Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site masscomp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!masscomp!trb From: trb@masscomp.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Fence around the Torah Message-ID: <204@masscomp.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Mar-84 13:48:20 EST Article-I.D.: masscomp.204 Posted: Thu Mar 1 13:48:20 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 3-Mar-84 07:20:56 EST References: <121@nwuxd.UUCP> <191@masscomp.UUCP> <713@ihuxq.UUCP> <198@masscomp.UUCP> <649@orca.UUCP> Organization: MASSCOMP, Littleton, MA Lines: 42 Ariel's note brought up some interesting little points: With respect to Hebrew... Hebrew is the language of Israel, so you speak it as they speak it in Israel ... like Sephardic. In fact, Ashkenaz Jews in Israel speak modern (Sephardic brand) Hebrew everyday, and pray in Ashkenaz. Usually, Hebrew is called the language of the Torah. The fact that the folks in Israel these days speak Hebrew with a certain set of rules is not (I think) sufficient grounds for her first conclusion. Note that until the recent independance of Israel, Hebrew was a scholarly language, just like Latin. Jews never spoke Hebrew as a household language, always using a local language, or some warped form of it. The modern (last 200 years) languages of the common Jew are Yiddish (Eastern European Ashkenazim) and Ladino (Spanish Sephardim). Through history, Jews have spoken bastardized forms of Greek, Roman, and Aramaic languages, as well as, I'm sure, many others. I'm of Eastern European (Northern NYC) origin, that is, Ashkenazi. My mom is emmigrating to Israel this year, and she knows very little Hebrew, so she is in the process of learning. She is learning the Sephardi method of pronunciation, because that's what she'll use to live. There is no question about "right and wrong," therefore there is no answer. Sephardic Hebrew is considered the modern way, it's sort of akin to the differences in the way Spanish is spoken: the old fashioned way in Spain, and a more modern way in the Americas. Realize that Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and the various sects of Chasidim practice the same Judaism 99 44/100 percent. When Ariel talks about "praying in Ashkenaz," it is true that there are slight differences in the order of the prayer (called the "nusach," should you ever run across the term), but all the important stuff same for all Jews. And the Torah is exactly the same for all Jews. There are no denominational differences as radical as the ones in Christianity. Andy Tannenbaum Masscomp Inc Westford MA (617) 692-6200 x274 For all the people who want to know what part of hymietown I'm from, I grew up in the Bronx: Pelham Parkway and eventually Riverdale (azoy!). Went to Salanter Yeshiva.