Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading
Parshat B'ha'a'lo't'cha

Column #28. Contents of this weekly column are based on the sefer: EIM LAMIKRA HASHALEIM, by R' Nissan Sharoni, Ashdod, a guide to correct pronunciation of Hebrew, specifically in davening and Torah reading.

We’ve been introduced to the MAPIK-HEI in earlier columns, but let’s take a “complete” look at it this week.

BET, GIMMEL, DALET, KAF, PEI, TAV (known as the letters BEGED-KEFET) are the 6 letters that can have a DAGESH KAL. These six, plus most of the rest of the ALEF-BET can have a DAGESH CHAZAK. Generally, ALEF, HEI, CHET, AYIN, and REISH do not get a DAGESH in them. (There are rare examples of ALEF and REISH with a DAGESH in TANACH; not so for AYIN and CHET, I think.) Although HEI does not get a DAGESH, it does sometimes have a dot in it at the end of a word, that dot being called a MAPIK.

An unvoweled HEI at the end of a word is silent. If the HEI has a dot in it (MAPIK), then the HEI is pronounced (aspirated). [Similar to the H in the word HOUR, which is silent, as if the word were spelled OUR, and the H in HISTORY which is voiced, sounded, pronounced (or however you want to say it). The word HERB would not be the best example, since Americans and British people don’t treat the H the same way.]

ISHA, woman, spelled ALEF-SHIN-HEI. The HEI at the end of the word is silent. ISHAHHH, her husband, is spelled ALEF-YUD-SHIN-HEI with a MAPIK. You have to hear the HEI. The meaning of the word changes with the sounding or not of the HEI.

There are basically three different situations in which we find a MAPIK HEI. The first is with words related to third-person female. OTAHHH, her (the use of HHH is an exaggeration, for emphasis.) BEITAHHH, her BAYIT, her house. LAHHH, to her. If you want to see a lot of examples of this type of MAPIK-HEI word, go to the first Aliya of Parshat Matot, the portion that discusses HAFARAT NEDARIM, the canceling of an oath, vow, pledge, promise, etc. of a 12-12½ year old girl by her father or of a wife by her husband (with limitations). Bamidbar 30:5-16 has 35 MAPIK-HEIs.
The second type of MAPIK-HEI words are those whose root is GIMMEL-BET-HEI (to grow tall), NUN-GIMMEL-HEI (to shine), KAF-MEM-HEI (to long for), TAV-MEM-HEI (to wonder), MEM-HEI- MEM-HEI (to tarry). Yechezkel 28:2, YA’AN GOVAHHH LIBCHA, because of the haughtiness of your heart... (in G-d’s message through Yechezkel to the prince of TZOR - Tyre). Mishlei 4:18, V’ORACH TZADIKIM K’OR NOGAHHH... But the path of the just is like the shining light... B’reishit 19:16, VAYITMAHHHMAHHH with a SHALSHELET on it, and Lot tarried...

Notice in the last example of a MAPIK-HEI word, that there is also a HEI with a SH’VA in the middle of the word, and that it does not have a dot in it. Nonetheless, it too is sounded. Here’s another example, also related to the destruction of S’dom: D’varim 29:22, K’MAHHHPEICHAT S’DOM... HEI with a SH’VA is heard. This in contrast to a HEI in the middle of a word without any vowel under it, as in the name of the father of the tribal leader of Menache, Gamliel b. P’DATZUR. There’s a HEI there, but it’s silent.
The third type of MAPIK-HEI words are related to some of G-d’s names. YUD-HEI is pronounced KAHHH. HALELUYAHHH. And don’t forget ELO- AHHH. This is a case of a PATACH G’NUVA (from one of the earliest columns in this series), meaning that the PATACH under the MAPIK-HEI is pronounced first, and then the HEI is sounded as if it has a SH’VA under it. So many people read this Name as ELOHA, which is an incorrect (and maybe, therefore, disrespectful) pronunciation of G-d’s name. The words related to the five roots mentioned above, also come with PATACH G’NUVA sometimes. GAVO-AHHH, tall (not gavoha). The matza-reason pasuk in the Hagada, and the could not tarry, L’HITMAHHH-MEI-AHHH.