Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading

HEI/SH'VA

There are over 1200 words in Tanach that have a HEI with a SH’VA under it - most related to the word HAYA. Just trolling Nitzavim and Vayeilech for samples, we find EH-YEH, TIH-YEH, and YIH-YEH. The SH’VA under a HEI is ALWAYS a SH’VA NACH, and the HEI closes the syllable it’s in with an aspirated HEI sound - identical to a MAPIK HEI at the end of many words.
YIHHH and then YEH, the second HEI not sounded at all (the transliterated H used in this case to help the reader pronounce the syllable). YIH-YE, not YI and H’YE. The SH’VA of the HEI is never NA. Caution: the wrong pronunciation of the HEI/SH’VA is the more natural way to say the words in question; therefore, it takes practice and care to pronounce the word correctly.
There is one more HEI/SH’VA in Nitzavim that presents to other challenge to correct pronunciation of the HEI/SH’VA. Like the overturning of S’dom - K’MA-PEI-CHAT. In this word - and others like it - the common way to pronounce it is to ignore the HEI’s sound. K’MA-PEI-CHAT. This would be fine if there was no SH’VA under the HEI. Then it is totally silent. But with a SH’VA, the HEI contributes its sound to the word. K’MAHHH-PEI- CHAT. Again, the wrong pronunciation comes more naturally, and one should take care to aspirate the HEI.
All this is similar to the H in English with words like honest and herbs, etc.

The word HAK-HEIL (the mitzva is #612 and is in Parshat Vayeilech) is hard to say. The HEI is easily swallowed by saying HAKEIL. Again, one needs practice and care to say HAK-HEIL. First syllable HAK; second one HEIL

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• Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading
• Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading
• Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading