English Hebraisms

In the last post we discussed how the forces of evil all too conveniently use accusations of the other to sidestep one's own divine responsibilities. SHiPRU vs. SHoFaR. But I wonder how many realize that it's not enough to stop harping on others but also not on ourselves?!

The Shofar is G~D's truth, hence there's no need to force its message, just facilitate it; open the heart to its reality; learn it.

We need to allow the Shofar to "chauffeur" our self-improvement!

In that spirit, I'd like to briefly develop one other idea which we also just began to taste in that post: the importance of word-play in appreciating the power of the holy tongue.

There are certain Divine truths that are so deep that they seem driven by a heavenly interest to reach us wherever we may be. They kindov spill over from Hebrew into many other languages, as King David sings (Ps. 23): "my cup runs over!" Personally, whenever I hear one of these cross-lingual phenomena, my heart sings praise to the UNbelievable creativity of the One whom the sages say "spoke the world into being."

So without further ado, here are a few examples. For those who don't (yet) know enough Hebrew to make sense of the connections, or just don't grasp the thread, perhaps ask around amongst your Orthodox friends and then share your conclusions (comments section):

Shofar {Ram's horn} - chauffeur

Purim {holyday noted in Book of Esther} - Pure Him

Sfirot {cosmic emanations} - spheres, saphires, spirit

Pri {fruit} - free

Regel / ragil {holyday; leg; normal} - regular

Lev {heart} - love

Hester {concealment} - hysteria

Preida {seperation} - pride

Pardes {orchard; mystical metaphor for paradise} - paradise

pitui / peti {seduction; gullible} - pet, pit, fit (as in have one!)

Am-reik-ah {a nation empty of divinity, in the aspect of deeds} - America

Yahoo {The essential Divine Name, when only the first three of the four letters are pronounced. The lack of the fourth letter, which makes the ah sound, as per the last entry, indicates an absence of divine deeds} - Major American internet server

And here's the best of them all:

L'hitPaLLeL {to pray} - pull

Isn't this what that quintessential prayer, Yedid Nefesh, is all about:

mashoch av'deicha el ratzon'eicha

"May You draw your servant towards Your Will"

True, we need to speak out, sometimes cry and wail, and of course often sing in prayer. But ultimately l'hitpallel is not just to express ourselves, but to create a heart opening to His Will, after which HE does the work... of pullllllllllling.


~