Question...

[Ryan Collins]

I'd be glad to help you through the forum under Classical Hebrew. I can't put any more links to my website as per my agreement with the administration of Christian Forums, but I can put things temporarily into my dropbox and invite you to download them as needed (there will not be permanent links, of course). Let me know what you're interested in working through, and I'll work with you.

Good luck!

!!בהצלחה

Excellent! I will visit your thread in the Classical Hebrew forum. I took a year of Hebrew in 2006, so it has been some time since I was formally educated in the language. I definitely need a refresher on Hebrew because there will be times where I can translate something, but most of the time I only recognize bits and pieces of a phrase/verse/etc.

 

[yedida]

Excellent! I will visit your thread in the Classical Hebrew forum. I took a year of Hebrew in 2006, so it has been some time since I was formally educated in the language. I definitely need a refresher on Hebrew because there will be times where I can translate something, but most of the time I only recognize bits and pieces of a phrase/verse/etc.

Same here. I get so frustrated cause my vocabulary just won't seem to grow!! I can read Hebrew if the letters are large enough to be distinct (as you know several can look alike) and it has vowel markings but I have very little idea of what I'm reading usually.

 

[Ryan Collins]

Same here. I get so frustrated cause my vocabulary just won't seem to grow!! I can read Hebrew if the letters are large enough to be distinct (as you know several can look alike) and it has vowel markings but I have very little idea of what I'm reading usually.

See, when I studied it we worked through Ruth translating (which ended up being our final exam was a final translation of a full chapter in Ruth). I passes the course with a B which is pretty impressive for me since I had never studied a foreign language prior. Currently, my process of translation is the complete opposite. I read it through and look for words I recognize and "try" to piece things together. Haha.

 

[Ryan Collins]

I'd be glad to help you through the forum under Classical Hebrew. I can't put any more links to my website as per my agreement with the administration of Christian Forums, but I can put things temporarily into my dropbox and invite you to download them as needed (there will not be permanent links, of course). Let me know what you're interested in working through, and I'll work with you.

Good luck!

!!בהצלחה

One thing that I remember struggling with when I first took Hebrew was the sheva vowel. I do not remember the rules. Would it be easier to e-mail me the link and then I could PM you my work or what not?

 

[yonah_mishael]

Your question is about when it's silent and when it's vocal? Do you have any Hebrew grammars? Have you looked at Weingreen? I can refer you to sections in Weingreen or Seow (both of which I have - and the former that I can put in my dropbox for you, if you need), and there's also a free online Hebrew grammar that I can link to you. That would be a good thing to look over, and I can answer whatever questions you have left over.

 

[yonah_mishael]

Here's a free online Hebrew textbook: Textbook

If you check section 2.2, it has some rules for determining of it's vocal or silent. I'd add some comments to what he's got on there, but it's a great place to start. What do you think?

 

[Ryan Collins]

Here's a free online Hebrew textbook: Textbook

If you check section 2.2, it has some rules for determining of it's vocal or silent. I'd add some comments to what he's got on there, but it's a great place to start. What do you think?

Reading right now and I'll let you know if I have any questions.

Question in general (I'll use this thread for all of my Messianic questions): Does anyone own Stern's Complete Jewish Bible? Is it a beneficial translation or one you would recommend over other English? I bounce around between ESV, TNIV, NRSV currently.

 

[yedida]

Reading right now and I'll let you know if I have any questions.

Question in general (I'll use this thread for all of my Messianic questions): Does anyone own Stern's Complete Jewish Bible? Is it a beneficial translation or one you would recommend over other English? I bounce around between ESV, TNIV, NRSV currently.

In my opinion, it's too pricey. I was disappointed with it. But it does serve its purpose. It's really easy to read, i.e., it flows nicely and using the Hebraic names and terms helps.
My suggestion would be to purchase an electronic copy, eSword, offers it for about $14.99, and that's not bad (ah er that price was good about 4-5 years ago though).

 

[Ryan Collins]

In my opinion, it's too pricey. I was disappointed with it. But it does serve its purpose. It's really easy to read, i.e., it flows nicely and using the Hebraic names and terms helps.
My suggestion would be to purchase an electronic copy, eSword, offers it for about $14.99, and that's not bad (ah er that price was good about 4-5 years ago though).

Okay, thanks for the advice. Is David Stern a reliable author? Do you recommend any books by him specifically?

 

[yedida]

Okay, thanks for the advice. Is David Stern a reliable author? Do you recommend any books by him specifically?

His is the only commentary that I own (only it's just for the NT). I don't swear by it, but it's quite good.

 

[Ryan Collins]

His is the only commentary that I own (only it's just for the NT). I don't swear by it, but it's quite good.

I will have to check it out, then.

 

[yedida]

I will have to check it out, then.

If you find it on eBay or Christian Discount Bookstore
Discount Christian Books and Gifts
usually have pretty reasonable prices.

 

[anisavta]

I use the Complete Jewish Bible. Having dealt with all the other translations and transliterations out there - some being quite anti Semitic - I appreciate his Jewish slant on the scriptures. Granted all translations are at the discression of the persons interpreting them and the only true interpretation is studying in the original language which I don't have a handle on - so I find it refreshing to read names and places and concepts more conducive to originality.

 

[yedida]

I use the Complete Jewish Bible. Having dealt with all the other translations and transliterations out there - some being quite anti Semitic - I appreciate his Jewish slant on the scriptures. Granted all translations are at the discression of the persons interpreting them and the only true interpretation is studying in the original language which I don't have a handle on - so I find it refreshing to read names and places and concepts more conducive to originality.

His version isn't bad at all. I'll be honest with you guys: it's one line he retained which for the life of me I can't figure out why!! In Mark "...(thus Yeshua declared all foods clean)..."
That is admittedly an addition, not a part of the earliest texts (the standard Bibles that include it state this in footnotes) - so I'm extremely perplexed why Stern would include it????
I know, I'm way toooo picky sometimes, but at least i'm aware of the fault, and I am working on it

 

[Ryan Collins]

So I've been watching the webcam of the Kotel tonight (first time I have ever seen this). While I knew what the Kotel was, I never took the time to watch the webcam or pictures of it. As a result, I have a lot of questions...haha.

First off, it appears there is two sections of the Kotel, one for the Jews and the other for the Muslims...is this correct? If so, why is that? Secondly, does that not get a little intense between the two at times? I am sure that there has to be conflict at some point...

Second, the bowing? Some bow slow, some bow extremely fast...please explain.

 

[anisavta]

The two sections are for men and women. The larger side is for the men - the smaller for women. Muslims do not pray with Jews.
The bowing is called davening. Praying. Chava is the one to ask why different speeds.
Chava can you give us insight here?

 

[Ryan Collins]

The two sections are for men and women. The larger side is for the men - the smaller for women. Muslims do not pray with Jews.
The bowing is called davening. Praying. Chava is the one to ask why different speeds.
Chava can you give us insight here?

Okay, I thought the separation between the two was because of the presence of Muslims...I jumped to conclusions, and silly ones at that. With the webcam, it is rather far away and so I could not see very well...hence the assumption. I noticed the wall separation so I thought it could be Muslims.

The davening is fascinating, really. Some of them are holding a book...how do they focus/concentrate with the speed of davening? Not sure why, but watching this is actually amazing and rather intriguing. I cannot stop...

 

[ChavaK]

First off, it appears there is two sections of the Kotel, one for the Jews and the other for the Muslims...is this correct?

Unfortunately, the Muslims get the Temple Mount...Jews are not allowed to pray there.
As you face the Kotel, the left side is for the men, the right side for the women. Orthodox standards are observed at the Kotel, so women and men are separated. The fence between them is called a mechitzah and is necessary for that separation.

Second, the bowing? Some bow slow, some bow extremely fast...please explain.

It's called "shuckling". It is designed to enhance one's kavannah (concentration) while praying. Usually it is only done during the amidah, but you may on occasion see it done at other times. No reason for the "type" or
"speed" of davening...it's just based on what one was brought up on doing, or what helps one concentrate and connect to G-d during prayer.
The most common is forward and backward swaying, but you will see all kinds of variations. I personally favor what I call the "washing machine agitator" style-lower body is kept still, upper body rotates right to left....you see this more commonly amongst women than men...usually with women having their faces planted in their siddur.


Here is a humorous look at shuckeling....but you will definitely see all these different "styles" of shuckeling if you look long enough.
He calls "my" preferred style the "spin cyle" here...

 

[Ryan Collins]

Unfortunately, the Muslims get the Temple Mount...Jews are not allowed to pray there.
As you face the Kotel, the left side is for the men, the right side for the women. Orthodox standards are observed at the Kotel, so women and men are separated. The fence between them is called a mechitzah and is necessary for that separation.

Just not right that they get the Temple Mount...so frustrating. The men and women now make sense. I honestly do not know why I thought they were Muslims besides the separation, but now it all makes sense.

It's called "shuckling". It is designed to enhance one's kavannah (concentration) while praying. Usually it is only done during the amidah, but you may on occasion see it done at other times. No reason for the "type" or
"speed" of davening...it's just based on what one was brought up on doing, or what helps one concentrate and connect to G-d during prayer.
The most common is forward and backward swaying, but you will see all kinds of variations. I personally favor what I call the "washing machine agitator" style-lower body is kept still, upper body rotates right to left....you see this more commonly amongst women than men...usually with women having their faces planted in their siddur.

I was watching Wilson's Arch last night and there was a guy who was bending left and right like he was working out his obliques (don't know how to otherwise describe it). The books they are holding are their siddur, correct?

Here is a humorous look at shuckeling....but you will definitely see all these different "styles" of shuckeling if you look long enough.
He calls "my" preferred style the "spin cyle" here...

My computer is really weird and many of the times does not show any multimedia, so it's a big blank gap for me.

Thanks for the information, Chavak. It is greatly appreciated!

 

[ChavaK]

The books they are holding are their siddur, correct?

Yes, a siddur is a prayer book.

My computer is really weird and many of the times does not show any multimedia, so it's a big blank gap for me.

Ah, too bad. It's quite funny and if you've been around the various types of shuckeling, he nails them to a "T".