The word קטנתי in this week's parsha vayishlach is commonly read with the trup of a אזלא גרש you can hear the crowd humming it along with the baal koreh. There is however several opinions among the baalei dikduk as to the correct trup. The Koren chumash and others has a רביעי which recent baalei koreh have been reading it with. The new Torah Temimah chumash has both אזלא-גרש & רביעי as the trop for קטנתי. The Breuer Tanach which is used for dikduk has it with a אזלא-גרש based on older dikduk versions of chumashim. 
There is a vort that when Yaakov Avinu said katonti he was looking to make himself humble therefore the proper reading is with a revii since the Azla Geresh goes up and amplifies it. The question is asked why would it have a Azla geresh then, if it is gaavah?
Some respond with the famous vort of the Vilna Gaon he Gemara says that a person is allowed to have "Shiminis ShebeShiminis of Gaavah" - 1/8 of an 1/8 (1/64) of arrogance. What is the meaning of this unusual terminology - "an eighth of an eighth"?
The Vilna Gaon explains, the Gemorah means the 8th pasuk in the 8th parsha. Parshas VaYishlach is the 8th parsha and "Katonti Mikal HaChasadim" is the 8th pasuk. A person's level of haughtiness must be on the level that he is unworthy of anything. - "I have been diminished by all the kindness and all the truth you have done for me." Whatever Hashem does and will do for me is not coming to me. It is a gift from Hashem, "Katonti" - I am unworthy!
For a more detailed view on the technical dikduk aspect see here
I was very let down this week when the ball koreh leined it with the revii he denied the olam from singing along like by koayleh
ReplyDeleteMy baal koreh did a revii by koeyleh too! I think his minhag is to do a revii when the olam gets out of hand singing along the azla geresh
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note it is not right do sing it along out loud. The kriah has to be heard from the baal koreh
As a long time ba'al koresh I am well aware of the Koren Chumash revi'i. For a time I said it that way but stopped when I realized that it's not fair to the tzibbur (like the first poster wrote)...
ReplyDeleteWhat does a Baal koresh do?
ReplyDeleteWhat is minhag Lakewood al pi Rav Aharon and the white book
ReplyDeleteSee another discussion about the inyan at פורום לתורה, here - https://tinyurl.com/4xte74zd
ReplyDeleteSee פורום לתורה discussion of it here - https://tinyurl.com/4xte74zd
ReplyDeleteSee also קובץ ירושתנו, ספר עשירי, עמודים תריג-תריד, where a survey of various sources, including many old Ashkenaz chumashim, with regard to this matter, is shared.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest the following based on Chassidus. This is from Shaar HaBitachon.
ReplyDeleteI have become small from all the kindnesses. Rashi (like the Targum) understands the verse I have become small to mean as a result of all the kindnesses. Meaning, “My merits have diminished because of the favors and truth You have done for me.” Ramban questions this interpretation, noting that it is inconsistent with the language of the verse, which states, I have become small, not that the speaker’s merits have become small.
The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, explains the verse according to the commentary of Rashi, while also clarifying Ramban’s objection: From all the kindnesses indeed means that it was the kindness that made Jacob feel “small.” At the same time, though, I have become small— Jacob himself became diminished as a result of G‑d’s many kindnesses and His truth. Meaning, not only do the particular person’s merits become lessened, which results in his diminishment, but he himself is also directly affected as a result of the “kindness and truth.”
The Alter Rebbe explains that in contrast to kindness from the side of impurity ( chesed diklipah ), which makes the recipient feel arrogant and entitled—worthy—every single favor that G‑d bestows upon a man (through the kindness of holiness— chesed dikedushah ) must make the recipient humble. For whoever is brought exceedingly close to Gd, being raised to great heights, ought to feel even more humble. For every being of even the highest conceivable spiritual level is of absolutely no account—indeed, is nullified out of existence—when in G‑d’s presence, for nothing exists before G‑d other than Himself. Therefore, whoever is more “before Him,” i.e., whoever is closer to G‑d through the kindness that G‑d bestows upon him, automatically ought to feel exceedingly humbled, like nothing, and non-existent ( Tanya, Iggeret Hakodesh Epistle 2; cf . Maharsha, Chidushei Agadot, Shabbat 32b).
DeleteEh,for those born a beinoni?Or everybody? Maybe was the rebbe born a benoni?That whole caste concept is an anti jewish concept freedom
We hold by contrast everybody is born the same,but you could soar above
May I suggest a compromise similar to זכר עמלק.
ReplyDeleteCan someone pls clarify what the Vilna Gaon is saying, how does this explain the gayva a person should have? thank you
ReplyDeleteThere is a posuk in Tanach where it is stated לא טוב אנכי מאבותי. That was on the פרוכת in Shul in Worms (מפי רבש"ה). If we have a mesorah of generations to lein in a certain way, we don't suddenly change it.
ReplyDeleteA message directly from Hashem from Thousands of Years ago relating to the days of Parshas Vayishlach in history which happened over 3500 years ago. How many days are there in the Jewish calendar year? 354, the word Vayishlach is Gematria 354 how does that shock you? how does that grab you? so what's the message from Hashem? the message is that every person is sent-Vayishlach-down to this temporary physical world to fullfill a mission hopefully a full 120 years & not shorter. But every tiny step of the Vayishlach-sending-is a landmark of his mission in this temporary physical world to bring him up to the true world above. Not just the big landmarks of making a child's wedding or buying a home etc... but even the tiny 5 minute stop of driving your child to school is all part of a persons Vayishlach-sending-Mission in this world. Just like Yaakov Avinu who when Parshas Vayishlach happened in History had just left Lavan a multi-millionaire from all the years of working for him. & what did he do? he went back over the river to go get a few small jugs he mistakenly left behind & not to do Baal Tashchis. Do you think he needed those jugs? he was a multi-millionaire, but it was all part of his Vayishlach-mission-sending him down to this temporary physical world to complete it.
ReplyDelete