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  • From: Shoshanna Walker <rosewalk AT concentric.net>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] 5 scrolls or 1
  • Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:06:08 -0400

Shoshanna,
Did the Oral Torah not preserve the pronunciation of
YHWH.

No.

Read the article again - the function of Oral Torah was to explain how to observe the laws in the Written Torah

Again: Ex: 3:15 "Ze Shmi L'Olam" "This is my name forever. Since the word L'Olam is spelled without the customary vav, it can be pronounced LeAlem, to conceal. This implies that the Divine Name should not be pronounced as it is spelled." Stone Chumash commentary, which continues and cites Rashi and Midrash Pesachim


Didnt they write it down when they wrote down
the Oral Torah.

No.


The lack of vowels in Hebrew could
have been compensated by other languages such as
Greek.


If the Jews were not taught to pronounce G-d's Shem Meforash, do you really think the Greeks knew better?????


If the fear of losing the Oral Torah made the
Rabbis write it down, they must have feared loss of
the pronunciation of the name too.


No, because when it will need to be pronounced again, ie; in Temple service, G-d will provide the knowledge to the right person/people, possibly through having it being handed down - NOT PUBLICLY - throughout all the generations.

Somewhat the way Kabbala is taught

Shoshanna






I recall learning from a documentary that there are
Levites in Tunisia from before the fall of the temple,
would they not know? Surely there must have been at
least a few people other than the High Priest that
would have known the pronunciation at any given time.

Best wishes,
Sujata





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