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This thread is for Joseph who’s itching to say something against Valentine’s Day this year.
I didn’t even know it was valentine’s day – did you, Joseph?
Nope. I sometimes find these things out here in the CR.
Shkoyach!
Has Joseph ever done so in the past?
Not that I recall…
But my attendance here is far from perfect.
Unless my memory fails me
– which it often does 🙁 –
I think this might be the first mention in these pages.
You did get me to come in and take a look at your thread, lightb! So, hello!
I think valentine’s day is rather an odd topic for YeshivaWorld. I have never heard that it’s even a topic of discussion in the Frum world.
I can’t wait for Yom HaAtzmaut in the CR though (rolls eyes). I haven’t been here for a Yom HaAtzamaut yet, and I imagine THAT must get interesting.
LuL:
According to the Chofetz Chaim, you’re not allowed near the Coffee Room from about a month before yom haatzmaut until one or two months afterwards..
I’ll do it instead of him: Goyish.
Litvos – lol. Are you you sure you aren’t Jewish yet?
LF – lol.
LU, that was nice of you; with G-d’s help, it will happen.
My only interests are Jewish holidays and Yiddishkeit, not secular or gentile holidays.
You sound really Jewish already! And quite knowledgeable about Frum lingo. Which is actually pretty important in terms of fitting into the community.
I’m impressed.
Thank you a lot, Lilmod Ulelamaid! Tremendously encouraging words.
I understand the frum lingo containing Yiddish, as I have studied German at school. Last week I learned the alef beis, cursive, and have watched films from the 1930s, understanding most of it, ???? ??? ????; also take time to practice it by reading old Yiddish newspapers. I want to learn Hebrew (for Torah study only) but it will take a very, very long time and plenty of effort. So far, I feel comfortable among this online Jewish community here, and learn many things from everyone.
Amazing Litvos!
Learning a whole new alphabet.
Undertaking to learn new languages.
Impressed.
I agree that learning Hebrew will be difficult, but here’s something that might make it feel less daunting- It’s a totally phonetic language. Once you learn to read, you can read. No nonsensical silent letters and letters that can make two, three, or four different sounds like in English. And the grammar – known as “dikduk” – has no exceptions to the rule. There are a lot of rules, but every word can be dissected to its roots and to the particular rules it follows. In fact dikduk, which means grammar, also means precision.
I hope that makes the language seem a little more accessible, and not more impossible!
Golger – +1
“Once you learn to read, you can read.”
Th prblm is in hbrw th vwls ar oftn lft ot whch whl nt impssbl t rd cn crtnly b chlngng.
“And the grammar – known as “dikduk” – has no exceptions to the rule.”
Seriously?
Yes, completely seriously, ubiq.
When there is any change in the form of a verb or a noun that differs from the form of a standard one there’s a reason, including but not limited to the presence of a letter that can’t get a dagesh (such as an aleph or a hei or an ayin or others) or similarly a letter that can’t get s shva. Unlike English (go/went; eat/ate; is/was; like/liked; buy/bought; bring/brought; sing/sang) which makes (make/made) no sense at all.
If you think there are rules broken in Hebrew without explanation, it’s because you can’t figure out the reason, not because there isn’t one.
“If you think there are rules broken in Hebrew without explanation, it’s because you can’t figure out the reason, not because there isn’t one.”
Ok fair enough, I’m not sure that is correct but it is a contention that cant be proven/disproven.
The bottom line is dikduk, has plenty of exceptions even if those exceptions have reasons. I’ll grant that there are less exceptions than in English Though I can counter that those exceptions also have reasons for example I believe the past tense of bring is brought since it is of germanic origin past tense being bracht or someting like that which in Engligh became brought much like nacht became night.
I appreicate your words, golfer! I have had experience with the vowels, and it does seems hard but certainly not impossible. Thanks for the motivation; I will make sure to come back to tell how it went once I learn Hebrew (whenever that may be).
“Though I can counter that those exceptions also have reasons for example I believe the past tense of bring is brought since it is of germanic origin past tense being bracht or someting like that which in Engligh became brought much like nacht became night.”
That really wouldn’t help someone learning to speak English, unless he already knows German.
I think that is actually the reason that English is so confusing – the fact that it is based on so many different languages.
As opposed to Lashon Hakodesh which came straight from Hashem.
I agree with you Golfer that Hebrew is much easier to learn than english is. I don’t remember from when I learned to read, but I have taught kids to read both languages and I found it much easier to teach hebrew.
“That really wouldn’t help someone learning to speak English, unless he already knows German.”
what?
“I agree with you Golfer that Hebrew is much easier to learn than english is.”
Yep I said that too
Litvos
I did not mean to disuade you. I agree with the others that Hebrew easier than English.
Golfer
I peeked in a smaller dikduk book I have at home. It has 91 tables to conjugate binyan Kal alone.
Many of those exceptions are due to reasons you identify. But to make a rule that encompasses all 91 (and I have a bigger book with more) would be quite a complicated rule.
Of course, as mentioned I cant prove that there isnt a reason for the examples that dont have a reason as to why they are exceptions, but I fail to see how the existence of an unknown reason for an exception makes learning that exception any easier.
Finaly there is the classic story said to involve Rashi where he is said to have written:
.???? ???? ???? ???? ????
No, it’s alright, I understood what you meant.
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