Column #45. 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.

One of our readers raised another aspect of “better davening” and we’ve been meaning to spend a column or more on the topic, so let’s begin it now.
The issue is “putting the comma in the wrong place” and thereby distorting the intended meaning of the pasuk or sentence.

A few weeks ago, we mentioned an example of this, caused by the beat of the melodies used for this particular poem. ADON OLAM, ASHER MALACH, B’TEREM KOL, Y’TZIR NIVRA... <wrong> As is, it means, “The Master of the World, Who reigned (as king), before everything, a creation was created”. Not exactly what was intended. It should be, “Master of the World, Who reigned before anything was created”. That’s what was intended. It only works if we keep the phrase KOL Y’TZIR NIVRA together, even though the melody is trying to separate the KOL from its two partners in the phrase.

Here’s another, from the second passage of the SH’MA, first pasuk. If we listen to (keep) the mitzvot... to love HaShem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and soul. No, that’s not it. Not, L’AHAVA ET HASHEM ELOKEICHEM pause UL-AVDO B’CHOL L’VAVCHEM... It’s this way (you can tell be the TROP). L’AHAVA (to Love G-d) and to serve Him, UL-AVDO now pause, how should we love G-d and serve Him? Answer, B’CHOL L’VAVCHEM... The phrase, “with all your heart and soul” applies to L’AHAVA, to love Him, and UL-AVDO, to serve Him. Test yourself to see if you’ve been saying this correctly or not. If not, work on placing the comma properly and see how it fits.

Here’s one from SG’s email. Shabbat & Yom Tov morning, end of P’sukei D’Zimra. SHOCHEIN AD, MAROM V’KADOSH SH’MO. G-d is the SHOCHEIN AD, the One Who dwells forever, and we say that His Name is exalted and holy. That’s the correct way of phrasing the sentence. SG points out that with the Yom Tov tune, it comes out okay. But on Shabbat, many (most) will chant SHOCHEIN AD MAROM pause V’KADOSH SH’MO. That puts MAROM on the wrong side of the comma.

A bit earlier in the davening (same passage), we say HAMELECH HAYOSHEIV AL KISEI RAM V’NISA. The way most people say this, the way most siddurim seem to present it, and the way ArtScroll siddur (to name but one) translate it, is that the King (HaShem) sits on a high and lofty throne. RAM V’NISA is describing the KISEI that the King sits on. Rinat Yisrael siddur is the only one I’ve seen that puts a comma after KISEI, so that the sentence reads: The King (Who) sits on a throne – He is High and Lofty. RAM V’NISA describes the King Who sits on the Throne.

How important is this? I don’t know. Which is right? I don’t know (but I tend to trust Rinat Yisrael because of the extensive research and editing that was done). Readers - feedback, please.

Here’s another example that SG sent in his email. I’m particularly bothered by this one because I don’t think I realized the problem before SG pointed it out. I’ll take readers’ feedback on this one too (and on anything else, for that matter).

Kaddish. Titgadeil (or Yitgadal, that’s not the issue now) V’Yitkadeish Sh’mei Rabba (we answer AMEN here and maybe there is a comma, but NOT a period) B’Ol’ma Di V’ra Chir-utei (or Kirutei - again, not the issue now) - here’s the period or at least a semi-colon. May His Great Name grow exalted and be sanctified in the world that He created according to His Will. Then comes V’YAMLICH MALCHUTEI... And may His Kingship reign...

B’CHAYEICHON... in your life- times... Most people seem to separate off the B’OL’MA DI V’RA CHIR-UTEI from the first part of the sentence (because the AMEN breaks it) and the V’YAMLICH MALCHUTEI gets added to it, when really it is the beginning of a different sentence, or at least, clause. Say it over in your head a few times and see if these comments makes sense.

That’s it for this week. We’ll report on readers’ comments next week, IY”H, and have more examples of misplaced commas, then or in future columns.

I’d like to thank SG for “pushing” me in this direction. When you start paying attention to commas, you also begin to take note of the meaning of our davening. And that’s the whole point of this column. Take yourself off of automatic pilot and start really paying attention to what we are saying. <mtc>

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