"וזכרתי את בריתי יעקוב"
“I will remember My covenant with Yaakov.” (26:42)

QUESTION: Why is Yaakov’s name spelled with a vav?

ANSWER: Rashi (Vayikra 26:42) writes, “In five pesukim the name Yaakov (יעקב) is written with an extra 'ו' and in five Pesukim Eliyahu (אליהו) is spelled without its usual 'ו'. Yaakov took a letter from the name of Eliyahu as a pledge that he will come and announce the redemption of his children — the revelation of Mashiach.”

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QUESTION: Why did he specifically take the letter "ו" as a pledge and not any other letter?

ANSWER: In Hebrew the word “vav” means “a connecting hook,” as we find in the Torah: “vavei ha’amudim” — “the hooks of the pillars” (Shemot 27:10). The curtains were attached by “vavim” — “hooks” — to the poles that supported them, and in Hebrew a "ו" serves the grammatical function of attaching and connecting one word with another. Thus, the "ו" symbolizes unity. Our present galut was caused by sinat chinam, unwarranted hatred and dissension — (Yoma 9b), and it will end when true ahavat Yisrael and unity will prevail in the Jewish community.

The last Mishnah in Eduyot (8:7) says that Eliyahu’s purpose is only to make peace in the world, as the prophet Malachi proclaims: “Behold I will send you Eliyahu the prophet, and he shall turn the heart of fathers to the children and the heart of children to the fathers” (3:23-24). Therefore, Yaakov specifically took a "ו" from Eliyahu’s name as if to symbolize that he should “hook together,” that is, speedily reunite the Jewish people so that they will merit the immediate coming of Mashiach.

(קול דודי – ר' דוד שי' פיינשטיין)