Pronunciation of Hebrew Vowel

Question

Why is the vowel associated with the lamed changed from Kawmatz to Patawch in the following phrases:

From Grace in Haggadah: And build up Jerusalem [patawch lamed]

7 Haggadah: Accepted: Next year in Jerusalem! [kawmatz lamed]

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    There is a general rule in Hebrew grammar that a soft vowel that is found in the middle of a verse is pronounced with a patach, and a hard vowel that is found at the end of a verse is pronounced with a kametz. In the examples that you cite, the first Jerusalem is in the middle of a verse, and the second Jerusalem is found at the end of the sentence. Hence the patach for “And build up Jerusalem” and the kametz for “Next year in Jerusalem.”

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team