Parashat Tetzaveh: A Moment of Hebrew
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ShareWhat is the shoresh of the Hebrew word לַחֲשׁוֹב and what other Hebrew words share that shoresh?
Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
רֶגַע שֶׁל עִבְרִית A Moment of Hebrew
וְעָשׂ֖וּ אֶת־הָאֵפֹ֑ד זָ֠הָ֠ב תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן תּוֹלַ֧עַת שָׁנִ֛י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֖ר מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵֽׁב׃
They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and of fine twisted linen, worked into designs.
לַחֲשׁוֹב lahashov (שֹׁרֶש ח.ש.ב)
To think, plan, figure out
מַחְשֵׁב (mahsheiv) =computer
מַחְשְׁבוֹן (mahshevon) = calculator
חֶשְׁבּוֹן (heshbon) = math
מְלֶאכֶת מַחֲשֶׁבֶת (melekhet mahashevet) = the kind of "work" that takes forethought or intention, and is forbidden on Shabbat
חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנֶּפֶשׁ (heshbon ha-nefesh) = introspection, self-examination
Find the Word!
After Yaakov dies, Yosef assures his brothers that he isn’t mad at them. He says that even though his brothers intended to harm him, it was all part of God’s plan. Can you find the way Yosef uses this שֹׁרֶש (shoresh, root)—twice!—to make his point? (Hint: look at Bereishit 50:20.)
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