how to say “Women of the Wall” in Hebrew
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נְשׁוֹת הַכֹּתֶל
The Women of the Wall have been making the news on a monthly basis (at the opening or head of the (Jewish) month – רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ
listen and repeat) for the past while.
listen and repeat) for the past while.
Now, the phrase נשות הכותל (where כותל listen and repeat refers to the Western Wall) combines two nouns in a dependent relationship (סְמִיכוּת listen and repeat) yielding a phrase of two words, whereas in English we would insert the word of between them. If we were to employ the Hebrew word for of or for – שֶׁל listen and repeat – we’d have the phrase:
listen and repeat refers to the Western Wall) combines two nouns in a dependent relationship (סְמִיכוּת listen and repeat) yielding a phrase of two words, whereas in English we would insert the word of between them. If we were to employ the Hebrew word for of or for – שֶׁל listen and repeat – we’d have the phrase:הַנָּשִׁים שֶׁל הַכֹּתֶל
literally, the women of the wall
You may have noticed that the word for women, when in the combined phrase, has a feminine וֹת- listen and repeat ending, while in the separated phrase, it has a masculine ים- listen and repeat ending.
listen and repeat ending, while in the separated phrase, it has a masculine ים- listen and repeat ending.Here’s the lowdown:
נָשִׁים listen and repeat is the plural form of אִשַּׁה listen and repeat – woman – when it stands alone, as in the above phrase הנשים של הכותל.
listen and repeat is the plural form of אִשַּׁה listen and repeat – woman – when it stands alone, as in the above phrase הנשים של הכותל.When נשים appears in a combined phrase, it follows either one of two forms: נְשֵׁי listen and repeat or נְשׁוֹת listen and repeat, the former with a masculine ending and the latter with a feminine ending.
listen and repeat or נְשׁוֹת listen and repeat, the former with a masculine ending and the latter with a feminine ending.Either form is acceptable and both are attested in Biblical Hebrew, though נשות is the preferred one among Israelis today. Hence נשות הכותל.