Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the halachic phenomenon of bitul, the nullification of prohibited substances. The Gemara states that the basic assumption is that sixty times the permitted substance will nullify the non-kosher material. There are exceptions, such as when the non-kosher food has a distinctive quality that interrupts its nullification, such as an item sold by number (not weight or volume), or chametz on Pesach, which is never nullified, even in the smallest amount.

Likutei Halachos Orach Chayyim (Hilchos Pesach) offers mystical ideas in relation to nullification. Sixty is the gematria of the letter samech, which is pictographically a circle. The circle thus represents sixty. The prohibited substance is symbolized by the square, representing the problem or Middas Hadin (strict divine justice), as we find the Choshen Mishpat (the Breastplate) described as square (Shemos 28:16). A square is pictographically represented as the letter mem, gematria forty. Notably, the scriptural number of lashes is forty (Devarim 25:3), which is never actually administered (Makkos 22a), presumably a softening of Middas Hadin.

The combination of Middas HaRachamim and Middas HaDin—the softening of strict divine justice with divine mercy—holds the world together (Bereishis Rabbah 12:15). This is alluded to in the letters of the luchos, Samech and Mem, which miraculously stood, their centers carved out and suspended in midair (Megillah 3a-b). So too, the combination of mem and samech, Middas Middas HaDin and HaRachamim, miraculously sustains the world.

The idea that a prohibited substance is nullified by sixty is portrayed pictographically by a mem (square) surrounded by a samech (circle). Chametz on Pesach cannot be nullified in any amount because it represents an internal distortion—a twisted aspect of a person’s nature that takes root, just as a small amount of leaven spreads throughout the dough. In such a case, it cannot be nullified and overcome by overall goodness. Similarly, if a person reinforces malignant qualities, the goodness cannot nullify them, much as a distinctive substance cannot be nullified.

This is the deeper meaning of the nullification process. As we have seen many times on this blog, the spiritual, emotional, and physical worlds operate along similar lines, because there is one Creator behind them all.