Parashat Ki Tissa: A Moment of Hebrew
Learn more about the Hebrew shoresh ר.ק.ח and other Hebrew words that share that shoresh
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רֶגַע שֶׁל עִבְרִית A Moment of Hebrew

וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ אֹת֗וֹ שֶׁ֚מֶן מִשְׁחַת־קֹ֔דֶשׁ רֹ֥קַח מִרְקַ֖חַת מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה רֹקֵ֑חַ שֶׁ֥מֶן מִשְׁחַת־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶֽה׃
Make a holy anointing oil, a compound of ingredients expertly blended, to serve as holy anointing oil.
לִרְקֹחַ lirko’ah (שֹׁרֶשׁ ר.ק.ח)
To prepare a blend of oils, spices, or other compounds
To “cook up” a plan
בֵּית מִרְקַחַת (beit mirkahat) = Pharmacy
רוֹקֵחַ/רוֹקַחַת (rokei'ah/rokahat) = Pharmacist
מִרְקַחַת (mirkahat) = Fruit cooked in sugar; jam
Find the Word!
This שֹׁרֶשׁ (shoresh, root) appears when the Torah tells us about the קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים (ketoret ha-sammim, incense) that was blended for the mishkan. In Shemot chapter 30, the shoresh comes up six times! Can you find them all? How do you think ketoret connects to the work of a pharmacist?
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