Column #81. Contents of this weekly column are (mostly) 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.

ZF called in another occurrence of KAL (KAF-LAMED) meaning ALL, where the KAMATZ under the KAF is a KAMATZ GADOL (a.k.a. KAMATZ RACHAV, a wide KAMATZ). It’s in Mishlei 19:7. That and T’hilim 35:10 seem to be the only two occurrences in Tanach of a KAF-LAMED with a KAMATZ under the KAF and the word means ALL, where the KAMATZ is a KAMATZ GADOL. Where the word is pronounced KAL. The point is made by some of the classic grammar-aware commentaries. What we don’t have yet is any kind of explanation as to why the word is like that. Why doesn’t the KAF have a CHOLAM (CHASEIR) which would make the word KOL, or if it has a KAMATZ, why isn’t it linked to the word that follows it with a MAKAF, in which case it would be pronounced like all the other KAWLs or KOLs.

Remember that between the two cases of KAL, the T’hilim one is far more known and much more used because it is in NISHMAT at the end of P’sukei D’zimra of Shabbat and Yom Tov.

The author of the Sefer HaChinuch, on Mitzva #606, the mitzva of reciting the special parsha from the Torah when bringing Bikurim to the kohein in the Beit HaMikdash, states:

...and from this we learn that in our prayers and supplications before G-d we must be extremely meticulous and careful with the language and not to say anything before G-d without paying careful attention to the correctness of the words... remember this, my son, and preserve it.

U'L'SHEM YULAD GAM HU...ACHI YEFET HAGADOL:
Above is most of Breishit 10:21. The TAAM (TROP mark) under UL-SHEIM and under YEFET is called MEIRCHA and is a M’SHAREIT; it links its word without a pause to the following word. Yemenites call a MEIRCHA a MAARICH. The TAAM under YULAD and the one under ACHI is a TIPCHA, which is a MAFSIK, a note after which there is a pause. It is called TARCHA by Yemenites. The TIPCHA is a MELECH-class MAFSIK; the pause after it is substantial. Care must be used not to interchange a MEIRCHA and TIPCHA, for this will sometimes change the meaning of the phrase. Was Yefet Sheim’s older brother, or was Sheim the oldest. There happens to be a dispute on this point, but the TAAMEI HAMIKRA answers this question clearly. Sheim is brother to Yefet the oldest. ACHI pause YEFET HAGADOL. To read it ACHI YEFET pause HAGADOL, in other words, to interchange the TIPCHA and the MEIRCHA, would be to distort the meaning of the phrase. It would then mean that Sheim is the older brother of Yefet.

According to the Mishna B’rura (and others), if the swap of MEIRCHA and TIPCHA cause a change in meaning, the Baal Korei must repeat the words with correct the TROP.

VAYIKRA pause B’SHEIM HASHEM. And he (Avraham, still called Avram) called in G-d’s name. B’reishit 12:8. Contrast this with VAYIKRA V’SHEIM pause HASHEM. And he (Moshe) called by (use of the) name: ADO-NOI. Switching either of these cases, changes their meaning.<mtc>

[The Parshat R'ei Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]
[www.ou.org]