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<font size="+1">I, too, find controversies interesting, but I think
we have to look at them a bit differently. We should be trying
to find the girsa most likely to be the "correct" one. That is,
the oldest, or that found in the most accepted of the ancient
sources. <br>
<br>
In the examples from hallel I don't see any controversy as it is
quite obvious which is the "correct" version. Just Google "Aleppo
codex", click on "read the...", go to tehillim and look. The
Keter and all the accurate manuscripts as well as the Venice
Mikraot Gedolot (1625) agree on the same versions. Merhav Yah is
two words with mappik in the hei. Hoshi'a is mi'lra and all four
na' have a dagesh in the nun. You might have a Tanakh with the
Leningrad text. Take a look there.<br>
<br>
All the old accurate sources agree. The so called controversy
started many years later. The Minhat Shai made the hoshi'a into
mil'eil because of his misinterpreting the mesorot and everyone
joined in. I especially like the "Medakd'im to read hoshi'a
mel'eil and hatzlicha mil'ra. <br>
<br>
With all the sources now available and after the work of R'
Mordekhai Breuer and of the academics at the Hebrew University
there is not much room for controversy in the Tanakh. <br>
<br>
Why not go over to the siddur. There is where one can find
controversy without end and it is not always obvious what is the
version that should be preferred.<br>
<br>
<br>
bivrakha,<br>
<br>
David<br>
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