This section will be devoted to Scriptural words and their meaning. We will not only establish the etymological roots of these words, but we will reveal how many English words are actually Hebrew words. Everything and anything you might want to know about the Hebrew language will be discussed and presented in this section.E-mail us if you want to know what a particular word is and we will be happy to post it here for all to read. If you are interested in it, maybe many others are, too.
PIRQIY AVOTThis 'Mishna' type work is called 'Ethics of the Fathers' and is sometimes referred to as the 'Chapters of the Sages'. Another commentary on Talmud, it focuses on the wise, but sometimes contradictory sayings of many of the ancient sages. The use of the term "Chapters" of the Fathers is a more literal rendering of this work. The word pirqiy is from the root paraq, which means to divide or to break off. It is used in scripture to describe the 'breaking off' of the earrings and jewelry of the Israelites in the making of the golden calf, which in essence is worshipping God, but another way. This 'dividing' or 'breaking off' of the fathers refers to Rabbi Yehuda haNasi's collection of pithy sayings from Judaism's point of view. However, it could be a subtle reference to the tendancy of all Bible-based religions to 'break away' from Torah and develop whole new religions based upon man's opinion of God, and not remaining faithful to His Word. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Shalom Alecheim!
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