Column #33. 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.

Last week, we started going through davening (and brachot) in order to point out some common mispronunciations (or other problems) with the goal of sharpening our davening (which is the main purpose of this column). Let’s do more.

ASHER YATZAR: Watch out not to swallow an AYIN with a CHATAFPATACH, a tempting thing to do. V’LA-AMOD, LA’ASOT (last word). Not V’LAMOD and LASOT. Remember that a CHATAF PATACH is shorter than a full PATACH, but you still have to hear it. Also, u’VA-ra VO. The word baRA (created) is MILRA, accented on the last syllable. But when it has a conjunctive VAV before it, the VAV is pronounced U (as in FOOD) and the DAGESH drops out of the BET. Further-more, in the same phrase followed by BO, the DAGESH in the BET of BO drops out also, and the accent of ba-RA, now u’va-RA, migrates backwards and the word becomes MIL’EIL. u’VA- ra VO. And here’s a real shocker. Those who say at the end, right before the sign-off of the bracha, AFILU SHA’A ACHAT (we wouldn’t be able to survive and stand before You, even for one hour - probably, one moment). The word AFILU is not spelled the usual way ALEF-FEI-YUD-LAMED- VAV, but the YUD dropped out, the LAMED has a DAGESH CHAZAK, and the word is MILRA — a-fiLLLU (not a-FI-lu).

Following the bracha for physical well-being, we say the bracha for spiritual well-eing, ELOKAI, N’SHAMA: Important to pause after the word ELOKAI, G-d: the soul... (not ELOKAI NESHAMA) V’RATAHHH, Y’TZARTAHHH... there are six words that end in MAPIK-HEI, meaning the HEI should be sounded (aspirated, like the British herb, as opposed to the American herb). VEI-LO- KEI AVOTAI, and the G-d of my fathers. The ALEF of ELOKAI becomes completely silent and the VAV that precedes it becomes VEI. (In other words, not V’ELOKAI, rather VEI-LO-KAI.)

[Ed. note: Only in a minority of cases, does a mispronunciation change the meaning of what we are saying. Mostly, the word is still the word. But our goal should fine-tuning and polishing our davening. BOREI MINEI V’SAMIM. How many times have most people heard Havdala without noticing that the word is V’SAMIM, not B’SAMIM. Does it make a difference. No. And yes. I suspect that some readers skip this column because it is too picayune.

Others might skip it because their Hebrew is flawless, or close to it, they know all, or most, of these things, and they don’t usually mispronounce words when they daven. But, I hope there are some readers who have said B’SAMIM for years and are now trying to switch over to V’SAMIM. Hebrew is a beautiful language. Davening is a special use of that beautiful language. They both deserve our efforts towards improvement.]

BIRCHOT HATORAH: Again, watch out not to swallow the AYINs with CHATAF PATACH. LA’ASOK (not LASOK), V’HA’AREV NA, (not V’HAREV). YO-D’EI (not YODEI and not even YOD-EI. It’s YO-D’EI.

LISHMAHHH. Watch those MAPIKs
BIRCHOT HASHACHAR: Here’s an interesting one. First bracha. la-SECH-vi (MIL’EIL), not la-sech-VI. [Ed. note: Checked several Siddurim. Many don’t indicate accents. Some do. Found la-SECH-vi a few times. Rinat Yisrael seems to disagree. They have la-sech-VI. Waiting for reader feedback to enlighten or further muddle the point.]

The word after la-SECH-vi is MILRA, bi-NA. It’s easier to say it the Rinat Yisrael way (if it is correct) - la-sech-VI bi-NA (both words MILRA). But that doesn’t mean it’s right that way. We’ll await the final verdict.

Part of the point of all this is to become move aware and observant of what we daven. It takes us off automatic pilot and allows us to concentrate. <mtc>

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