A reader from Zichron Yaakov submitted the Hebrew word for
`fruit' -- pri - - as being parallel to the French
fruit, which is pronounced `frooee.' He also asks if
there is any arrangement for payment for articles. Our
answer: Single word submissions such as these are
free.
Other submissions are gladly considered and evaluated. What
to write about? Anything along the lines and outlook of
material you generally find in this section.
FAX us at 02-5387998 or write: Weinbach, Panim Meirot 1,
Jerusalem. Payment can be arranged.
But do send in your tips, letters as well as BRAINstorms [how
about sechel and related `scholar,' `school' and even
`skull'] regarding words for this fascinating feature.
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We can begin by counting. Mem-nun-hei = mana is
certainly the origin of our everyday word `money' (and its
related revach=rich).
Another word for counting is, sfira, which is directly
related to sifra, number or digit, and cipher, an
archaic word for number, as well as to its kabbalistic
sfira, or linguistic equivalent -- sphere.
Some of the numbers, themselves, can also be traced to the
Hebrew, rather, Loshon Kodesh. This is a holy language
because each letter has a deep significance in and of itself!
No other language can boast this, no other language can form
meaningful gematriyos!
ONE
One represents Hashem, Who is One and Only and Unique in the
world, the Origin of everything. The Torah should really have
begun with the first commandments, or with an aleph,
as the Midrash so graphically describes. Instead, Hashem
chose to use the aleph to begin the Ten Commandments
(in this week's parsha).
So we have aleph-one that begins Onochi. Very similar
to unique, isn't it? And how about ani for the
Greek uno, the ultimate I or One. Again, representing
Hashem Who is One and Whose Name is One. The gemora
in Shabbos says that hen is one. This, too, is
interrelated, with the hey being the very beginning of
all language, the aspirate. Hashem created the world with the
breath of His word, so that h-ein is again, One.
TWO
On to two, or shtayim-shtei. Why the `w?' Well, it
takes some tongue- twisting to say shtei, or
tzvei, its Anglo-Saxon (and, of course, Yiddish)
counterpart. Think of all the English words that have a t-w
and denote two components or elements.
TWist, TWine, beTWeen, twin (similar, again to te'om),
tweed (which is a mixture of wools) and twill, twilight, even
twiddling one's thumbs which must be done with two thumbs!
`Six' is clearly close to shesh, while `seven' is very
similar to sheva.
Once you begin to realize similarities, they will strike you
all the time, as you speak and listen and read. Do share
these with us!
