[Mesorah] [Avodah] ani vahu or ani vaho

[Micha Berger via Mesorah]

Anyone interested in fielding this question, asked to Avodah?

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Mo'adim leSimchah,
-micha

----- Forwarded message from Avi Goldstein via Avodah <avodah at lists.aishdas.org> -----
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:55:41 -0400
From: Avi Goldstein via Avodah <avodah at lists.aishdas.org>
Subject: [Avodah] ani vahu or ani vaho
To: avodah at lists.aishdas.org
Reply-To: Avi Goldstein <avi at fivetownsnissan.com>,
	The Avodah Torah Discussion Group <avodah at lists.aishdas.org>

I have for many years chafed at the sound of the tzibbur saying: "Ani vaho
hoshia na." I recall that when I was younger, before the appearance of a
certain siddur, many people said "ani vahu," with a shuruk, not a cholam.

Today, it seems that most people say vaho, with a cholam.

There are numerous proofs that the word is "vahu." This phrase comes
from the Mishnah in Sukkah 45a. In some editions of the mishnayos, the
word is actually written with an aleph at the end, a clear indication
that the vowel is a shuruk.

Further, the Ritva states that the vowel is a shuruk. The Aruch Hashulchan
writes that the word has a "meluphum,'' that is, a shuruk, and not a
cholam. The Torah Temimah on the words "Vatiftach vatirehu es hayeled"
clearly holds that the word is vahu (no surprise, he was the Aruch
Hashulchan's son).

The Tefillas Kol Peh siddur has a long piece in which the author "shreis
gevalt" at the cholam usage.

There are other proofs as well, and I would like to hear what others
have to say about this matter.

Avi Goldstein