Tag ( Hebrew תָּג , plural Tagim Hebrew תָּגִים from Aram. "Crown") is a graphic element that adorns certain letters of the Hebrew alphabet . It consists of a small vertical line ending in a dot at the top, which is similar to the miniature letter “ zain ”. These decorative signs, which are a distinctive feature of the style of writing ashuri or Hebrew. סת"ם ( hundred "m ) - an acronym for the words Sefer Torah , Tefillin and Mezuzot , found only in sacred Jewish manuscripts : mezuzah , tefillin , Torah Scroll .
Out of 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, 7 letters must have 3 tags: gimel (ג), zain (ז), tet (ט), nun (נ), ain (ע), tzadi (צ), shin (ש), and
6 letters that can have one tag: bet (ב), dalet (ד), ѓе (ה), hat (ח), yod (י), kuf (ק),
and tags cannot be joined to 9 others. These are Aleph (א), Vav (ו), Kaf (כ), Lamed (ל), meme (מ), Samekh (ס), ne (פ), Resh (ר), Tav (ת).
For easier memorization, it is customary to designate these three groups with symbolic phrases (“simanim”): שעטנ"ז ג"ץ (shaatnese getz), בד"ק חי"ה (bedek haya), אוכ"ל מספר"ת (ohel mesaperet) or מלאכת סופר (melekhet Sofer).
In addition, according to tradition, some letters in the Torah scroll, tefillins and mezuzahs have additional tags.
Nun
Crown of 3 tags above the gimel ( ג ).
Crown of 3 tags over Ain ( ע )
Value
Like other details of the form of Hebrew letters [1] , the form of tags has a certain meaning. The book "Mishna Brura" [2] says that the letters שעטנ"ז ג"ץ can be the names of unclean forces, and the tags are in the form of swords that hit these forces.
The Talmud says that Rabbi Akiva could learn many laws only from the tags.
Sefer Tagay
There is an essay (the preface of which states that its author is the high priest Eli ha-Cohen ) under the title “ Sefer Tagei ” (Tag Book; “Sefer Tagin”; Sefer ha-Tagin; Sepher Taghin; lat. Liber Coronularum [3] ). In fact, this is a list of mutated letters in the Torah. In addition to additional tags, there are other changes in the form of some letters.
See also
- Hebrew alphabet
Signs that can be added to Hebrew letters:
- Vowels in Hebrew letter - for vowels.
- Cantillation signs in Hebrew writing are signs for singing.
Notes
- ↑ See Otiyot Derabi Akiva
- ↑ chap. 36
- ↑ Sefer Tagin = Sepher Taghin = Liber coronularum