[Mesorah] Talis (plural form)

[Dr. B. Rosenberg]

Dear Friends,

 

Why so much philosophy about all possible plural forms of TALIS. The grammar
of this noun has by no mean been influenced by Ben Yehuda or any other
apikorsim of his type. 

 

The word has ever been feminine in Hebrew. The main sources where to look
for a really pure Hebrew (when no reference can be found in Kitve Kodesh
(i.e. Tana"ch), are the MISHNA and the Ramba"m's Yad Hachasaka. These two
books are written in quite pure Hebrew.

 

Both the Mishna AND the Ramba"m use Talis in feminine form ONLY. See for
instance: 

Mishna Kelim 29/2 Chaluk echad, Talis achat. 

Ramba"m Hilchot Zizis 2/12: Talis mezuyezes. 

 

AFAIK there are NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

The plural of Talis is not to be found in the Yad Hachasaka, but it is does
exist in the Mishna: Taiyot (and nothing else!). See for instance: Zavim
4/5: esser taliyot.

 

The erroneous form Talitot (similarly constructed like britot) can only be
found in other rabbinic compendia, which are less particular about a pure
Hebrew language, like gemara and some midraschim. The masculine form
Talessim is very common among Yiddish speaking gedolim, like Pri Megadim,
Mishna Berura, Kitztur Sch"A, Chaje Odom.

 

To affirm that the word Talis origins from Greek is a nonsense, too. In
their Sefer Hashorashim - both Rabbi Yona ben G'annach and Rada"K assume
that the word might be connected to Tleh (=sheep) [does not the sheep wear a
"talis" out of wool?! ].

 

Kol Tuv. Gmar Chatima Tovah

 

- Berysz Rosenberg

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