how to say “awake” in Hebrew

ByAmi Steinberger

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עֵר, עֵרָה

 

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The Torah portion that will be read this Shabbat by Jews around the world is perhaps the strangest – הַמּוּזָרָה בְּיוֹתֵר (hah-moo-zah-RAH beh-yoh-TEHR) of all portions, featuring a talking (female) donkey – אָתוֹן מְדַבֶּרֶת (ah-TOHN meh-dah-BEH-ret) and a prophet-magician who seeks to curse the People of Israel, but instead blessings spring forth from his mouth.


Israeli music artist Ehud Banai composed a song that draws upon the themes in this week’s portion. He titled it עֵר אוֹ חוֹלֵם – Awake or Dreaming? (ehr oh khoh-LEM), since prophet-magician בִּלְעָם – Balaam (beel-AHM) may very well have questioned his conscious state as his אתון opened her mouth… and since the main figure in the song questions his state as well.


In the song, the line is:

הַאִם אֲנִי עֵר אוֹ חוֹלֵם?
Am I awake or dreaming?
(hah-EEM ah-NEE ehr oh khoh-LEM)



If a woman were to sing the song, she’d say instead:
 
הַאִם אֲנִי עֵרָה אוֹ חוֹלֶמֶת?
(hah-EEM ah-NEE eh-RAH oh khoh-LEH-met)



שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם, וְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ נָעִים לְכֻלָּם!

Shabbat Shalom, and a pleasant weekend to all!
(shah-BAHT shah-LOHM, veh-SOHF shah-VOO-ah nah-EEM leh-khoo-LAHM)

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