tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post8065226467576607703..comments2024-03-05T21:22:43.426-05:00Comments on parshablog: Minchas Shai on the Gog-bama Torah Codejoshwaxmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03516171362038454070noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-60452605508615288062011-06-30T19:18:08.545-04:002011-06-30T19:18:08.545-04:00bli neder, i'll reply when i get the chance, w...bli neder, i'll reply when i get the chance, why this ex post facto explanation is unconvincing.<br /><br />but isn't the final 'a' of Obama to be transliterated as an א rather than a ה? I'll have to review the relevant section in Shulchan Aruch.<br /><br />http://www.koltorah.org/ravj/Transliterating%20English%20Names%20for%20Ketubot.htm<br /><br />kt,<br />joshjoshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-75734867949687567162011-06-30T15:48:58.768-04:002011-06-30T15:48:58.768-04:00Yes - exactly. And that's why it's "...Yes - exactly. And that's why it's "better" to spell Obama with an Alef, being that we don't have any early source for spelling a name like that.yaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179304707239865515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-27863890463485205222011-06-30T15:44:21.455-04:002011-06-30T15:44:21.455-04:00"In Gittin, there are spelling rules based on...<i>"In Gittin, there are spelling rules based on pronunciation and not always on standard spelling."</i><br /><br />I am thinking back to the great Torah code experiment of Witzum, Rips, and Rosenberg, in which it was only statistically significant because of an a priori determination of how it is to be spelled. without this, there are so many variations that you can pick ANY message and demonstrate it -- that Obama is really Kenyan, that he is the masiach, that he is the tooth fairy.<br /><br />more later...joshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-29083983462270141212011-06-30T13:41:24.280-04:002011-06-30T13:41:24.280-04:00Thanks for the links, even if done to be critical....Thanks for the links, even if done to be critical. I'm in the process of updating all the posts with the latest pdf from the author. I'm currenly on the third part, so check back in a few days for more updates.<br /><br />Regarding what you wrote, I'm not sure why you care about standard spelling. In Gittin, there are spelling rules based on pronunciation and not always on standard spelling. <br /><br />In this case, if someone came from Mars knowing Hebrew and the word אובמה was presented to him, he'd think it was pronounced "Obma" or "Ovma" - not "Obama". The Alef definitely helps the reader.<br /><br />Regarding the Minhat Shai, OK - good point, but so what? According to some sefarim, it works. I'll call it "a code with an asterisk". These are all just Remazim anyways. No one is deriving any halacha from it. It's not gorei'a at all.<br /><br />For the record, I have no idea if Obama is Gog or not. But I contend that it is possible to be (if I can coin a phrase) a Goger without being a birther. By attributing lunacy to this code, it shows your disdain for Geula blogs in general. This may earn you praise with some of your rationalistic readership, but it doesn't look good on your record.yaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179304707239865515noreply@blogger.com