עולם תיותת
The Universe of the Words
or, as it has also been translated-
The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet
The final Chapter
(for the season)
This not the Penultimate - this is the Ultimate
Yes, the Shabbos Torah Study Group is going on Hiatus- [CU@Ki Tetza]
Hidur Mitzvah: The Æsthetics of Mitzvot
We are presented with the minimum requirements of the mitzvot - the least that we need to do to perform a (given) mitzvah - by the Torah and by what Chazal have taught us. But is that enough? [and what has this to do with the letters (תטותת)?]
Our Tradition(s) encourages the addition of an ǽsthetic dimension to our mitzvot. We are encouraged to enhance the different aspects of each mitzvah. For example; it is enough that we construct a sukkah which meets the dimensional requirements and had all the proper aspects which are outlined for us, but we usually go beyond that as we add decorative aspects to the sukkah with our children’s drawings, lively hangings from the thatch and comfortable seating with colorful pillows. This is the meaning of Hidur Mitzvah.
There is a midrash which says that not only are the mitzvot enhanced by our application of our own ǽsthetic contribution but also we Jews who observe the concept of Hidur Mitzvah are also enhanced for it says; “You are beautiful, my love, your are beautiful, through mitzvot…” “You are beautiful through your deeds of kindness and through your prayer, through your faithful attendance at your minion and Divine Service…” And: “Israel beautifies G-d by the performance of His commandments, when Israel performs them in the most beautiful manner in which he is capable of executing.”
Would you rather light the Chanukah using a simple stamped tin one, or a beautiful silver one… or one crafted by your caring hands?
And so, while we can have a Torah Scroll written by a scribe who fulfills all the requirements… all the minimum requirements of writing a Scroll; if we can contract with a highly skilled sofer, with years of training, talent and skills who is capable of adding the small flourishes which take the beauty of the Torah to the “next level”; should we not do it?
We are told that when we can, we should (expect to) pay a third more than necessary in order to obtain the best Etrog available. Why not the most beautiful Scroll… the best Mayim Achronim... the most beautiful parokhet? Why not embellish all all our mitzvot?
The question(s) today then relate the upside-down tahg on a lamed, to the small letters, the upside-down nun [no, not the Christian female equivalent of a monk], and the dots over certain letters.
The next time that you are called on to be the Baal Koreh (or Baal Keriah) and you have the opportunity to read the Parshat which includes Bereshit 37:30 - be sure to look for this very special Tag (say: Tahg) as this is the only place that you will see it in the entire Torah.
While mentioning Taggin, there are only seven (7) letters which have taggin [shin; ayin; ten; zayin; gimmel; tzade] and this group is call Shaynayz Gaytz. Next time you are playing Trivial Pursuit; you will likely have a coup with this knowledge! If you look at the construction of these seven letters, you will notice that they all contain a form of the zayin and, indeed, the taggin themselves look like little zayins. There is a story in the Talmud regarding Moses finding HaShem attaching the taggin which can be found in Menachot 29b.
Small Letters
Small letters occur in only a small number of places. There are really only nine (9) with one being in some dispute. Most commentators have not made comment on these letters.
The places in which they occur are: Gen. 2:4 - Gen. 23:2 - Gen. 27:46 (2) - Lev. 1:1 (most ‘famous’) - Lev. 6:2 - Num. 25:11 - Duet. 9:24 - & Duet. 32:18
There are various explanations given which I can discuss if you ask, otherwise we will go on to look at the upside-down nun.
There are nuns and there are inverted nuns… or: nun hafucha
Numbers 10:35-36: “And it was with the going forward of that ark Moses would say [lit. said] ‘Arise L-rd and your enemies will be scattered and those that hate you you will flee before you’… 36: ...and when it rested, he said [lit. will say] ‘Return L-rd, (to) the myriads of the thousands (or the tents/troops/families) of Israel’.” Particular attention must be given to the littoral translations: said & will say. It is an express rule for the sofer to make use of the inverted nun in this place as (presumably) is it that when the Messiah comes this sections will be removed from here and put into its proper place, with the first section removed. Another reason given is that this is an important ‘book’ which (should) stand by itself.
And, finally, before our summer hiatus: Dots.
Dots
There are fifteen (15) words in the Tanach which are dotted (naked) above the words. It may be that these were inserted in order to note (an) important homiletical teaching. Or again, they may be words which will be deleted when elijah comes, for they were always in doubt. Elijah will, among his other duties, resolve the various scribal disagreements. Another idea: according to Ezra, Elijah will simply ask; “Why have you written these words (with dots)?” The the sofer answers; “I have placed dots over them (to draw your attention).” Then elijah will say; “You have written them correctly.” And he will remove the dots.
Ten of these ‘dots’ appear in either Genesis or Numbers, with the last occurring in Deuteronomy - being rather extravagant, having eleven (11) dots over three consecutive word!
These letters/words are found in: Gen. 16:5 - Gen. 18:9 - Gen. 19:33 - Gen. 33:4 - Gen. 37:12 - Num. 3:39 - Num. 9:10 - Num. 21:30 - Num. 29:15 & - Duet. 29:28
In addition to these verses of Torah, there is also an interesting use of dots in Psalms 27:13 where you will find dots above and below three different words.
I only hope that these discussions have piqued your interest in the Universe of the Letters and the world in which the sofer lives. We take for granted that someone has written the Torah for us was well as the verses in our Teffilin, our Mezuzah and other works that require the talents of the scribe. We take for granted that someone does it but we usually have no idea of the time and effort that must be expended so that we can enjoy the opportunity to perform a mitzvah. Perhaps this overview has given you an awareness of this very different world. They are not simply letters of ink on pages of parchment - I hope that you longer see them in that manner.
Shalom
I will be adding to the ‘blog‘ on an irregular basis this summer and hope to see some comments or questions along the way. “See you in Shul.”
___for
The Shabbos Torah Study Group
Ruffles and Flourish
Esther has the final word.
Yes Virginia, there really are Scottish Jews
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