The Jewish month of Tishrey, a month of mercy and forgiveness.

"וואו! איזו גלידה מטורפת שחבל על הזמן!" "Wow! What crazy ice cream, it's a waste of time!"

Sometimes we hear Israelis saying things that are not only confusing, but contradicting. Are they trying to say that the ice cream is good or bad?! "מטורף" (meh-tor-af), crazy, is not a positive word, like insanity, it refers to the mental illness that would not want to experience, especially on their ice cream. But, the tone in which "מטורף" (meh-tor-af) is used indicates something positive. How confusing! And what is with the phrase "חבל על הזמן" (chaval al hazman), a waste of time. It is a waste of time to eat crazy ice cream? And that's a good thing?

Like all languages, Hebrew encounters words with double meanings where the two meanings can even contradict each other. This happens most often in slang.

Some other examples:

"אוי, השמלה שלך משגעת" (Oy, ha-simla shelach meshugat)

"אני חולה עלייך" (Ani Cholah Aleycha)

"אני מתה על שוקולד!" (Ani metah al shokolad!)

Leading up to the high holidays, the days we call "הימים הנוראים" (hayamim hanora'im), the Days of Awe, I thought about the word "נורא" (no-ra).

"אל תדאגי, זה לא נורא" (Don't worry, it's not terrible), "מה קרה לך, אתה נראה נורא!" (What happened to you, you look terrible!) These are two examples of expressions containing the word "נורא" (nora) that we hear every day. So, why do we use the same word to describe "הימים הנוראים", the Days of Awe? Are these days so bad? During these days, we deeply judge ourselves and think about the ways we have darkened our world in the past year. What is so bad about these days, the days which are described as the most spiritual and holy?

We are so used to hearing the word "נורא" (nora) in a negative context that we forget its original meaning. We use "נורא" (nora) as a superlative and as an adjective.

"הוא נורא מתוק!" He is so sweet! "זה נורא יפה" That is so pretty.

Here, we can see "נורא" (nora) with a neutral meaning without negative or positive connotations.

This same word is also able to be used as an adjective, like in the phrase, "הימים הנוראים" Days of Awe. So where does that come from? The root of the word, "נורא" is י.ר.א., sharing its root with the word "יראה", fear. As we sing in the song Aishet Chayal " אישה יראת ה' היא תתהלל" (a G-d-fearing woman, she should be praised). A woman who understands the greatness and power of G-d is one who deserves praise. So what is "יראה?" The fear that comes from within love, because of the size of the matter. The Days of Awe are very important and immense, just as we describe G-d. Every Friday night we say " האל הגדול והגיבור והנורא..." The great, the mighty and the awe-inspiring… "נורא" here is defined as awe-inspiring, now in a passive form of the root י.ר.א.

Wishing all of you a place in the book of life and an easy fast.

Osnat