the language bazaar magic letters the meanings of the Hebrew letters in & Jewish thought This edition first published 2010 (v.1)

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction, in whole or in part, in any form.

published by the Language Bazaar at San Diego CA Zev bar-Lev, founder/director

It is permitted to reproduce individual “key letter” pages for distribution in a synagogue or study group. (The initial pages are for the rabbi or group leader, to explain as needed.) The condition for such distribution is a commitment to send feedback on them, answering the following questions: 1. Did the audience understand, enjoy, and learn from, key-letters? 2. Did they encounter any problems? What specifically were they? Please send this feedback to: [email protected]. Type the subject “FEEDBACK ON MAGLETS” in all capital letters.

language bazaar page 2 :magic letters” in Hebrew preface page i Can you do it?

The “heart” of this booklet is the “magic letter pages,” which can be used as handouts for individual or group study. They are most easily used in order (but can also be used out of order). This page and the next explain how to use them.

It uses short phrases from the Bible and Prayer-book, such as you might see in any synagogue. You don’t have to sound out the Hebrew: If you don’t know any Hebrew, you will be led into it slowly, letter by letter.

Each short phrase in Hebrew spelling is accompanied by: 1. a transliteration (that is, a spelling using English letters instead of Hebrew letters); 2. a translation (that is, the meaning, expressed in English). h„føm diå∫º ‘h i -leå al-pi ados˙em be-yad mos˙e˙* πy by the _____ of Gd, by the hand of Moses

Hebrew spelling “transliteration” (the sound in English letters) “translation” (the meaning)

* If you try to “sound out” the transliteration, you will likely have a little trouble, as you might have with Spanish or French. But you would likely be understood by a Hebrew speaker. FOR REFERENCE: a mama e jet i ski, s´ o no, note≠ u guru, bØt ây eye-ball So adonây “the Lord” rhymes with “my” or “nigh.”

language bazaar preface page ii

a sample (from key-letter page 1) in the header box, a picture and association is given also, the letter’s meaning is given, with an interpretation of for the letter and its sound the form of the letter hinting at this meaning

It is pronounced p as in “pirate” It means “OPEN UP”

As a “magic letter,” p means open up. It includes the words for “mouth” and “face.” Do you see the connection between these sub-meanings? key-letter meaning open up spelling of word or root xtp -np -p sound of word or root pata˙˙ pne¶ tag">pe˙ meaning open a face mouth

HEBREW PHRASE: 1 h„føm diå∫º ‘h i y-leå al-pi ados˙em be-yad mos˙e˙ π by the _____ of Gd, by the hand of Moses Hebrew spelling transliteration meaning

The vowels in the Hebrew words, and even endings and more, often vary form context to context. This feature of Hebrew may seem scary, but in fact it will make your Hebrew study easier, especially if you focus on key-letters—and meaning!

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page iii Who is it for?

You may be interested in magic letters, if:

1. you don’t like “feeling like a child” when studying Hebrew; 2. you don’t like meaningless “bah-bah-goo-goo” methods; 3. you are interested at getting out the soul of Judaism; 4. you want to comprehend the Bible and Prayer-book in the original.

NO ABILITY WITH GRAMMAR OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS ASSUMED. JUST A WILLINGNESS TO TRY SOMETHING NEW! It’s not recommended for children in its present form (but they can appreciate the insights here, too).

Judaism knows the fate of a new idea: 1. First, they ignore it; 2. then they mock it; 3. then they criticize it as irrelevant if not harmful; 4. and then, all of a sudden, it is the most obvious truth in the whole world, so much so that it is “trite.”

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page iv language & thought The “ancient” American linguist Benjamin Whorf (in the 1920’s-30’s) argued that a people’s language influences or even determines their thought. claimed that European languages like English are noun-based and “thing-oriented,” whereas many other languages (including Hebrew) are verb-based and “process-oriented.” Some aspects of his claim have been refuted by subsequenct linguistics. But one can trace, in language and thought, the unique ways that each language connects concepts with each other. Each “language-culture complex” has its own unique configuration of central concepts. So, for example, Japanese zen and the sensei are very different from the chutzpah and rabbi of Judaism.

abundance & order. One well-known example is the concept of “peace.” In English and other European languages, it is understood as the “absence of war”: This is virtually a dictionary definition. (We may begin to see a certain irony, probably unintended, when people use the expression Pax Romana, “Roman peace,” the “orderliness” of the Roman Empire.) But in Hebrew, shalom means not the absence of war, but rather “wholeness, well- being,” from shalem “whole.” (Compare refuah shlemah “[I wish you] complete healing!” So when we ask Mah shlomkhem? “What is your peace?” we mean “What is your well- being?”—not “How orderly are you?” And when teachers do hishtalmut, they become “better rounded, more complete” in their profession—not “quieter, more orderly.” These connections are seen far beyond the one root shalem “complete”: Lots of Hebrew words beginning with the letter refer to ABUNDANCE and JOY. ebw xmw rw Nmw epw htw Kpw sated, “full” happy sing oil abundance drink pour

It is true that words for orderliness as such also begin with this letter: rew wrw Nkw bw ebw Mw jpw gate, lesson root reside sit, settle oath put; name judge

But of course it is the connection between the two concepts that is important. Further, all of the individual words and roots listed here have many well-established further connections throughout Hebrew language and thought.

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page v initial consonants as key letters What evidence is there that initial consonants have such importance? For Hebrew, the evidence is found in how pervasively we find them to be meaningful, as in the seeming “coincidences” shown here—and how helpful these connections can be, even in practical language learning. And there is further, indirect evidence in their pervasiveness in other languages. In English, for example, they are nowhere near as pervasive as in Hebrew, but some of them exist—to an extent that might even be useful for foreign learners.

Hebrew vs. English p/b. In English, p and b are the two clearest “key” consonants: Their primary meanings are “poke” and “bump.” respectively. Some examples:

POKE, poker, pivot, prod, probe, prow, pine, pike, prong, pitch, picket, point, period, pixel, paint, picture, pill, pebble, pillar, peak, pyramid, pinnacle, perch, pedestal, pyre, pierce, pinch, plant, pellet, particle, pea, pimple, pock, pox, penny, plug, peck, prickly, prick, punch, pain, pity, patient, pathetic, penetrate, pimiento, pearl, penis, pecker, pollen, pin, pen, perish, persecute, poignant, plea, plead, pounce, pound, prod, pick, press, pole, pipe, post, paddle, peg peel, pull, push, put, puff, pant-V, BUMP, bulge, bloat, bunch, bloat, bend, bow-V, bounce, booth, battery, base, boat, body, back, brain, build, brick, board, bake, burp, boom, bowel, bulk, blot, blotch, bother, buttocks, butt, “bum” (Br.), bottom, breast, bust- bog, blotter, blog, bubble, balloon, ball, blimp, blob, bosom, big, bus, bold, N, bosom, boobs, belly, bloomers, breeches, bonfire, button, billiards, bulb, billow, bumper, bulldozer, buffer, baggy, briefs, blemish, blood, brow, bucktooth, brush, buffalo, buff, blunt, burlap, berm, bread, butter, basket, bucket, box, beef, beard, blister, booger, bunion, boot, booster, beer, bean, bath, bathroom, bottle, bag, baggage, bowl, box bonus, bead, blip, bullet, bee, bug, bird,

Is a bean so different from a pea, big and round instead of pointed? Is bread necessarily big and round? Not in reality, but their names suggest a recognition of these features (at least as potentials) in the mind of the speaker. The more important point here is that these many examples suggest a reality of English, one which might even be useful for the learner of English. For example, the first time you heard the word berm, you might well have been helped by subconscious knowledge of the meaning of b. In Hebrew, the relationships are more pervasive across the whole vocabulary, as you will see here. But, for example, p and b have different meanings. Their primary meanings are “open” and “split,” respectively. “Open” is also the basis for “mouth,” and “face” as both noun and verb, as well as various words for surprise: “a wonder, surprise, suddenly, elephant, fear”, and also “redemption,” including the two holidays Purim and Pesahh “Passover.” death. In English, death is associated with all sorts of words for going “down.” “Down” is a universal metaphor, apparently, for anything negative.

DOWN, drop, drip, dig, drill, dredge, drag, draw, deep, deep, dip, doom, DIE, dead, deaf, disaster, danger, depress, dry, destroy, drain, deplete, damp, dew, drink, drunk, drown, dribble, drought, December, defeat, depressed, desert, devil, drizzle, douche, dye, descend, dangle, drivel, dizzy, drug, dwindle, diabetes, disease, dirt, disgrace, dislike, “diss”, “dish”, dwarf, drape, dress, drawers, dull, drab, dumb, dunce, dark, deny, distress, disturb, doubt, dread, dissolve, dissipate, delay, detour, difficult, dike, ditch, divide, divorce, discard, distant, disorder, dynamite, damage, decapitate, damn, dirty, dung, diaper, diarrhea, demon, dastardly, deviant, disappear, decadent, derelict, dope, donkey, dog, duck, doll, distract, demented, docile

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page vi In Hebrew, dying (met) is related to roots for being “pulled,” in effect “pulled off stage,” including the words for “erase, wipe out.” Here’s a taste of some of the deeper and more interesting relationships to be seen below involving other letters: jutting out & authority. In Hebrew, “jutting out” (expressed by the sound tz—the letter c) is an important, generally positive concept. It is found in etz “tree” (as in “tree of life”), and also tzadiq “righteous” and tzivah, mitzvah (“command, -ment”). separation … & building. Separation is an extremely important concept in Judaism. It’s the subject of the Saturday evening prayers (havdalah: barukh hamavdil “blessed be He who separates”) and of the beginning of Creation (bereshi bara) in the Bible (vayavdel bén or uvén hhoshekh. The v in the word hivdil, havdalah, vayavdel “separate” is a second pronunciation of the letter b. There is no meaning difference between the two pronunciations. So bén and uvén, both meaning “between,” reinforce the importance of the concept of SEPARATION. So what else is interesting, to bring us to key-letters? Most obviously, there is bahhar banu “He chose us” (i.e. separated us), and baqa’ yam “split the sea.” Then there is also: brakhah “blessing,” baser “to bring good news” and the related root basar “meat” (and also baqar and behemah “cattle”). But more widely, b is also the foundation of creation (bara’ above, which is also the root for “health” bari’) and building (banah) and house (bayit) and even most members of the household: “father, son, daughter, slave, master, husband.” (“Mother” em, interestingly enough, is the family “puller,” the “king” of the family: cf. mellekh “king.”) There are also many verbs: “visit, come, love, work/serve,” and others with key letter b. Not to mention the very important prefix b- “in.” enlightenment … & stretch. Words for enlightenment are, not surprisingly, important and pervasive in Judaism. It is often not known that Torah means not “law” but ‘teaching”; it is related to moreh “teacher.” Other related roots (not related in mainstream Hebrew “triliteral” root-theory or grammar): or “light” (be-or panekha nir’eh or “in the light of your face, we see the light”: note the r in “see”) and ner (ner shel shabat “sabbath candle”), not to mention rabi “rabbi” and rofe’ “doctor” and even roqe’ahh “pharmacist.” But you’ll see later that the basic meaning of r is “stretching out,” as in “wide, long, distant, high” (and “street, country, city, mountain”), as well as, more indirectly: “run, pursue, pilgrimage/foot/leg.”

These examples are a foretaste of the many more relationships that you will see below, based on key letters in Hebrew, in words and phrases from Bible and Prayer-book.

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page vii key letters in kabala The idea that individual letters have their own meanings is not new to Hebrew language. In fact, it is a familiar and widespread assumption. Its sources are found in the literature that is known as “kabala” (kabbalah, qabbalah, hlbq) although this literature was not specially named as kabala or anything else until centuries later; nor was it outside of the scope of Hebrew grammar. The first reference to letters as meaningful is apparently found in the commentary on the first work of kabala, the seffer yetzira or “Book of Creation” by Saadiya Gaon, the first Hebrew grammarian. The Zohar goes a lot further with its “alphabet parade,” expressing why the letter b was chosen to be the first letter of the Torah, along the way commenting on the meanings of individual letters, and thus initiating a large literature of insights and books on the “meanings of the letters.” Originally, Hebrew grammar recognized roots of different lengths, including biliteral and even uniliteral. In the 12th-13th Centuries, “triliteral” root-theory became dominant, unfortunately ejecting other insights from “Hebrew grammar” and relegating them to “mysticism.” Nevertheless, Gesenius’ first European dictionary of Hebrew did connect the meanings of the noun tib “house” and the propositional prefix —b “in.” In later editions this connection was omitted, perhaps because Gesenius realized how many different kinds of such relationships exist in Hebrew. Many scholars and students of Hebrew have written on these connections. Biliteral roots remain a subject of continual interest even in Hebrew linguistics; for example, the semantic similarities between roots that begin -rp: hrp, xrp, drp, jrp, Krp, Crp, qrp, rrp, „rp, ∑rp “fruitful, flower, separate, detail, crush, break through, break up, crumble, separate, spread out.” But why stop at this biliteral insight? Why not include xtp, xqp, hp, hnp, Cup, rzp etc. (“open, open one’s eyes, mouth, turn to, scatter, disperse”)? Similarly, -rk is a convincing biliteral root meaning “round,” as in rk, r¨k, brk, rkk, rkrk “pillow, furnace, cabbage, traffic circle, dance.” So is -sk “cover, contain” in hsk, sok, isk, asik; and -lk “include, contain” in llk, luk, blk, alk “contain, all, cage, jail.” But then all three of these can be brought into a single “uniliteral” root -k “scoop up.” There are connections that go beyond key-letter theory, such as diå “hand” and dcå “side,” or hih “be” and hix “live.” But such connections are individual and idiosyncratic. They do not offer the same sweeping inclusiveness as key-letter theory, which can actually make the understanding of deeper meanings in , and the learning of Hebrew vocabulary far more accesible. In fact, it offers a greater simplification over (triliteral) root theory than root theory offers over traditional word-by- word vocabulary learning.

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page viii How does it all work?

What is important about key-letters? 1. They express interesting connections, according to “Hebrew thought”; 2. They offer a “magic key” to the meanings of Hebrew roots and words. The “core” of the booklet is the key-letter pages (starting on page 1), which can be given out individually in synagogues or shared in a study-group, in the context of study of Bible and Prayers. You are welcome to photo-copy them one at a time, for just such a purpose.

The additional pages, interspersed below, will knit the key-letter pages together into an integrated “course,” teaching the alphabet and sounds, along with aspects of the content of Judaism. The additional “preface” pages here give more general useful information—and can be used now or later according to interest.

******************************************************* phonetic symbols in the transliteration: VOWELS: a mama e jet i ski, s´ o no, note≠ e™ olé ây eye-ball u guru, bØt ¶ stressed vowel So adonây “the Lord” rhymes with “my” or “nigh.”

CONSONANTS: Different spellings are used for different Hebrew letters, for familiar sounds: q (= k) Iraq p˙ phone b˙ = v S, T (= s, t) k˙, ˙˙ strong h, as in Hhanukah ∑ = v ‘, Œ “silent” consonants -, > separators for affixes Ω = hats

language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew preface page ix sliced bread vs. challah

Words in all languages are based on “roots.” In general, English (like most languages) works like “sliced bread”: you can cut any word into “slices.” The central piece is the “root” (stand, play) and other elements are “affixes” (prefixes before the root, suffixes after).

mis/under/stand/ing/s re/play/ed

Some words in English (man-men, take-took, etc.) seem to work like Hebrew words, but not really: Apart from take-took, there are tick, tack, tuck, etc., all different roots.

“Roots” of Hebrew words consist of consonants only—no vowels: Vowels often change in different words based on a single root. Up to ten or more words can be based on a single root. So Hebrew works like “challah”: In addition to the two ends (prefixes and suffixes), the parts of the Hebrew word can be “infixes,” weaving under and over the root: vowels: > letters: Ni—lka—u t—lka—b vowels: > : — > — : word: Nilykºøa tlåkyaå∫º meaning: and (we) are eating in the eating of

English has some seemingly similar examples, like take/took. But these fall short of the Semitic structure: It would be like Semitic only if t-k had a definite meaning by itself (and wasn’t used in tick, tack). and e-e/oo were independently associated with present/past. The only truly parallel examples in English are: Islam, Muslim (based on salaam “peace) borrowed from Arabic, which is a sister-language of Hebrew and exhibits the same “consonantal roots,” such as s-l-m “peace.”*

* It should be noted for accuracy that Islam in Arabic means not “peace” but “submission.” language bazaar “magic letters” in Hebrew key-letter pages

1 2 3 p open up scatter r stretch out light up b split build bless w spill out arrange l raise

language bazaar key letter p.1

1 the key-letter pp meaning: open up

It is traditionally is named pe˙ It means pronounced p “OPEN UP” for “mouth” (hp) as in “pirate” The Hebrew letter p is pronounced like English p as in pirate (especially when it has a dot in it: π). As you will see later, it is related to English P. (Does it look a bit like a backwards P?) As a “magic letter” p means open up. It includes the words for “mouth” and “face,” and also “to open, redeem” and even words for “surprise.” Do you see the connection between these sub-meanings?

surprise redeem open liπy alfπf hdp xtp -np -p pil pelle’ pada˙ pata˙˙ pana˙, pne¶ pe˙ elephant a wonder redeem open to turn; a face mouth Two Jewish holidays begin with p. Which ones? Can you explain why? phrases: Can you think of the meaning of each of these phrases, as you guess the missing word? 1 al-pi ados˙em be-yad mos˙e¶˙ h„føm diå∫º ‘h iπy-leå by the _____ of Gd, by the hand of Moses 2 pne™ shabat neqabla¶˙ hlÅ∫ºqånº t∫Å„å inFπº Let us receive the _____ of the Sabbath (queen)! 3 pit>˙˙u¶ li s˙a’are¶ Ωe¶ddeq qdfcf irFeå„å ily ¨xtºπy ______for me the gates of righteousness 4 ha>adama¶˙ paΩta˙ et piha hÅiπy htÅcπº å hmÅdÅaåhå the Earth ______its mouth (to receive Abel’s blood)

language bazaar key letter p.2 IT’S MAGIC! A little help on the content and context of the above phrases: 1. Torah is given by (literally “on”) the mouth of God, by the hand of Moses; 2. receiving the “sabbath queen” is expressed, in Hebrew idiom, as receiving her “face”; 3. Open the gates of righteousness” is part of the prayer for forgiveness, on Yom Kipur; 4. Here God accuses Cain of murdering Abel, noting that the Earth opened its mouth to receive Abel’s blood.

This should be enough for you to do on your own (e.g. in a study-group). We generally won’t explicate the content and context of the quotes even this far.

Did you translate the blank in 4? Could you have guessed that it means “open”?

If so, that’s interesting, because you didn’t learn the word used there for “open”: It’s not given above!

And that’s the point: Magic letters offer a “magic key” to the meanings of unknown roots and words.

Hebrew words … are presented in “pointed” spelling—with all their dots and dashes: alfπf ,¨xtºπy. But the “roots” of Hebrew words are often presented in “unpointed” spelling (sometimes with a hyphen for additional possible letters): xtp ,-p. We’ll talk more about Hebrew roots as we go along; for now, you’re not trying to “sound out” words by their letters, but rather relying on the transliteration.

language bazaar key letter p.3

2 the key-letter pp meaning: scatter

It is traditionally is pronounced means “_____ SCATTER” named pe˙ __ as in “_____” Æ for “____” (hp) Fill in the header box for review! The magic letter p meaning, “open up,” includes not only “open, mouth, face, redeem, surprise,” but also “scatter.” Can you see “scatter” as being a special kind of “opening up”? Can you connect all the “scatter” words? scatter fl open iryπº hrÅπÅ rπÅ ¨rπº Cp xtp -np -p pri para˙ par pru paΩ pata˙˙ pana˙, pne¶ pe˙ ______cow bull be fruitful scatter ______, ______all from the same root: pr- -rp Do you understand the connections? Of course you “open” a piece of fruit, but the original reference is to scattering of seeds. phrases: (includes review) 1 pta˙˙ et yadk˙a le’a˙˙î¶k˙a {ixyaÅlº {dºiå taf xtåπº ______your hand to your brother 2 al tip˙nu el ha’ob˙ot toboahÅ laf ¨npºty laå don’t ______towards ghosts 3 ∑e>laka˙˙ ha>ko˙en mi>dam ˙a>par rπÅ Mdåmy NhFø˚ xqålÅuº and the priest will take from the blood of the ______4 ∑a>yik˙˙u para˙ aduma˙ hmŨdaå hrÅπÅ ¨xqºiyuå and they will take a red ______5 oyb˙e¶k˙a yap˙uΩu {ibfioa ¨c¨piÅ your enemies will ______6 bore¶ pri haga¶p˙en NpfgÅhå iryπº arFo∫ creator of the ____ of the vine 7 pru u-rb˙u ¨brº¨ ¨rπº Be ______and multiply! The root -rp is especially “fruitful” itself: It is behind the four words on the left above. (Of course you “open” a piece of fruit, but the original connection is the scattering of seeds.) This is only one of the many roots in magic letter p, meaning some kind of “opening up”!

language bazaar key letter p.4

1 the key-letter rr meaning: stretch out

named for ros˙ pronounced r as in “round rainbow” “STRETCH OUT ” “head” (war)

These six words represent just three roots: Mrå ¨mmºor }rfoa }rfaf qoxrÅ qxårº words: ram romemu o¶rek˙ e¶rrek˙ ra˙˙oq re˙˙aq high lift! length long distant stay away roots: Mr Kra qxr ram arak˙ ra˙˙aq high long distant Do you see how these three roots (and their six words) all come from the meaning “stretch”?

Here are six phrases from sidur and Bible containing six different words: 1 me¶llek˙ ram ∑e-nisa¶ a∑Åinyuº Mrå }lfmf (God is a) king _____ and-exalted 2 romemu ados˙em elo˙e¶nu ¨nihFolaf ‘h ¨mmºor (Please everyone) _____ God our-God 3 ˙em ˙˙aye¶nu ∑e-o¶rek˙ yame¶nu ¨nimFiÅ }rfoauº ¨niiFxå MhF the (are) our-life and-the-_____ our-days 4 e¶rrek˙ apâ¶yim ∑e-rab˙ ˙˙e¶ssed dsfxf bråuº MiyπÅaå }rfaf ______(of) nose (= slow to anger), and-great (in) kindness 5 lo’ re˙˙oqa˙ hi’ aihy hqÅoxrº aøl not _____ (is) it (= Torah) 6 mi-deb˙ar she¶qqer ti-r˙˙a¶q qxårºty rqf„f rbådºmy from (a) false thing ______

language bazaar key letter p.5 meaning vs. pronunciation More important than the pronunciation of the points, however, is that the “points” (and the exact pronunciation) are secondary to meaning (just as in English he read vs. he is red). So can you translate the blank words in these phrases? phrases: 1 al tiphnu el ˙a>ob˙ot toboahÅ laf ¨nppºty laå don’t ______towards ghosts! 2 Œe¶nek˙em nip˙ke˙˙u¶ MkfinFieF ¨xqpºpºnyuº your eyes will ______3 ∑e-hir˙˙ab˙ti et geb˙ule¶k˙a {lf¨bgº taf itybxrårºhyuº I will ______your borders

The Hebrew letter p, when it is pronounced p, will always have a dot in it, as earlier; here there is no dot, so it is pronounced ph (f). More important, the presence or absence of dots (in this letter and elsewhere) is largely irrelevant to meaning: Meaning is determined by the letters—and “pirate” and “phirate” and “standing phirate” are all the same letter: Words do not differ in meaning when they differ just in their dots. (A dramatic example involving another letter is mi kamok˙a and mi k˙amok˙a “who is like you?” appearing right next to each other in the Prayer-book, with the letter ˚/k.)

Did you guess the fill-ins? Context helps, of course (especially as you become acquainted with more and more of the text). But apart from context (and logic), key letters can help a lot. ANSWERS:

1. This word was given on page 1p as “to turn; a face.” The common translation is “don’t turn to ghosts!” but it could be translated equally well as “don’t open yourself up to ghosts!” The verb pana˙ could be translated as “to face.” 2. This one should be easy enough, since “open” fits. But this is actually a special verb paqa˙˙ “to open one’s eyes,” not related to pata˙˙ “open”—except by key letter. 3. ra˙˙ab˙ is another root that you haven’t learned, meaning “wide, widen.” But if you used the key letter r and translated “I will stretch your borders,” you got a good answer!

language bazaar key letter p.6

2 the key-letter rr meaning: light up

named resh for ros˙ pronounced __ as in “______” “_____ Æ LIGHT UP” “_____” (war)

Four words represent just two roots: words: apFor haŨprº „aør ti„yarF rop˙e¶ rep˙u>a¶˙ ros˙ res˙î¶t doctor, healer healing head, beginning beginning roots: apr war rap˙a ros˙ cure, heal head, beginning Here are 6 phrases from sidur and Bible containing these words: 1 be>res˙î¶t bara’ arÅ∫Å ti„yarF∫º In-the-______(He) created 2 res˙î¶t ˙˙ok˙ma¶˙ yir’a¶t ados˙em ‘h taårºiy hmÅkºøx ti„yarF the-______-of wisdom (is) fear-of Gd 3 beros˙ ˙a-s˙ana˙ tikate¶b˙u ¨btF˚åty hnÅ„åhåÅ „aør∫º at-the-______-of the-year you-are-written 4 u>netank˙a¶ adonâs˙em leros˙ ∑e>lo’ le>zanab˙ bnÅzÅlº aøluº „aørlº ‘h {nºtånº¨ (Gd)-will-make-you the-_____ and not the-tail 5 rop˙e¶’ kol basar r∑Å∫Å lfl˚ apFor ______-of all flesh 6 rep˙u>a¶˙ s˙lema˙ hmÅlF„ºy haŨprº (I wish someone) complete _____ The “magic letter” r means not only “stretch” but also light up, enlighten. Can you understand “light up” as a metaphoric extension of “stretch”? You might have to “stretch” to “see” it! Do you see how these two roots come from the meaning “light up”? Medicine is one form of “enlightenment”; the head, in Hebrew, is not so much the “thinking” part of the body as it is the “guiding” part, as in phrase 4.

language bazaar key letter p.7

1 the key-letter bb meaning: split

named “house” pronounced b as in “box” or v “SPLIT” (tib)

Here are four phrases from sidur and Bible containing four different words:

1 boqe¶a yam lip˙ne¶ mos˙e˙ h„øm inFpºly Miå eåqFø∫ who splits the sea in front of Moses 2 ba˙˙ar ba¶nu mikol ha’amim MimyeÅhÅ lfl˚my ¨n∫Å rxå∫Å chose us from among all the peoples 3 ˙amab˙>dil be™n qo¶des˙ la-˙˙ol loxlå „dfoq Ni∫ F lidybºmåhå who-separates between holy and secular 4 b˙ayab˙>del be™n o¶r ub˙e™n ˙˙o¶s˙ek˙ }„ox NibF¨ roa Ni∫F ldFbºiåuÅ who-separates between holy and secular

The various words in 3-4 come from two roots:

lidybºmå ldFbºiåuÅ hlÅdÅbºhå Ni∫F NibymF mab˙dil ∑ayab˙del hab˙dala¶˙ be¶n meb˙î¶n separates separated separation between discerns ldb Nib separate between

• Can you find here the name of the observance in which phrase 3 occurs? • Do you see the connection between “between” and the verb based on it, meaning “discern, understand”? (It has made its way into English as a word meaning “expert.”)

“Separation” (distinction) is a major concept of Judaism, as expressed in the Creation story, as well as in havdalah.

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2 the key-letter bb meaning: build

named bet “______” pronounced ___ or ___ “___ Æ BUILD” (tib)

From the primary meaning “split,” (1) the key-letter b has the derived meaning “build”(2-4)—which includes “house, father, visit, love, …”

1 boqe¶a yam lip˙ne¶ mos˙e¶˙ h„øm inFpºly Miå eåqFø∫ who-_____s the sea in front of Moses 2 bone˙ be-ra˙˙ama∑ yerus˙alayim Miylå„Ũriº uimÅxårå∫º hnfø∫ who ______in his mercy Jerusalem 3 bet Da∑î¶d meshi˙˙e¶k˙a {xfi„mº duydÅ ti∫F the ______of David your anointed 4 ab˙ ˙a-ra˙˙amim Mimyxåråhå baå ______merciful (literally: of mercy) Do you see the connection between “splitting” and “building”? Between “building” and “house”? Between “house” and “father”? These are all metaphoric extensions from the primary meaning of b, “split.”

Can you trace the extensions logically? For example, how is morning a “splitting”? How many of these have you seen above? bhFøa ,dbFøe ¨ baå ¨ tiy∫å ¨ hnfø∫ ¨ rqfø∫ ,eåqFø∫ rqF∫å ,a∫Å t∫å ,N∫F hmÅi∫y arFø∫ rxFo∫ love work ¨ father ¨ house ¨ build ¨ morning split visit come daughter son stage create choose review primary & secondary meanings of key letters. b c p r k primary secondary

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3 the key-letter bb meaning: bless

named bet “______” pronounced _ as in ______“___ Æ BLESS” (tib)

From “split” is also derived the key-letter meaning “bless.” 1 Baru¶k˙ ados˙em hamb˙orak˙ }rÅøbmºhå ‘h }¨r∫Å ______(is) ____, who-is-to-be-______ed 2 Eliya¶hu hanab˙ aibynÅhå ¨hiÅlyafå Elijah the-______3 tuboj to ¨nlÅ åiuy ∑i-b˙aSe¶r la¶nu beSoro¶t tob˙o¶t rø∑∫º r∑Fb and-will-announce to us good news ¨krº∫ }¨r∫ }rÅobmº hrÅo∑∫º r∑F∫å r∑Å∫Å barek˙u¶ baru¶k˙ meb˙ora¶k˙ beSora¶˙ baSe¶r baSa¶r bless you all! blessed* to be blessed good news announce meat good news *Because of this word, according to the Zohar, the letter b was given the honor of beginning the Torah. Do you see the connection between “splitting” and “meat”? Between “good news ” and “meat”? Between “house” and “father”?

Can you trace the metaphoric extensions logically? riey∫Å ,hmÅhF∫º ¨ }rF∫å ,r∑F∫å ¨ ro∫ ¨ eåqFø∫ rqÅ∫Å,r∑Å∫Å aibynÅ raF∫º rxFo∫ cattle ¨ bless, good-news ¨ a well ¨ split beef, meat prophet a hole/pit choose

You could say that “blessing” is also a kind of “building.” The complete scheme for b, abbreviated, is: house build split meat bless

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1 the key-letter ww meaning: spill out

named s˙in for pronounced s˙en “tooth” (Nw) sh as in “ship” or s “SPILL OUT” (JOY, ABOUND)

Can you connect these words to shabat? htfo„ hxÅmº∑y r„Å t∫Å„å s˙ote˙ sim˙˙a˙ s˙ar s˙abat drinks joy, rejoice sings, song rest; sabbath

All these roots (and many others) represent the meanings of the “magic letter” w: to spill out. “Spill out” includes “joy” and “singing,” as well as “abundance.” Here are other roots with similar meanings: }pFo„ Nmf„f irF„ºaå ri„yeÅ qxF∑å Mol„Å s˙op˙ek˙ s˙e¶mmen as˙re¶ Œas˙ir Sa˙˙eq s˙alom spill out oil happy is rich play ______phrases. 1 as˙re¶ yos˙>b˙e¶ b˙ete¶k˙a {tfibF ibF„ºoi irF„ºaåå ______-are the-residents-of your-_____ 2 s˙p˙ok˙ ˙˙amatk˙a¶ Œal ha>goyim Miiyoghå leå {tºmåxå }op„º ______Your-wrath upon the-peoples 3 s˙iru lados˙em s˙ir ˙˙adas˙ „dÅxÅ ri„y ‘hl ¨ri„y ______to-the-Lord (a) new ______4 yiSme˙˙u ˙a>s˙amâ¶yim Miymå„Åhå ¨xmº∑ºiy the-heavens ______

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2 key-letter ww meaning: arrange

pronounced __ as in “____” named s˙in for or”____” s˙en “___ Æ ARRANGE” “______” (Nw) This “magic letter” can mean not only “spill out” but also to “arrange, make orderly.” Note the different sub-meanings:

PLACE ROOTS NUMBERS ORDER SETTLE LIE DOWN M„F N„F ebå„f jpFo„ b„F bkFø„ s˙em s˙en s˙e¶b˙a s˙op˙et s˙eb˙ s˙ok˙eb˙ name tooth seven; oath judge sit; settle lie down M∑Å „rfø„ „„F rmFø„ NkFo„ N„FiÅ Sam s˙o¶res˙ s˙es˙ s˙omer s˙ok˙en yas˙en put root six guard, keep dwell sleep; old M„Å reÅ∑F r∑feF eåmFø„ r„ÅiÅ rkÅ∑Å s˙am SeŒar Œe¶SSer s˙ome¶Œa yas˙ar Sak˙ar there hair ten listen, hear straight reward phrases. 1 be-s˙ib˙tek˙a be>betek˙a {tfibF∫º {tbº º„yå∫º in-your-_____ing in-your-______2 be-s˙ok˙bek˙a u>b˙e>qume¶k˙a {mf¨qbº¨ {∫ºkºø„å∫º iin-your-______and-in-your-arising 3 s˙es˙ s˙anim taŒab˙od døbeåtå Miny„Å „„F ______years you-shall-______4 yom ha>s˙b˙iŒi s˙abat lados˙em ‘hl t∫Å„å$ieyby„ºhå Mui the-______th day (is a) _____ for-the-Lord 5 ha>s˙omer a˙˙i anok˙i ikyønaå ixyaå rmfø„hå (am)-the-______-of my-brother I

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1 the key-letter ll meaning: raise

named lamed for lamad pronounced l as in “lightning bolt” “study” ( ) “RAISE” dml

The basic meaning of the key letter is “raise”: Nwl llFhå liyaå l’aF ,qåolaf hle las˙o¶n halel â¶yil elo¶>aq, e’l Œala˙ tongue praise ram; leader Gd go up

But it also covers a variety of other meanings, viewed as “raising,” e.g. “learning, birth, heart.” Nbl bl dl MlÅøe dml -l ,laf Kl lab˙an leb˙ led Œolam lamad el, le- lek˙ white; brick heart birth world, eternity learn, teach towards* walk, go* * Compare “Go up (= down) the street.” So, like r (“wide”), l (“high”) is associated with “spiritual” concepts. phrases. 1 lo’ yilmedu¶ Œod mil˙˙ama¶˙ hmÅxÅlºmy doe ¨dmºlåºiy aøl (they) won’t ______any-more war 2 ∑a>telamde¶m ˙˙uqe¶ ˙˙âyî¶m Miiyxå iqF¨x MdFmºlååtºuå and-you-will-______-them the-rules-of life 3 lek˙ lek˙a¶ mi>moladetk˙a¶ {tdº låommy {lº }lF go forth from-your-_____-place 4 ∑e>a˙ab˙ta eloqe¶k˙a be>k˙ol leb˙ab˙k˙a¶ {bºbålºå lflk∫º {iqføl€a tÅbºhåaåuº iyou-shall-love your-____ with-all-your-_____ 5 a˙ab˙ta Œamk˙a¶ a˙ab˙at Œolam MlÅoeå tbåhåaå {mºeå tÅbºhåaå you-have-loved your-people with-love ______6 me-Œolam s˙me¶k˙a {mF„º MlÅoeåmF your-name (is) from-______7 kol ˙a>ns˙ama˙ te>˙alel ados˙em ‘h llFhåtº hmÅ„Ånºhå lfl˚ every soul will-______God

language bazaar