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What is the correct pronunciation HaGeshem or HaGoshem?

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1  
What about HaJashem? – Double AA♦ Mar 28 '12 at 3:47
There was a similar discussion somewhere on this site about whether to say "Borei Pri HaGofen" or "HaGefen" – Menachem Oct 16 '12 at 16:04

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up vote 8 down vote accepted

Since geshem changing to gashem is dependent on whether the word comes at the completion of a phrase (esnachta or sof pasuk), the real question is:

Is the ability to make rain a praise in itself (ending the phrase- hagashem), or is it only a praise if it is used to sustain life and must be followed by mechalkel chaim b'chesed (hageshem)

There are many in each camp. Interestingly, even though Rav Moshe writes hagashem, the sefer Tefila K'hilchasa quote a pamphlet (Mechalkel Chaim) which claims much support for hageshem and claims that Rav Moshe retracted.

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Who wrote the Mechalkel Chaim? – Gershon Gold Oct 3 '10 at 17:07
My sefer doesn't say. I tried googling to no avail, but came up with this interesting piece on why the siddurim that have hageshem have morid hatal with a kamatz: webcache.googleusercontent.com/… – YDK Oct 3 '10 at 22:15
Thanks for trying – Gershon Gold Oct 4 '10 at 3:04
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Using this analysis, would your answer be different for the משיב הרוח that appears in תפילת גשם? For two different takes (note the puncutation marks, too!) see hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=43203&st=&pgnum=168 (Roedelheim, 1832) and hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=43461&st=&pgnum=183 (Prague, 1934). – Yosef Dec 30 '10 at 15:03
Interesting point. A blogger on the site I linked to above wanted to say the opposite since we don't continue with mechalkel chaim, but you sound more correct since we continue the sentence liklala... It's hard to tell what is put in by the publishers and what is based on halachik dikduk. – YDK Dec 30 '10 at 15:46
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up vote 4 down vote

Actually the sefer you are refering to is Birchos HaChaim. It is available on Otzar HaChochma. Based on what I have read so far, the correct reading would be haGESHEM. (I have not found yet where he says that Rav Moshe retracted, but I have only gone through half of the 97 pages). The nusach of haGASHEM seems to have been put in by a maskil... He also discusses if haTal should be with a kametz or a patach. Check the sefer for a full explanation.

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Moshe Flohr, Welcome to mi.yodeya, and thanks very much for the additional information! We'd love to have you as a fully-registered member, which you can accomplish by clicking "register," above. – Isaac Moses Oct 18 '10 at 0:28
See Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos vol. 1, 81 w& vol 2, 58 who cites like you claim that the pronouncing of the word as “Gashem” was introduced by Maskilim, Rav Sternbuch puts this notion to rest, quoting earlier sources that also said “Gashem” (even though he personally argues). – cmb Oct 16 '12 at 9:31
up vote 1 down vote

See excellent article here: http://ohr.edu/this_week/insights_into_halacha/4903. it explains not only the why's but also the who's.

another relevant link : http://www.dinonline.org/2011/11/07/pronunciation-of-gashemgeshem/

also i would not rely lmaaseh on the tefillah kehilchasa's claims that rav moshe retracted. if he would have, it would be listed in more reliable sources. many others including rav elyashiv said gashem as well. I think he is confusing it with rav shlomo zalman auerbach who is quoted in halichos shlomo as retracting after reading birchos chaim. the tefillah khilchasa also claims that the gr"a said geshem - and that the steipler said gashem - both the exact opposite of every other source.

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