Shin

The Flame with Three Tongues. Mother letter of fire — three flames rising from one root, sometimes four (the four-headed Shin on the head-tefillin belongs to the world to come). She is the letter on the doorpost (Shaddai), the hush of Shabbat and the hiss of Sheker (falsehood): fire warms or burns depending entirely on the hearth. Dramatic, illuminating, not to be left unattended.

Shin flared: I am Shaddai, the Almighty's own initial! And was honored — but Sheker, the lie, had already stolen her for its front letter, flanked by Qof and Resh, conspirators' feet all in a row. Truth (Emet) meanwhile stands on the alphabet's two feet planted wide. She burns hotter about this than about anything.