klein@lzpfc.UUCP (03/08/84)
<Forwarded Article from Nemi Klein> SUBJECT: article - Shabbat Zachor This week is not one of the 4 Parshios but I thought I would pose a question in connection with next week. We have a Chiyuv D'oraysa (Biblical Obligation) to hear Parsahas Zachor (it's not clear whether it has to be with a minyan from a sefer Torah, etc.). The Mishna Brura says that one should say the ZHR (Hebrew Zayin, Ches, Reish) as Zeicher (with a tzere - the two dots) and once as Zecher (with a segol - three dots) this is found at the end of the Halachos of the 4 Parshiyos which for some reason is in Hilchos Chanuka (anyone know why?). My question is does anyone know the difference between these two pronunciations it has always been a mystery to me. Especially when you see how people are strict with that - there must be some strong basis. Also why is the whole pasuk (verse) repeated. If we say one is wrong and one is right wouldn't it make sense not to repeat the whole pasuk (verse) but just to say the few words around it? If one is wrong then you are saying the Shem (G-D's name) outside the context of a pasuk (verse). In the Megilla the two psukim (verses) that are repeated it is not as big a problem since G-D's name does not exist in either one (or in the whole Megilla for that matter). If anyone knows the answer please let me know. Anyway a Happy Purim to all. I don't think your boss will take "Ad Delo Yodo" as an excuse for not coming in on Monday. Nemi (pegasus!lzpfc!klein)
martillo@ihuxt.UUCP (Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo) (03/15/84)
The word zayin segol kaf segol resh almost occurs in the t"anak as the pausal form zayin qamac kaf segol resh. This is found in dibrei hayamim rishon (1 Chronicles). It is simply a man's name and has no relevance to the discussion. I have seen references to Hebrew dialectual pronunciations in which cere and shwa na` were pronounced identically and in which patax and segol were pronounced identically. Obviously, this has no relevance to current Ashkenazi mispronunciation. But there is evidence that Ashkenazim once used a different pronunciation. In the Ashkenazi yeshibot, students generally say mishnayos rather than the expected mishnoyos. If at one period the Ashkenazim used the alternate pronunciation I described, they would not have distinguished between zayin shwa' na` kaf patah resh and zayin cere kaf segol resh. In order to make certain that they would not make the error described in the Talmud in a previous response, they might have been careful to pronounce (incorrectly and purposefully) zayin segol kaf segol resh which could not be mistaken as construct for zayin qamac kaf qamac resh. Thus, the second reading is not really a correction of an error in which case only the single word would be said but rather a purposeful pronunciation error to teach us about the maxloqet (disagreement) which eventually lead to the birth of Haman and to tell us what the proper interpretation of the pasuq actually was. By the way, Sefardi minhag is of course correct, and we do not read the pasuq twice. Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo ATT Bell Laboratories Naperville, Illinois (312) 979-2410
martillo@ihuxt.UUCP (Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo) (03/15/84)
I think I know where I saw the reference for pronouncing shwa' and tsere the same way. It was either in ,, sidur beth ya`aqob '' or ,, mor uqziah '' by Ya`aqob me`Emden. I do not currently have these books in my posession but I shall try to get them to look it up. Net readers are also welcome to research the issue.