[Avodah] ancient Ashkenazi Hebrew

[D&E-H Bannett]

Re: mairiv, yankev etc.: When wondering about whether the n 
or ai sound being a remnant of the 'ayyin, why not consider 
the ai sound in the name of the Raivad, the one who comments 
on the Rambam. Of course the name Ra'avad is written with an 
alef and not an 'ayyin.  I never heard a non-Israeli 
Ashkenazi refer to the Ra'avad, only to the Raived

And if that isn't sufficient to confuse the issue, i've 
failed again.

Assuming it is permitted to change subjects without starting 
a new posting:  Reb Micha just mentioned that I had written 
in the past about kissing the tzitzit during kri'at Sh'ma' 
but not at the word tzitzit. It is not very difficult to see 
that persons who noted that the rav of talmid chakham kissed 
his tzitzit three times might have assumed, incorrectly of 
course, that he did so at the word tzitzit. And so minhagim 
change.

Actually I wrote quite a bit about the history and changes 
in holding and kissing tzitzit.  May I remind of the first 
item in my previous post, just to cause confusion, as usual.

R' Natronai Gaon was asked about handling tzitzit during 
Sh'ma.  His reply was "this is not the way of the chakhamim 
and is yohora. After examining (mitbonen) the tzitzit when 
putting them on and making the b'rakha why hold them in his 
hand?  If that were appropriate, then on reaching uk'shartem 
one would hold the tefillin. And, if you agree to that, 
then, when reaching ukh'tavtam one should run to his home 
and place his hand on the mezuza!  One who does these acts, 
must be taught and have it explained to him that  he should 
not do so.

Note that R' Natronai Gaon talks of handling, He evidently 
didn't even dream that one would also kiss the tzitzit.

Re kissing at la'ad.  It is not good manners to drop the 
tzitzit immediately at the end of Sh'ma just as it is very 
poor manners to return forward immediately after stepping 
back at the end of shmoneh esrei. So one holds them for a 
while and upon finally dropping it is certainly normal to 
kiss them goodbye. BTW, sources mention dropping the tzitzit 
at various places in the vicinity of kayemet - la'ad. 
Opinions differ on just how long does one hold them to 
satisfy the need for proper respect.  Similarly it is 
suggested that one should return from the three steps back 
before kedusha, which is certainly sufficient time to show 
respect after finishing one's requests and stepping back 
from the presence of HKB"H.


kvh"t,

David