Subject Purim / Pesach

 

Shalom,

We were looking for the word "Purim". We found it on a Hebrew Calendar and we were wondering if it had anything to do with Passover? Is the date of Passover calculated according to "Purim" or "Pesach"? We thought that the true "Pesach" was not the American Published April 20th. Yes or No?

 

Thank You
Barbara

 

Shalom Barbara,

Thank you for your questions regarding Pesach and Purim. They are two different holy days. Pesach is a High Holy Day and Purim is a minor holy day. Pesach is observed on the fourteenth of Nisan for eight days, and Purim is observed beginning on 13 / 14 Adar. The dates change on the Gregorian calendar from year to year.

As a result of your inquiry the following information has been placed in our Glossary.

 

Best regards,

Rachel Gold

 

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Subject: We Shall Be Fruitful

Dear Akiva,

I enjoy your lessons very much. Especially, I loved your stories about the wells, the one deep artesian well formerly used by the matzoh factory, and the shallow one with unpotable water. The stories are so vivid and endearing also!

Could you please tell me more about "Oo faw Ree Nu" ? I would like to
know the meaning of each word, if you would be so kind. Thank you very much.

Sincerely, Pat

Shalom Pat,

"Oo Faw Ree Nu" {meaning "and we shall be fruitful"} {as discussed in the Gematria 352 on Parshas Vayikra / Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 entitled "Restoring The Karbon Of Tefillah"} is found in Genesis 26:22 after Yitzchok's servants re-dug three wells originally dug by his father, Avraham's servants years earlier. The first two wells Eisek { Quarrel} and Sitnah {Obstruction} were contended over by the shepherds of Gerar. The third well "Rechovos" {Wide Spaces} was not contended over. Yitzchok took this as a sign that then and in the future his descendants would prosper in the land. That being the situation he said, "For now Hashem has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

"Oo Faw Ree Nu"

Vav = Oo
Vav, the first letter is a connector. It is a prefix. The Vav means "And"

Yod - Reish - Pey = Faw Ree
The Pey, Reish and the Yud as shown in the above line are known as the Shoh Rehsh, meaning "root" of a word. It is pronounced as Pi Ree, meaning fruit,product, offspring, children. The connector Vav was added to the beginning of Pi Ree and the Nun Vav were added to the end.

Nun Vav = Nu
The Nun Vav are the suffix that tell us the word is plural future tense. That is defined by the "We" and by the "Shall be" "and we shall be fruitful in the land."

The concluding three English words "in the land" are NOT part of the Gematria. They are added only to provide clarity of the intent. They shall be fruitful 'ONLY IN THE LAND {Eretz Yisroel}.

The fruitfulness that Yitzchok spoke of was based upon the need for grazing space and water for him, his family, his servants, his servants' families and their vast cattle. In addition to drinking, bathing, etc. the water would be used to provide irrigation for fields of grains and fruits {produce} which were required to sustain animals and humans.

This connects to our lesson in several areas. The wells were originally dug by Avraham's servants. They were filled in by the enemy. The wells of the previous generation had to be re-dug. In every sense of life, in the spiritual sense of life, each Jew has to re-dig the spiritual wells of previous generations. Our enemies are always trying to cover our spiritual heritage. It is when we dig these wells in the spiritual sense that we benefit from what they have to offer.

The first and second wells are typical of the first Bais HaMikdash and the second Bais HaMikdash. Our enemies contended with us over them. They were destroyed. The third Bais HaMikdash speaks of the future when we shall {without question} be fruitful in the land of Eretz Yisroel. That is when Hashem has truly made room for Kal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel!!

Gematria 352 teaches us the road to travel so we can achieve this goal. It is Karbon Tefillah. Through our prayers Hashem will "restore", will direct us to re-dig the third well. Hashem will establish the third Bais HaMikdash.

Wishing you the best,

Akiva

 

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Subject: Shochet, Kosher Slaughter Of Animals

 

My great-great-uncle was, I have been told, a kosher butcher. He also wrote a couple of books on Talmudic lore. In one of them, a testimonial says he was an acknowledged authority on "schitoth". What is this?

 

Shalom,

The word is "shochet" meaning "slaughterer." A shochet is one who slaughters animals in accordance with the Torah's directives. He must be thoroughly conversant with the many halachas governing preparation of kosher food. One who would desire to be a shochet must carefully learn each law from an approved teacher and demonstrate his understanding. Then one must learn as an apprentice under an authorized Orthodox shochet. Over a period of time when one demonstrates his meticulousness and complete understanding in this area, he will become recognized as a shochet. A shochet is considered an authority in his field when he is consulted by the community rabbium throughout the nation and the world and by other very respected men in his field. When he is asked a shilah {a question} he gives a pahsak {an answer}. His decision is final!

 

Wishing you the best,

Akiva

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Subject: Adding Jewish Links

Please add to your data base Arutz 7 Web Pages that may be found on www.a7.org/index.htm

http://www.a7.org/index.htm .

Shalom,
Thank you for your comment. We will add Arutz Sheva to our Jewish links page. We are pleased to Jewish Links to our link page that are NOT Messianic and that are none offensive.

Regards,
Rachel Gold
Editor

Subject: Adding Definitions To The Glossary

Please define the word PUNUM (used in Austin Powers - the spy who shagged me.

Bill

Shalom,
Punum is a Hebrew term for face, usually expressed with affection.

Regards,
Rachel Gold
Editor

Editor's Note:

We are pleased to add " G Rated" definitions to our glossary if they Hebrew or Yiddish.

The should pertain to Torah learning...

Please give us example as to how the word was used as above. Also keep in mind Hebrew and Yiddish words often have more than one English spelling...

Subject: Yarmulke, Kippah, Skull Cap

I am doing a word study on the word yamaka. The problem is I do not know how to spell it. I also know there is another word for it as well. I would appreciate any help you may give me. I am not suppose to get any help from my parents for this project.

Shalom
Glenn

Shalom Glenn,
I believe the word you're looking for is "yarmulke", it is a very strange spelling! It is also called "kippah". In America, many people call it a skullcap. Jewish men wear a yarmulke because it represents that Hashem (the L-rd) created the universe. They wear this out of humility and respect for Hashem. Yarmulkes come in many shapes, colors and designs. Normally, on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach, Jewish men wear white yarmulkes. This represents purity and righteousness. The Torah does not command men to wear kippahs, it is a custom. Some men only wear a kippah when saying a
blessing, when praying, when studying, etc. Normally Jewish women do not wear kippahs.

Regards,
Rachel Gold
Editor

P.S. Here is a question for you, Glenn: How did you find out about JewishPath?
--RG

Thank you for the information on the yarmulke. I have a friend who is a conservative Jew in my class. We are good friends and I have learned about anti-Semitism. Even though I am not a Jew, I love reading the Old Testament, and love learning about God, and how he had chosen Abraham to start the Jewish nation. I just saw the movie The Chosen, and now I am reading the book. I loved the movie. He told me about your web site.
JewishPath wrote:

Subject: Tithing - Malachi 3:10

Dear Akiva,

I wish to clear one passage from the Bible.

Malachi 3:10 reminds us, "if you bring ye all the tithes onto the storehouse, G-d will pour you out blessings that there shall not be room enough to receive." Begin to give one tenth of all your earnings.

Where do I bring 10% of my earnings? Shall I give it to the Priest in our Parish?

Please advise.

Shalom Carlota,

The passage that you make reference to in Malachi 3:10 is a rabbinic halacha {meaning law}. This command like all commands in Tenach ONLY APPLIES TO JEWS! If you are Jewish it applies to you. If you're a Christian it DOES NOT APPLY! Christians / Messianics believe that the Tenach {the Old Testament} is done away with. They believe that the New Testament supersedes the Tenach. They are entitled to their beliefs. Observant Jews do not agree with their assessment regarding their beliefs in the New Testament!

However that poses an interesting dilemma. How can Christians / Messianics on the one hand say / teach that the Old Testament is done away with, that the New Testament has superseded it, then turn around and on the other hand teach tithing? It does not work! The New Testament does NOT TEACH tithing! The New Testament teaches giving.

Yet, even more important, the Seven Noaic Commandments given to the non Jewish world does not mention or require any form of tithing! In addition, the Seven Noaic Commandments which are still in force today DO NOT EVEN ASK FOR EVEN THE SMALLEST GIFT!

As a result one must understand that tithing is 100% a Jewish Mitzvah; it is NOT incumbent upon the rest of the world in accordance with the Seven Noaic Commandments.

Now tithing is a very involved subject that centers around the Bais HaMikdash, the Temple, the Kohanim and the Levium. Since we are living in goles {exile} and since we do not have the Bais HaMikdash in Yerushalayim, we are presently exempted from these tithes. Yet the concept of 10% is a misnomer because the 10% tithe is only one of several tithes Yidden {Jews} are instructed to give. In addition to the tithe of ten percent, Leviticus 27:32, there is the poor man's tithe Deuteronomy 14:28, the first tithe Numbers 18:24 and the second tithe Leviticus 27:30.

At present Jews give to many causes like the United Way, The Red Cross, The American Cancer Society, colleges, universities, hospitals, etc. in addition to Jewish schools, shuls, and organizations.

When our temple is restored, all obligations of tithing for Jews will again be in effect.

Also, a good time to dedicate a parsha in a relative's memory or honor is on the day of their death or birth, the Hebrew date {according to the Hebrew calendar}. This is NOT a tithe. It is a gift!

Wishing you the best,

Akiva

I am truly, very, very sorry. I had not Idea.

Sincerely

Maynard A. Moore

JewishPath wrote:

Shalom Norma Moore,

If you would have taken the time to "READ THIS FIRST" before sending E-mail you would have read:

UNFAIR REQUESTS
JewishPath is a labor of Love to the world. Dr. Belk and all the staff of JewishPath are NOT salaried employees. Everyone is a volunteer. Everyone works for a living at a regular job...

We are NOT a translation service...
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We are NOT interested in any of your views about other religions... Every week we receive requests from readers who expect us to do hours of research without a thought of our costs or expenses. It doesn't work like that. Have a heart! Show some kindness! Each subject that we share with you requires hours of research, writing and editing. Please keep this in mind.

Many good questions are presented every week by our readership. Yet, even though that is the case it is not possible to respond to everyone with our limited resources. We truly thank G-d that our "SIGHT" has a readership of over 20,000 per month in less than one year. It is a real blessing to know thousands of readers study on the JewishPath each month. Yet this wonderful blessing, you our readership, is overwhelming for our staff of volunteers.

We would be happy to refer you to a web site that charges for translating.

Ben Silverman
Associate Editor

Hi,

I wanted to know if you could translate the following into Hebrew for me.

It's from Isaiah

I AM THE L-RD;S

I'd like to see what it would look like in Hebrew characters.

Thank you

Maynard A. Moore

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