאכְל֖וּם כִּי־שֶׁ֥קֶץ הֵֽם

“Whatever goes on its belly…”

There is a tradition (Kiddushin 30a) that the letter Vav (ו) of the word gachon (גָּחוֹן) is the exact midpoint of our Holy Torah in its letters.

“darosh darash” (Vayikra 10:16) is the midpoint in words. “Ve-hitgalach” (Vayikra 13:33) is the midpoint in verses.

The initial and final letters of these [midpoints] together numerically equal “One Messiah” (Mashiach Echad).

For when the Children of Israel unite to come to the Land of Israel, Hashem will hasten to bring the Messiah; Amen, may it be His will.

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The Three Midpoints:

1. GachoN (גָּחוֹן) – Center of letters.
2. Darosh daraSh (דָּרֹשׁ דָּרַשׁ) – Center of words.
3. Ve-hisgalaCh (וְהִתְגַּלָּח) – Center of verses.

The Letters:

• Initial letters: Gimel (3) + Dalet (4) + Vav (6) = 13
• Final letters: Nun (50) + Shin (300) + Chet (8) = 358

The Result:

• Total: 13+358=371

Now, compare this to the phrase “One Messiah”:

• Echad (אחד – One): 1+8+4=13
• Mashiach (משיח – Messiah): 40+300+10+8=358
• Total: 13+358=371