Re: Hebrew pronunciation

Micha Berger (micha@aishdas.org)
Mon, 10 Mar 1997 09:14:28 -0500 (EST)

Shumeul Arons asked:
>What is the halachic status of these two variants? Is Israeli pronunciation
>forbidden to Ashkenazim, since it is derived from Hebrew as spoken by
>Sepharadim? Do Ashkenazim who speak "Israeli" on a daily basis act
>consistently if they use a different pronunciation only for prayers?

Rav Kook was of the opinion that in order to fulfill one's obligation to
say Sh'ma you should ideally use your family's traditional hav'arah
(accent).

However, he also felt it was preferrable to be consistant in a different
hav'arah than for someone who was used to a different hav'arah to try to
use his family's minhag and end up being inconsistant.

Micha Berger 201 916-0287 Help free Ron Arad, held by Syria 3737 days!
micha@aishdas.org (16-Oct-86 - 10-Mar-97)
For a mitzvah is a candle, and the Torah its light.
http://aishdas.org -- Orthodox Judaism: Torah, Avodah, Chessed