[Avodah] History of Havarah

[Daniel Israel]

Micha Berger wrote:
> On Thu, December 21, 2006 6:50 pm, R Daniel Israel wrote:
> : In this light I sometimes wonder if it is possible to say that the
> : shift having occured, should we now change it?
> 
> You just explained why I feel my question is more valid WRT sheva,
> mile'eil-milera, ayin and ches, where it would be minhag vs din. In which
> case, if we know it's not well grounded, do we have permission not to fulfill
> Shema as per the gemara (and Rambam)? Isn't that clearly a ta'us?

I've heard this idea from several sources, but my only question is 
whether it is possible that the gemara is only giving examples.  IOW, 
how clear is it that these specific sounds have some more important 
status?  Or is it only that these were sounds that were commonly mixd up 
in the gemara's time?  I have the same question about people who are 
very m'dakdek in the pronunciation of "tizkaru": is the intention of the 
SA in pointing out this word that it is a particular problem, or just an 
example.

-- 
Daniel M. Israel
dmi1 at cornell.edu