Volume 7 Number 81


Subjects Discussed In This Issue: 

Furtive Patach
         [Joshua Segal]
Hallel - Pronunciation (6)
         [Elliot Lasson, Lon Eisenberg, Aaron Naiman, Pinchus Laufer,
Steven Friedell, Justin Hornstein]
Jewish Calendar Equations
         [Gary Davis]
Kohanim, Bones, Medical Students
         [Allen Elias]
Learning Halachot of Shmirat Halashon
         [Lou Steinberg]
New List: Computer Jobs in Israel (CJI)
         [Jacob Richman]
Patah Gnuva (was Hallel - Pronunciation)
         [Michael Shimshoni]


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From: Joshua Segal <jls@...>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 93 08:36:05 EDT
Subject: Furtive Patach

The furtive pa-tach applies to the hei, chet and ayin.

It is common with the chet.  It goes unnoticed with the ayin because
most westerners pronounce the ayin silently.

However, with the hei, there are a very limited set of words to which it
applies.  The words are those in which the hei is a full root letter as
opposed to a matre lectionis (sp?).  In these cases, hei/patach is
properly pronounced ah rather than ha.

The questioner pointed to the aleph, lamed, hei example.  Gimmel, vet,
hei is another example.  I don't have the complete list, but if I
remember right, there are only a handfull of words to which this rule
applies.

Joshua L. Segal <jls@...>

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From: <Elliot_David_Lasson@...> (Elliot Lasson)
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 20:10:41 -0400
Subject: Hallel - Pronunciation

In MJ, Vol #74, Sam Goldish brings up the subject of the word "e-loh-ah
(Yaakov)", as it appears in Hallel.  This is indeed a much mispronounced
word.  First of all, the last syllable is an example of a "patach
g''nuvah" (literally, "stolen patach").  More commonly, it is found in
words ending in chet, as in "Aleinu L'shabe*ach*".  Similarly here, it
is pronounced as "ah" for the last syllable.  However, many who are
aware of this esoteric notion are vigilant to the point where they
accent this last syllable.  The proper emphasis should be on the "lo".
Q.E.D., it is "eh-LO-ah".

Elliot Lasson, Ph.D.
Oak Park, MI
<FC9Q@...>

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From: <eisenbrg@...> (Lon Eisenberg)
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 01:06:57 -0400
Subject: Hallel - Pronunciation

When any guttural letter appears at the end of a word with a patah, the
patah is pronounced before the letter.  This happens with het, 'ayin,
and hay with a pamik (as is the case with e-LO-ah).  However, in this
case (for any of these letters), the word is milel, not milrah (i.e.,
the syllable before the last, not the last, is emphasized).

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From: <naiman@...> (Aaron Naiman)
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 11:44:31 -0400
Subject: Hallel - Pronunciation

Based on my education in deeduk [Hebrew grammer] from two (Israeli)
experts in the subject (but not that *I* am), I agree with what Cantor
Kraus opined, including his reasoning, except for two points:

1) The heh [hay] *is* to be aspirated, as it has a mapeek [dot] in it.

2) The "almost explosive emphasis on the syllable 'ah'", which
sometimes comes from simply stressing the correct fashion for
pronunciation, is misplaced.  It should be in the second syllable
"lo", as indicated by the (e.g., Rinat Yisrael) siddur.

Aaron Naiman | MRJ, Inc.      | University of Maryland, Dept. of Mathematics
             | <naiman@...> | naiman@math.umd.edu

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From: <plaufer@...> (Pinchus Laufer)
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 93 12:40:17 -0400
Subject: Re: Hallel - Pronunciation

As to aspirating the Hay in E-lo-Ah, it has always puzzled me that you get
no argument on ge-vo-ah.  I have yet to hear anybody who does aspirate the
hay in the former, claim that the correct phrase in the megilla would be
"yaasu etz gavoHa chamishim amah"!  I suspect the reason for the error in the
first case is because of the care taken not to say the Shem resulting in
teachers saying EloKa.  It's a bit difficult to find a parallel to the
correct pronunciation which doesn't force you to pronounce it fully.

Pinchus

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From: Steven Friedell <friedell@...>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 10:03:30 EDT
Subject: Hallel - Pronunciation

That's a new one for me--the pronunciation of e-lo-a in ps. 114.  The one
that I have learned (and perhaps this is general knowledge but in every shul
I've been in it's usually mispronounced) is in ps. 118: hazliha-na.  Most
people put the accent on the "li" where it clearly belongs on the last
syllable--"ha".  It is not like hoshia-na.

Steve Friedell
<friedell@...>

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From: <Justin.M.Hornstein@...> (Justin Hornstein)
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 11:12:40 -0400
Subject: Hallel - Pronunciation

I believe that Cantor Kraus is right on the money. My understanding is
that the hey is its own (unvocalized) syllable, and as such requires a
"Patach Ganuv", translated as the "furtive" patach (or "filched", for a
more earthy rendering). Chet and (mappiq--hey with a dagesh) hey in this
final position warrant such a patach to vocalize and maintain the sound
and character of the garoni (throaty, or "gutteral" according to the
grammarians) letter, rendering it somewhat as an inhalation into the
throat. Like the noun Noach, luach (board,calendar) and the verb
lishloach (to send) are examples with chet, among many others.

						Justin Hornstein
						<jmh@...>

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From: Gary Davis <davis@...>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 11:12:45 -0400
Subject: Jewish Calendar Equations

My father put together on one sheet the equations and tables necessary for
calculating the correspondence between Jewish and Gregorian dates.  It
takes a bit of study to figure out what to do, but I could probably send
copies to those who are interested if they send me their postal address. 
This is a limited time free offer, and only applies to the first couple of
dozen requests!  I cannot guarantee that recipients will be able to use
the equations/tables, but my father may be able to answer some of the
questions you may have.  He would certainly be honoured to be asked!

Gary Davis

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From: Allen Elias <100274.346@...>
Date: 15 Jun 93 12:44:38 EDT
Subject: Kohanim, Bones, Medical Students

Reply to Reuven Jacks, vol.7 #73

According to the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 372), a Kohen may enter your
apartment if the bones are not from a Jew, but he may not touch the
bones.

If you have no way of finding if they are from a Jew or not, I recommend
asking the Chevra Kadisha for advice. The Chevra Kadisha in Jerusalem
and the Israeli Army chaplains have a way of identifying bones.

If the bones are from a Jew, you are not allowed to keep them even one
day. It does not matter whether you are a Kohen or not. They must be
brought to burial immediately.

Can't you ask to see the death certificate or the family's consent?  The
medical school office should have a copy.

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From: <lou@...> (Lou Steinberg)
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 93 12:33:03 -0400
Subject: Learning Halachot of Shmirat Halashon

Roxanne Neal mentions a minhag of studying shmirat halashon Friday night
before benching.  Can anyone suggest a source (unfortunately, preferably
in Englsih) to do this learning from?

[I'm pretty sure that the "classic text" on shmirat halashon of the
Chafetz Chaim has been translated into English. Someone who has it can
tell us the English title and publisher, I hope. Mod.]

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From: Jacob Richman <jrichman@...>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 16:01:20 -0400
Subject: New List: Computer Jobs in Israel (CJI)

Shalom!

Computer Jobs in Israel (CJI) is a one way list which will 
automatically send you the monthly updated computer jobs document. 
This list will also send you other special documents / announcements
regarding finding computer work in Israel.

During the first 2-3 months (startup) please do not send any requests 
to the list owner regarding "I have this experience who should I contact".
Eventually this list will be an open, moderated list for everyone to 
exchange information about computer jobs in Israel.

To subscribe send mail to <listserv@...> with the text:

sub cji firstname lastname


Good luck in your job search,

Jacob Richman (<jrichman@...>)
CJI List Owner

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From: Michael Shimshoni <MASH@...>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 93 14:36:27 +0300
Subject: Patah Gnuva (was Hallel - Pronunciation)

Sam Goldish mentioned  the pronunciation of Elo-ha  or Elo-ah.  Cantor
Kraus is completely correct (as if he  needs me to say so...), this is
a case of a "patah gnuva", which  should be known to every high school
graduate in Israel (unfortunately it is not so :-( ).

It might be of some minor interest that in my copy of the Even Shoshan
Dictionary, in the Grammar section,  Even Shoshan brings Elo-ah as one
of the examples for the use of patah gnuva.

Michael Shimshoni


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End of Volume 7 Issue 81