[Avodah] Keil melech neeman

[Minden]

> I noted in the past that haKeil haGadol haGibbor vehaNorah could be read as a noun with three adjectives, or a list of four nouns. I argued that this showed an intentional lack of distinction between adjective and noun, to sound like the Moreh for a minute: between accident and essence.
>
> The same is true with Keil Melekh Ne'eman. I capitalized "Ne'eman" to reflect the possibility that we read it "the Reliable One" rather than that we are saying He is a reliable King. Not that I believe we should think of those as distinct options, but as an English speak I find it difficult to avoid.

Without entering a grammatical discussion if there's a difference between nouns and adjectives, or if it is probable that the phrase is a series of nouns, or if not, whether they still should be capitalised in your habit - isn't this whole capitalisation a decidedly Christian thing anyway? Are there any tshuves about it, other than those about writing God's name in non-Hebrew letters and the like? (I'd like to note that 'God' is capitalised and lacks an article in the preceding sentence because it's clearly used as a proper name.)

Concerning Keil melech ne'emon and the repetition of words at the and of krishme, prof. Ta-Shma's article was mentioned. I highly recommend R' Hamburger's extensive treatise in addition. In short, the minnek is always to say K"M"N (beyoched or betzibber, mispallel or sha"tz), and never to repeat H' eloukeichem after krishme.


Lipman Phillip Minden
http://lipmans.blogspot.com