Column #29. 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.

There are several chapters in the book on TAAMEI HAMIKRA, a.k.a. TROP (cantillation marks). Learning about TROP will help not only in Torah reading, but also in davening, as many passages of the davening - most significantly, the Sh’ma, are often printed in Siddurim with TROP.
So don’t be afraid. Let’s go.

TROP serves three purposes: to indicate on which syllable the accent of a word falls. (TROP is usually, but not always, on or under the accented syllable.

TROP helps us read a pasuk with proper phrasing. It helps us know which words go with others, where to pause or stop in the reading. This, in turn, can (will) greatly enhance our understanding of Tanach and davening.

And the third function of TROP is to guide us in singing the words of Tanach (and parts of davening) in a beautiful way that will enhance our reading.

TROP is divided into two main types - LINKING (TA’AM M’SHAREIT or M’CHABEIR) and SEPARATING (MAFSIK). A linking TROP will indicate that the word with the TROP is linked to the following word. A separating TROP indicates that there is some kind of stop, pause, break before the next word.

A MAFSIK (separator) can occur on its own, without a M’SHAREIT (or more than one) on the previous word(s). A M’SHAREIT is always linked to a MAFSIK following it, or another M’SHAREIT which is connected (eventually) to a MAFSIK. ZAKEF GADOL and Y’TIV are two MAFSIKIM that always stand alone; they never have a M’SHAREIT linking with them.

Among the MAFSIKIM, there are differences in the power or amount of the stop or pause. MAF- SIKIM can be further divided into four groups.
KEISARIM, the strongest stops, are the SOF PASUK and the ETNACHTA.
MELACHIM, less strong than the first category, but still a prominent pause, are SEGOL, SHALSHELET, ZAKEF-KATON, ZAKEF-GADOL, and TIPCHA.

TIPCHA before a SOF PASUK or an ETNACHTA is not a MAFSIK but becomes a M’SHAREIT (called M’AILA) and behaves like a METEG (the little vertical line next to a vowel, indicating a secondary accent).
MISHNIM indicate a short pause, include R’VI’I, ZARKA, PASHTA, Y’TIV, and T’VIR.

The fourth category, with the shortest pauses, is called SHALISHIM and include PAZEIR, KARNEI PARA, T’LISHA-G’DOLA, GEIREISH, AZLA, GEIRSHA- YIM, MUNACH followed by a vertical line, and P’SIK.
The M’SHARTIM (linking TROP) include MUNACH, MAHPACH, T’LISHA-K’TANA, KADMA, PASHTA, MERCHA, MERCHA K’FULA, and DARGA.
The MAKAF (high up hyphen) is not a TROP but also links one word to the next.

Looks like this will be a bit more complicated that anticipated. We’ll take it slow. For now, here’s the names and marks in Hebrew to match to the transliterated names used in this column.

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