Page 24 - Jewish News_Sept2021

24A September 2021 JEWISH INTEREST

K’zohar Ha-Ivrit Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

Musaf – Addition Handing out cash to the grandkids:

By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin Is there a better way?
his month, the Jewish world In Modern Hebrew, the verbs a-saf
welcomes the year 5782 as we and ya-saf are used frequently and in
Tcelebrate the High Holidays. In varied contexts, and they are at the cen-
honor of the holidays, I wish to con- ter of many expressions and idioms.
centrate on the name of an interesting For example, o-sef is a collection. One
part of the Tefillah in the synagogue, can have an o-sef of stamps or some-
namely the Musaf. According to the one else may have an o-sef of fine art.
Mishnah, the Musaf was recited as part And, the common phrase no-saf al ze,
Counseling Services of the tradition- meaning in addition to it, is used often.
We should not forget to mention
al service since
Children, Adolescents, Adults and Seniors the time of the a few idioms based on these verbs,
Temple. (Berak- which are used frequently in mod-
hot 28) So, what ern days. For example, the phrase kol
Our team of Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Mental does the word ha-mosif go-re-ah, literally, he who
Health Professionals have specialized training in the following areas: musaf mean and adds may reduce, implies that too
what does it rep- much information is not necessarily
resent? better. Sometimes it may hurt. Another
Depending phrase, le-ho-sif chet al pasha, literal-
Dr. Rachel Dulin on use, the word ly, to add sin to a crime, implies adding
musaf can be a noun or an adjective. insult to injury.
Literally, musaf means an addition or I wish to add that there are very
additional. In our case, Musaf is the few expressions where musaf is at the
name given to an additional section of center. The best to mention is the eco-
prayers recited after the reading of the nomic term erekh musaf, namely, ad-
Torah, on Shabbat, the High Holidays, ditional value, referring to the rise in
Pesach, Shavuot and Rosh Hodesh. the value of a commodity above and
The Musaf is recited in commemora- beyond its production cost.
tion of the additional sacrifices offered To conclude our short survey of
at the Temple during these times. Musaf, we can reiterate that above
The word musaf is a post-Biblical and beyond the economic expression,
941-366-2224 Intake ext. 116 noun. But it is rooted in the verb a-saf Musaf is a great addition to our prayers
and a related verb ya-saf, which can on the holidays and Shabbat, as each
www.JFCS-Cares.org be found 200 times in various forms Musaf adds greatly to the meaning of
and meaning in the Bible. For exam- the service. On Rosh Hashanah, the
intake@jfcs-cares.com ple, a-saf means a gathering of crops Musaf is the longest, including nine
(Lev 23:39) or congregating people benedictions and three sections focus-
(Num.11:16), hence the noun a-se-fah, ing on God’s kingship, providence and
namely meeting and assembly. (Isa revelation. On Yom Kippur, the Musaf
24:22) Also, we should mention the zeroes in on the procedures at the Tem-
verb ne-e-saf, which is used at times ple, and on Sukkot the Musaf is direct-
to refer to someone who died, and the ed toward the prayer for rain. So, the
phrase ne-e-saf el avotav’, or gathered Musaf only mosif, it only adds to our
to his fathers. (II Kings 22:20) hope for blessings in the New Year.
As for ya-saf, we find the com- Shannah Tovah to all.
mon word yo-sif, meaning will add. (I Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor
Sam 14:44) O-sif is also used to mean of biblical literature at Spertus Col-
I will continue, as in lo o-sif le-kalel…, lege in Chicago, and a retired adjunct
We’re excited to report that 84% of people who namely, I will not continue to curse the professor of Hebrew and Bible at New
receive The Jewish News are reading it! Make sure earth. (Gen 8:21) By the way, the name College in Sarasota.
Yosef, Josef, is also rooted in this verb.
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