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From: axm9839@acf4.UUCP (Asher Meth)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: "Purim & Parshas Zachor"
Message-ID: <132@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Mar-84 18:14:54 EST
Article-I.D.: acf4.132
Posted: Tue Mar 13 18:14:54 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 19:47:17 EST
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Organization: New York University
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Yom Gimel Leparshas Tzav / Parshas Zachor, 9 ADAR II 5744
corresponding to Tuesday, March 13/'84 (lemisparam)

Re : Nemi Klein's questions about Purim & Parshas Zachor

Especially in the spirit of Purim, as we learn from the Megillah,
"Kol haomer davar beshem omero meivi geulah laolam" :
I consulted my brother Kalman Zvi on this as he is more "up" on it.

Nemi asked basically one question : what is the whole business of
Zeicher & Zecher ?

My brother's information is based on lectures he heard from Rabbi Mordechai
Breuer, from Jerusalem, ISRAEL, an authority on "kisvei yad" (manuscripts)
of Tanach (the 24 "books" of the Bible).

Before the time of the Vilna Gaon, about 200 or so years ago, we find NO 
Halachic literature on the matter of Zeicher/Zecher. In fact, the Sepharadim
have no such "question" in this matter - they say Zeicher (w/ a tzeire).

"Zeicher IS an actual, REAL word found in Tanach - Tehillim (Psalms) 112:6.

QUESTION : Is there a REAL word "Zecher" in tanach ? I'll have to check in a
Koncordantzia (concordance). Are there any bekiim or baalei dikduk out there
who can clue-in the rest of us ?

As far as repeating parts of or the whole pasuk :
In general, we try NOT to repeat ANY words.
If there IS a word "zecher", then : (a) if it means the same thing as "zeicher"
then perhaps we should NOT repeat the pasuk since we are already "yotzai" with
this reading; on the other hand, repeating the pasuk would then be no worse
than saying a pasuk from the Torah twice (Q - is there any problem with doing
this, especially since THIS pasuk has a Shem ? also, if we repeat a pasuk, are
we automatically implying that the first reading was wrong ? this Q can be asked 
in general.). 
(b) if "zecher" does NOT mean the same as "zeicher" (assuming that "zeicher"
DOES mean that which we wish to say) then saying "zecher" in the context of
the pasuk (1) may not make any sense, and (2) may therefore constitute saying
a Shem "levatoloh" (for naught).

Why do we say both ? Good question. My only answer now is - that is what is
brought down in halachah, so that is what we do.

In any case, I am NOT attempting to answer the question, just mentioning
Rav Breuer's remarks. Rav Breuer also says that we should NOT say the other
two "repeated verses" of the Megillah more than once - i.e., he says that
we NOW have a good Masorah and should follow it. Most of us say both - at least
wherever i've heard the Megillah; among the Sepharadim it may be different.

A Freilichin Purim to one and all !!!

                       Asher Meth
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