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Which letter of the alef-beis isn't found in bentching and what is its significance?

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closed as not constructive by Isaac Moses Jun 17 '11 at 21:48

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The Elya Rabba (Orach Chaim 185) notes that in Birchas Hamazon all the letters of the Aleph Beis appear with the exception of the "Ende Fei." The Elya Rabbah explains that according to the esoteric teachings of kabala the "Ende Fei" is associated with demons and harmful spirits. Chazal purposely omitted the "Ende Fei" to underscore that the intense holiness of this blessing does not allow for a trace of anything harmful or impure.

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Nitpick: Ende Fei. There is no such thing as an Ende Pei. – Dave Nov 10 '10 at 0:50
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Pu Pu Pu Oif Dich! – Gershon Gold Nov 10 '10 at 2:37
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Fi Fie Fo Fum... – Dave Nov 10 '10 at 4:09
The association is so ingrained that when people want a 'pey' פּ sound at the end of a word in modern Hebrew that they (unnaturally) use a non-final pey, e.g. the kid's TV network 'Hop', הופּ, hop.co.il . Using a final 'fey' ף is simply understood as an 'eff' sound. – chaimkut Dec 23 '10 at 9:14
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@Dave See Mishlei 30:6 for the only final Pei in Tanach. – Double AA♦ Nov 29 '11 at 18:02
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