Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading
Parshat Sh'mini

Column #22. The 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 met two kinds of dots inside letters: The DAGESH KAL appears only in the letters BEGED-KEFET and indicates that a BET is a B rather than a V, that a PEI is P rather than F, that a KAF is K rather than the second CH in CHACHAM. (The first one, of course is sounded differently, but don't ask most Ashkenazim to demonstrate the difference.) Same for GIMMEL, DALET, and TAV - even if the distinctions have been corrupted or lost. We've covered DAGESH KAL in past columns. Then there is the MAPIK in a HEI, which indicates that it shall be sounded (aspirated) rather than be silent. 

Let us focus on the other DAGESH, the DAGESH CHAZAK. It usually does not appear in a letter at the beginning of a word, nor after a SH'VA NACH, but rather after a vowel. It indicates that the letter should get extra emphasis, and a dual function. Let's take a look at T'hilim 130 (which we say so often, unfortunately). SHIR HAMA'ALOT, MIMA'A-MAKIM... The MEM in HAMA'ALOT has a DAGESH CHAZAK in it. The MEM is emphasized and it is as if there are two MEMs: one with a SH'VA NACH closing off the first syllable, HAM, and a second MEM with a PATACH making up the second syllable. The pronounce this correctly, one has to linger fractionally on the MEM. The next word has two DAGESH CHAZAKed letters. The second (of four!) MEMs, and the KUF. Start with a light MEM and then a heavy one. MIMMA'AKKIM. Slight extra stress on the KUF.

Many times, a BEGED-KEFET letter will have a DAGESH CHAZAK. It behaves like a DAGESH KAL and a DAGESH CHAZAK. SHABBAT. The dot in the BET is a DAGESH CHAZAK. But it also makes the BET a BET, rather than a VET. In addition, it calls for emphasizing the BET. SHAB-BAT. 

Occasionally, there is a DAGESH CHAZAK at the beginning of a word. The most common pasuk in the Torah, And G-d spoke to Moshe saying. ...EL MOSHE LLEIMOR. Emphasis on the LAMED - it has a DAGESH in it.

ALEF, HEI, CHET, AYIN, and REISH do not get DAGESHes, ever. (Okay, almost never. There are rare examples of ALEF and REISH with a DAGESH in Tanach.)

Most people don't distinguish in their pronunciation between a letter with or without a DAGESH CHAZAK. Some do. And when you hear it in Torah reading, it is an extra pleasure to the ear. Once in a while, though, we come across words whose meanings can change because of a letter that's supposed to be emphasized and isn't... or vice versa. MINIM, as in HAL'LUHU B'MINIM V'UGAV (T'hilim 150:6) has a DAGESH in the NUN. It should be emphasized. B'MINNNIM. MINIM without the DAGESH in the NUN means types, species, etc. MEICHAMATO means from his anger. The second MEM is not emphasized, because it has no DAGESH. But look in T'hilim 19:7 (its in P'sukei D'Zimra of Shabbat). ...V'EIN NISTAR MEICHAMMATO. Nothing is hid from its heat.

The definitive HEI (when it is PATACHed) puts a DAGESH CHAZAK in the following letter. SHOMEIR, guardian. HASHSHOMEIR, the guardian. As in the description of G-d in T'hilim 146:6. HASHSHOMEIR EMET LA'OLAM, G-d is the keeper of truth forever. Emphasize the SHIN. On the other hand, the questioning HEI is voweled with a CHATAF-PATACH and does not put a DAGESH in the next letter. When G-d asked KAYIN about HEVEL, his snappy answer was, Am I my brother's keeper, HASHOMEIR ACHI ANOCHI? The SHIN is not emphasized. The meaning of the words change with an emphasis or lack of one. This same situation shows up more obviously in HABEIN, the son or as in HAVEIN YAKIR LI EFRAYIM, is this the son... Its a question, not a statement. Makes a difference. But in this case, the lack of a DAGESH gives us VET.