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11
votes
2answers
308 views
What does “prohibited l’chatchila” mean?
To me the phrase prohibited l’chatchila seems a bit confusing. Can someone explain what this means in plain and simple english?
(context: someone says "action X is prohibited l’chatchila")
6
votes
1answer
1k views
what is “kodesh”?
What does the word קֹדֶשׁ (sometimes קודש), kodesh, mean?
Its form is that of a noun, like אֹכֶל or בֹּקֶר or לֹבֶן. But קדושה is a noun, and (I'm pretty sure) it means "the state/quality of being ...
9
votes
1answer
123 views
Selah ~ Does it mean 'forever' 'certainly' 'basket' 'pause', 'yahoo', a kabbalistic meditative device, or none of the above?
Does anyone know a Jewish interpretation of "selah" in the psalms? Literally it seems to mean something about basket or hanging, but I don't know how this works into psalms.
Jewish sites say it may ...
3
votes
1answer
124 views
Meaning of Mappik in יה
One more question about mappik
(I don't know what happened to me, but this topic somewhat disturbs me lately :))
What is the meaning of the mappik in the following Hebrew words:
יָהּ
הַלְלוּיָהּ
...
8
votes
3answers
127 views
Identifying a chasid
Say you meet a stranger who is a member of a particular community of chasidus. What is the most polite and direct way to ask the person of which community they are a member? I.e. a question whose ...
7
votes
1answer
149 views
On Deuteronomy 28:23, Rashi says copper is “mazi'a”. What does this mean?
I have this question on Rashi every year in Ki Savo. Deuteronomy 28:23 says: "And the heavens above your head will be like copper and the earth that is beneath you, iron."
Rashi says that the heavens ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Father the mercy
Lubavitch prayer books include the words אָב הָרַחֲמִים where other prayer books have אַב הָרַחֲמִים (specifically, in the amida of musaf and mincha of Shabas Shuva, and in a prayer said after ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
In Shabbos Shacharis which is right “sheboro bemidas rachamim” or “sheboro bemidas HOrachamim”?
In the brocho of “hakol yoducho” Shabbos Shacharis, some siddurim have “sheboro bemidas rachamim” while some have “sheboro bemidas HOrachamim”. Why?
8
votes
2answers
104 views
What are some good resources for finding the meaning of unfamiliar Hebrew and Aramaic words in Acharonim?
I have no trouble using Jastrow for Tanach and Shas but I find it difficult to apply to Acharonim. How might I use it more effectively? Are there peculiarities of grammar I'm missing?
For a few ...
3
votes
3answers
172 views
Why do we call it “candle-lighting” time?
Since it is still permissible to do melacha (work forbidden on shabbat) including lighting shabbat candles until shki'a (sunset), which is 18 minutes (or 40 minutes in Jerusalem) following ...
7
votes
4answers
393 views
Does “ki” have four meanings or one?
There is a well-known statement by Resh Lakish in Gitin (90) that
כי" משמש בד' לשונות: אי, דלמא, אלא, דהא"
"ki" expresses four meanings...
There has been discussion over the ages as to what ...
8
votes
4answers
224 views
What is the meaning of the inscription on the back of a m'zuza?
The string "כוזו במוכסז כוזו" is written on the back side of the parchment in many a doorpost scripture.
According to the Ra"sh (hilchos m'zuza 18)
וכן נהגו לכתוב באשכנז ובצרפת כנגד ה' אלקינו ה' ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Closing abbreviation ושכמ"ה
Every [anonymous] question asked in the responsum Torah Lishmah ends with an address to the answerer and the abbreviation ושכמ"ה (e.g.). The Otzar Rashei Teivos had only one entry for this ...
3
votes
3answers
306 views
What is “chad gadya” really all about?
Why do we sing "chad gadya" at the pesach seder? What is it supposed to be about?
Also, as a side question, is it "d'zabin aba" or "dizvan aba"?
14
votes
3answers
316 views
Why aren't Tefillin called Totafot?
They're called Totafot in the Torah, so why do we call them Tefilin?
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Etymology of “Grager”
What is the Etymology of “Grager”?
Grager is the noisemaker we use on Purim during the Megila when Haman's name is read.
4
votes
1answer
89 views
why does Ruth 1:8 use עמדי instead of עמי?
Ruth 1:8 says:
ח וַתֹּאמֶר נָעֳמִי, לִשְׁתֵּי כַלֹּתֶיהָ, לֵכְנָה שֹּׁבְנָה, אִשָּׁה לְבֵית אִמָּהּ; יעשה (יַעַשׂ) יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם חֶסֶד, כַּאֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם-הַמֵּתִים וְעִמָּדִי.
8 And ...
12
votes
3answers
199 views
the aggadic concept of a finite number of words to speak
Is there any truth to the common claim that each person has a predetermined number of words that he can speak in his life? Source, please.
If so, then how does it work? In particular (with sources or ...
3
votes
1answer
190 views
What is the origin of “shul”?
What is the origin of the word "shul", meaning "synagogue"? It seems derived from the German "Schule", meaning "school". Moreover, Italian Jews call synagogues "scuola", which also means "school" ...
7
votes
6answers
196 views
What do people mean when they say “Kaballah”?
I recently spoke to someone who said she was interested in learning Kabbala but could not find any classes. I mentioned to her she may want to try learning Tanya because there is a lot of Kabbala in ...
10
votes
5answers
161 views
What is the nature of the numeral “ashtei-asar” (11)?
What is the nature of the numeral ashtei-asar (meaning 11) as in וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי פָּרִים עַשְׁתֵּי-עָשָׂר (Pinchas 29:20):
What is the basic word? Is this using semichus, as in ashtaim of ...
1
vote
2answers
114 views
Why is it called Shalosh Seudos?
Why is the third Shabbos meal called Shalosh Seudos - literally three meals - would it not be more appropiate to call it Seuda Shlishis?
6
votes
2answers
314 views
What is a hakira?
In the parlance of Talmud study and lomdus, what does the word "Hakira" mean and how should it be used? Why are Hakiras useful?
5
votes
1answer
107 views
Different expressions for “permitted” in the gemoro and elsewhere
The Gemara and other sources use different words to say that something is permitted. There are "shari" "muttar" "leis lon boh".
Is there any difference in shades of meaning between these and others ...
3
votes
2answers
395 views
What is the meaning of 'Tishbi' in 'Eliyahu haTishbi'?
I've heard theory that it's a place, but have never heard of a place with a similar name...
5
votes
1answer
130 views
דילמא == Dilemma?
Is there documentation to prove that the Aramaic word "דילמא" is a transliteration or derivation of the Greek word "dilemma"?
If so, this fact is informative to G'mara-learning in understanding the ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Does the word toad (קרפדה) appears in tanach?
Toad is קרפדה (karpada) in hebrew.
Toad is crapaud in French.
The two words have the same 4 consonants in the same order, which does not seem to be by mere accident. Looks like one language has ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
4
votes
2answers
59 views
'amel' vs. 'osek'
We speak of being עָמֵל בַּתּוֹרָה (e.g., Rashi to B'chukosay 26:3 and :14) and also of being עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה (e.g., birchos haTora in the morning). What is each (especially as contrasted with the ...
1
vote
2answers
120 views
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים: דְּצַ“ךְ עַדַ”שׁ בְּאַחַ"ב
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים: דְּצַ"ךְ עַדַ"שׁ בְּאַחַ"ב. We call the last Makah "Makas Bechoros" - why didn't Rabbi Yehuda say בְּאַחַ"ם
3
votes
3answers
127 views
Is there a single syntactic class “פעיל” in Biblical Hebrew?
Is there a unique class of Biblical Hebrew words of the form "פעיל"?Is the putative class of Biblical Hebrew words strictly a class of nouns or adjectives?If not, is it strictly divisible into two ...
1
vote
2answers
138 views
3
votes
3answers
75 views
All, every: how to interpret these words in the Scriptures?
What is the correct way in interpreting, understanding the words "all", "every" in the Bible? My problem is that I learned maths for years and sometimes it makes me very hard to understand things. ...
2
votes
3answers
141 views
Meaning of the a word in an magen david
I have a magen david with שוי writen inside and I want to know the meaning
3
votes
2answers
151 views
Welcoming someone back after a visit to Israel
Is it proper to say "Welcome back" after someone visits Israel because of the lower level of Kedussah between Israel and Chutz LaEretz?
1
vote
3answers
99 views
Egel- Why EILEH is Plural
Why when the Jews made the egel, a single bull, they use the words Eilah Elohecha Yisroel which is plural?
5
votes
1answer
203 views
Are the Aramaic root ק.ב.ל and the Hebrew root ק.ב.ל related?
When the word מקבילות comes up in parashas T'ruma, Rash"i defines it based on the Aramaic root ק.ב.ל, commonly found in the preposition לקבל (against or opposite) to mean physically across ...
1
vote
2answers
116 views
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?
2
votes
2answers
109 views
Why does the book (Megillah) of Esther never use the Hebrew word “armon” for palace?
It talks about the capital and "the king's house", but never uses the Hebrew word for "palace", "armon", as appears in Psalms and elsewhere. (Or does it appear and I missed it?) Why not?
1
vote
1answer
109 views
Shushan Versus Shushan Habirah
What is the difference between Shushan and Shushan Habirah or is there one, and when does the Meggilah use each one? (Please quote sources)
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Is the term/idea “inviolate” used in the old testament?
I was discussing the idea of privacy with my ethics professor, and he mentioned the concept of "inviolate personality". When it came up he was pretty sure the word inviolate either comes from or is ...
5
votes
1answer
121 views
2
votes
1answer
274 views
Issues with Wording, Honorifics, Symbols, Rashei Teivot on Tombstones
In my work on translating tombstones (Ashkenazic - Slovakian or what was once Austro-Hungarian) towns, I occasionally come across phrases or honorifics that are difficult for me to understand. I do ...
2
votes
2answers
217 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
97 views
Why does the term Eretz Yisroel never appear in the Torah?
After anylyzing the term "Eretz Yisroel" I could only find it in 3 instances in Nach. http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/5681/does-the-term-ever-appear-in-tanach
Why does the term Eretz Yisroel never ...
3
votes
3answers
102 views
1
vote
4answers
310 views
Tzanua…Not Tznius!
People often say tznius when they mean to say tzanua. Do you know of any other examples in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Yiddish in which people use the noun but they really mean to use the adjective?
1
vote
1answer
41 views
יוֹשְׁבֵי דְּבִיר
In Y'hoshua 15:15, and again in Shof'tim 1:11, going to the city of דְּבִיר is referred to as "going to יוֹשְׁבֵי דְּבִיר" (something if not unique then nearly so (in Y'hoshua, anyway; I haven't ...
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?
