pertaining to the Hebrew language
5
votes
3answers
223 views
The Absolute Unity of G-d
As we all who know Hebrew can assert, the sufix "im" in the words usually means plurality. How can HaShem be Elohim or Elokim if He is absolutely One and the Only Lord?
1
vote
2answers
108 views
Midrash/Medrash
Can anyone explain to me the difference between Midrash and Medrash? Is one of them known to be more correct (i.e. most likely older)?
2
votes
2answers
59 views
Research Project on How the Revival of the Hebrew Language Led to Jewish Nationalism
Can someone help me with finding sources (ie, things to read) about my research topic of "How the Revival of the Hebrew Language Led to Jewish Nationalism"
2
votes
2answers
153 views
What is the Morph-Phonological Split in Hebrew that makes it so Unique?
Can some one explain this to me?
In a mixed language par excellence, large and monolithic blocks of material are
imported wholesale from each of the ancestral languages. Thus, while the verbal ...
8
votes
3answers
216 views
Did any Achronim Write Books Comparing Arabic to Hebrew?
Did any achronim write books comparing Arabic to Hebrew?
0
votes
3answers
315 views
Good Jewish Blogs about the Modern Hebrew language? [closed]
Are there any good Jewish Blogs about the Modern Hebrew language?
10
votes
4answers
303 views
Can anyone help decipher the bottom two lines of this inscription?
I've recently been fortunate to find a photo of the gravestone of one of my ancestors, R' Nosson (ben Meir) Maas, Shochet of Frankfurt-am-Main (d. 1836). The inscription is quite laudatory:
פ"ט
הזקן ...
5
votes
1answer
122 views
8
votes
3answers
195 views
“Baruch shekivanti…”
There is a phrase of self-compliment people use when they find that they have independently arrived at the same conclusion as someone great. It begins with the words "ברוך שכיוונתי", translated ...
4
votes
2answers
166 views
sameach vs. samach
Nusach S'farad, in the amida ("sh'mone esre") of holidays and Shabas, has "וְשַׂמַּח נַפְשֵׁינוּ בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ" ("v'samach..."), but in sheva b'rachos it has "שַׂמֵּחַ תְּשַׂמַּח" ("sameach...").
...
7
votes
4answers
264 views
“Veadar” as the name of the extra month in leap years?
In older books and other publications that describe the Jewish calendar, it's quite common to see the extra leap month referred to as "Veadar." (One example is here.)
But I have yet to hear that ...
3
votes
3answers
191 views
What is the source of the word “Rabbi”? [closed]
What is the source of the Hebrew word "Rabbi" - which is commonly applied to a Rav, Rosh Yeshiva, etc.?
2
votes
2answers
219 views
What are the Hebrew titles for synagogue functionaries in various communities?
In every Ashkenazic synagogue I've seen, the fellow calling up people to the Bima is called a "gabbai." (Which was originally a Hebrew word for "collector", as in Tzedaka collector; I can see how the ...
3
votes
4answers
327 views
Computer Support for Nekudos
Can it hurt to include Nekudos (vowel marks) when typing Hebrew? Do all systems that support Hebrew lettering automatically support Nekudos? If not, do they at least degrade gracefully?
7
votes
2answers
83 views
Why are several Biblical characters called “man of the Lord” (Ish HaElokim), but no one in the Bible is ever “man of God” (Ish Hashem)?
Ramban makes this observation (Deut. 33:1), and says "anyone with a good intellect" can figure out the reason. Okay I'm stumped ... help me out here please?
10
votes
3answers
154 views
In the Bible, why did robbers bother tunneling into houses to rob them?
Exodus 22:1 speaks about the robber who was found "tunnelling in" to someone's house (vis-a-vis self-defense). Is that just a figure of speech, or did they actually go to that much trouble? (What ...
5
votes
1answer
328 views
What's the difference in Biblical Hebrew between “zahav” and “paz”?
Artscroll calls one "gold", the other "fine gold." Any other distinctions?
2
votes
1answer
88 views
Is it “Vay-SHA-vucha” or “Va-YASH-vucha” in Anim Zemiros?
Is it "Vay-SHA-vucha" or "Va-YASH-vucha" in Anim Zemiros? I've heard both, and seen both in different siddurim. Any insight?
3
votes
1answer
97 views
How do you pronounce the הוי״ה in hataras nedarim (annulment of vows) before Rosh HaShanah?
In the siddurs I've seen, we ask for annulment for vows made "with the name הוי״ה ". That word is left unvowelized. How is it pronounced?
4
votes
1answer
113 views
What does חיו“ש וכט”ס stand for?
What does this abbreviation stand for? It is part of the greeting section of a letter written in Hebrew from the late 19th century. The phrase in which it appears is:
שפעת חיו"ש וכט"ס לכבוד הרב ...
5
votes
2answers
389 views
Pronunciation of משנה הלכות
Are R' Menashe Klein's volumes of responsa pronounced "Mishna Halachos" or "Mishaneh Halachos"? Can someone provide the grammatical explanation please?
8
votes
2answers
173 views
Is there a difference between “p” and “f” when transliterating from English to Hebrew?
When transliterating an English name to Hebrew (e.g. for a Ketubah or Get), is there a way to distinguish between a "p" and "f" sound? E.g. Fine, NY vs Pine, CO. Would both just be spelled (assuming ...
5
votes
1answer
314 views
How is “Jerusalem” pronounced when reading a Ketubah?
"Jerusalem" is spelled the same way in Hebrew and Aramaic (if you ignore the vowels); but in Hebrew it's pronounced "Yerushalayim", and in Aramaic it's pronounced "Yerushleim" (as it appears in the ...
11
votes
4answers
5k views
2
votes
2answers
141 views
1
vote
2answers
114 views
Why is it called Ayin Hara?
Why is it called Ayin Hara (singular) shouldn't it be Anayim Raos (Plural)?
7
votes
4answers
872 views
Hard Yeshivish phrases to translate
Does anyone ever have trouble finding good English translations of certain yeshivish phrases, especially when in conversation with someone who would not understand the original?
Post your favorite ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Schwa+Heh Pronunciation
How should a heh with a schwa under it be pronounced in an intermediate position in a word? E.g. פדהאל, or נהדר
3
votes
1answer
298 views
Kel (Melech) Chanun V'Rachum — do you say Melech?
Some siddurs have the phrase "Ki Kel Melech Chanun V'Rachum Ata" at the conclusion of Ya'aleh v'Yavo. Some have Melech in parentheses; some don't have it at all. Can anyone tell me something about ...
5
votes
2answers
235 views
Davening not in Hebrew
Isn't it better to daven in your first language rather than davening in Hebrew and only knowing part of what you're sayig?
12
votes
8answers
373 views
Why is “Shalom Aleichem” always plural?
Why do we say Shalom Alaichem to one person if Alaichem is plural?
Is it saying you and all of the Jews? Is that why it's plural?
5
votes
4answers
150 views
Shalom Alaichem and vice versa
Why do people respond Alaichem shalom when someone tells them Shalom Alaichem? Doesn't it mean the same thing?
5
votes
2answers
211 views
Definition of Leitzanus
I have often seen leitzanus, mockery, defined along the lines of making a joke out of serious matters. Intuitively this is a good definition, but does anyone have a source which spells it out?
2
votes
3answers
353 views
Where can I find Hebrew etymologies?
In what reliable source can I look up the etymology of English (or other) words stretching all the way back to Semitic languages, especially Hebrew?
I often have suspicions that certain words might ...
6
votes
1answer
479 views
Different traditions in Hebrew pronunciation
The theme of Hebrew pronunciation is one that facinates me and, as such, I want to get some feedback on some issues I've been thinking about for years. I have already discussed some of these issues ...
4
votes
2answers
431 views
Hebrew letters Hey-Yud-Dalet after a name
I'd seen some stuff written about a man, with the Hebrew הי"ד (Hey-Yud-quotes-Dalet) after his name. What does that mean?
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Picking out the alephs
How can you quickly pick out all the alephs on a page of Hebrew printed text?
16
votes
2answers
743 views
