Hebrew 2 Final Exam-Spring 2022

Hebrew 2 (2022) texts

The exam has two parts: Part 1 is "closed book. For part 2, you can use BDB, Jastrow and verb charts. In each part, you have a choice of texts. I recommend you choose texts from the genres you are most comfortable with and that you think best demonstrate your learning. Please do not spend more than 3 hours total on the exam (life is too short :). If you have not finished part 1 after 90 minutes, move on to part 2. Don't worry if you don't finish the full "assignment" for each part--- especially part 2. I will assess as far as you got.
Part 1: Without dictionaries
1. Translate three of the following texts (you may include only one of the Mishneh Torah texts). Your translation should articulate your understanding of the plain sense of the text.
2. Analyze any highlighted words in the passage.

Identify the part of speech.
For non-verbs, identify any prefixes or suffixes.
For verbs, use this format: root, binyan, "tense", person/number/gender.
If the verb is not a qal regular verb, note the signs of root (if irregular), binyan and tense.

3. Following each translation, write a brief explanation/annotation of three choices that you made. These might include:

selecting among different possible translations for a word (including "heavy lifters" like ב,ל,ו).
making a choice about sentence division
adding a word in English that doesn't correspond to a word present in the Hebrew.
if you made a choice but think that another might be equally valid, note the alternative and why it also works grammatically/syntactically.

משנה תורה, הלכות תשובה א׳:ב׳

שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ מְכַפֵּר עַל כָּל עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, הַקַּלּוֹת וְהַחֲמוּרוֹת, בֵּין שֶׁעָבַר בְּזָדוֹן בֵּין שֶׁעָבַר בִּשְׁגָגָה, בֵּין שֶׁהוֹדַע לוֹ בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הוֹדַע לוֹ, הַכּל מִתְכַּפֵּר בְּשָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ. וְהוּא שֶׁעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה. אֲבָל אִם לֹא עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה אֵין הַשָּׂעִיר מְכַפֵּר לוֹ אֶלָּא עַל הַקַּלּוֹת.

Mishneh Torah, Repentance 1:2

The Azazel-goat, because it is atoning for all Israel, the High-Priest confesses over it in the speech of all Israel, even as it is said: "And confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel" (Lev. 16.21). The Azazel-goat, moreover, atones for all transgressions mentioned in the Torah, both, minor and major, whether one committed it in spite or whether he committed it in error, whether it was done by him knowingly or unknowingly— for all the Azazel-goat atones, provided the sinner did repent. But if he repenteth not, the Azazel-goat atones not save for his minor sins. And, what are the minor and what are the major sins? The major sins are such as carry the guilt of death or excision, included among which are also vain and false swearing, although they do not carry the guilt of excision; and all other prohibitive or mandatory commandments which do not carry the guilt of excision are the minor.

משנה תורה, הלכות מגילה וחנוכה ב׳:א׳

(א) הַקוֹרֵא אֶת הַמְּגִלָּה לְמַפְרֵעַ לֹא יָצָא. קָרָא וְשָׁכַח פָּסוּק אֶחָד וְקָרָא פָּסוּק שֵׁנִי לוֹ וְחָזַר וְקָרָא פָּסוּק שֶׁשָּׁכַח וְחָזַר וְקָרָא פָּסוּק שְׁלִישִׁי לֹא יָצָא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקָּרָא פָּסוּק אֶחָד לְמַפְרֵעַ. אֶלָּא כֵּיצַד עוֹשֶׂה. מַתְחִיל מִפָּסוּק שֵׁנִי שֶׁשָּׁכַח וְקוֹרֵא עַל הַסֵּדֶר:

Mishneh Torah, Scroll of Esther and Hanukkah 2:1

(1) One who reads the Scroll out of order has not fulfilled [his obligation. If] he read and forgot a verse and [then] read the next verse [after] it; went back to read the verse he forgot and [then] went back and read a third verse (where had had left off) — he has not fulfilled [his obligation], since he read one verse out of order. Rather what should he do? He should begin with the other verse that he forgot and read in order [from there].

אסתר ט׳:כ׳-כ״ג

(כ) וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מׇרְדֳּכַ֔י אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח סְפָרִ֜ים אֶל־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹת֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ הַקְּרוֹבִ֖ים וְהָרְחוֹקִֽים׃ (כא) לְקַיֵּם֮ עֲלֵיהֶם֒ לִהְי֣וֹת עֹשִׂ֗ים אֵ֠ת י֣וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר וְאֵ֛ת יוֹם־חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר בּ֑וֹ בְּכׇל־שָׁנָ֖ה וְשָׁנָֽה׃ (כב) כַּיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨חוּ בָהֶ֤ם הַיְּהוּדִים֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁלֹ֤חַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיֹנִֽים׃ (כג) וְקִבֵּל֙ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־הֵחֵ֖לּוּ לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַ֥ב מׇרְדֳּכַ֖י אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Esther 9:20-23

(20) Mordecai recorded these events. And he sent dispatches to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, near and far, (21) charging them to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, every year— (22) the same days on which the Jews enjoyed relief from their foes and the same month which had been transformed for them from one of grief and mourning to one of festive joy. They were to observe them as days of feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor. (23) The Jews accordingly assumed as an obligation that which they had begun to practice and which Mordecai prescribed for them.

הגדה של פסח, מגיד, עבדים היינו ב׳

עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיִם, וַיּוֹצִיאֵנוּ ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מִשָּׁם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה. וְאִלּוּ לֹא הוֹצִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם, הֲרֵי אָנוּ וּבָנֵינוּ וּבְנֵי בָנֵינוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיִם. וַאֲפִילוּ כֻּלָּנוּ חֲכָמִים כֻּלָּנוּ נְבוֹנִים כֻּלָּנוּ זְקֵנִים כֻּלָּנוּ יוֹדְעִים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מִצְוָה עָלֵינוּ לְסַפֵּר בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. וְכָל הַמַּרְבֶּה לְסַפֵּר בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח.

Pesach Haggadah, Magid, We Were Slaves in Egypt 2

We were slaves to Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. And the Lord, our God, took us out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched forearm. And if the Holy One, blessed be He, had not taken our ancestors from Egypt, behold we and our children and our children's children would [all] be enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. And even if we were all sages, all discerning, all elders, all knowledgeable about the Torah, it would be a commandment upon us to tell the story of the exodus from Egypt. And anyone who adds [and spends extra time] in telling the story of the exodus from Egypt, behold he is praiseworthy.

תהילים קט״ו:א׳-ח׳

(א) לֹ֤א לָ֥נוּ יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹ֫א־לָ֥נוּ כִּֽי־לְ֭שִׁמְךָ תֵּ֣ן כָּב֑וֹד עַל־חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗ עַל־אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃ (ב) לָ֭מָּה יֹאמְר֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם אַיֵּה־נָ֝֗א אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ (ג) וֵאלֹהֵ֥ינוּ בַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־חָפֵ֣ץ עָשָֽׂה׃ (ד) עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃ (ה) פֶּֽה־לָ֭הֶם וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ עֵינַ֥יִם לָ֝הֶ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֽוּ׃ . .(ח)כְּ֭מוֹהֶם יִהְי֣וּ עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־בֹּטֵ֣חַ בָּהֶֽם׃

Psalms 115:1-8

(1) Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to Your name bring glory
for the sake of Your love and Your faithfulness. (2) Let the nations not say,
“Where, now, is their God?” (3) when our God is in heaven
and all that He wills He accomplishes. (4) Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of men’s hands. (5) They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see; (6) they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell; (7) they have hands, but cannot touch,
feet, but cannot walk;
they can make no sound in their throats. (8) Those who fashion them,
all who trust in them,
shall become like them.

Part 2: You may use BDB and Jastrow for this section.
Choose two of the following texts and follow the instructions for part 1.

משנה תורה, הלכות תשובה ב׳:ה׳

(ה) וְשֶׁבַח גָּדוֹל לַשָּׁב שֶׁיִּתְוַדֶּה בָּרַבִּים וְיוֹדִיעַ פְּשָׁעָיו לָהֶם וּמְגַלֶּה עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבֵּינוֹ לְבֵין חֲבֵרוֹ לַאֲחֵרִים וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם אָמְנָם חָטָאתִי לִפְלוֹנִי וְעָשִׂיתִי לוֹ כָּךְ וְכָךְ וַהֲרֵינִי הַיּוֹם שָׁב וּמִתְנַחֵם. וְכָל הַמִּתְגָּאֶה וְאֵינוֹ מוֹדִיעַ אֶלָּא מְכַסֶּה פְּשָׁעָיו אֵין תְּשׁוּבָתוֹ גְּמוּרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כח יג) "מְכַסֶּה פְשָׁעָיו לֹא יַצְלִיחַ".

Mishneh Torah, Repentance 2:5

(5) The penitent who confesses publicly is praiseworthy, and it is commendable for him to let the public know his iniquities, and to reveal the sins between himself and his neighbor to others, saying to them: "Truly, I have sinned against that man, and I have wronged him thus and such, but, behold me this day, I repent and am remorseful". But he, who is arrogant and reveals not but covers up his sins, is not a wholehearted penitent, of whom it is said: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper" (Prov. 28.13). But that is saying solely concerning sins between man and man, but sins between man and God, the penitent need not make public, on the contrary it would be impudent of him to reveal them. He, however, should repent before God, blessed is he! and before Him he should detail his sins; and then make public confession upon them by simply saying: "I have sinned". Such procedure is, indeed, for his own good, even as it is said: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Ps. 32.1).

הגדה של פסח, מגיד, כוס שניה

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר גְּאָלָנוּ וְגָאַל אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְהִגִּיעָנוּ הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה לֶאֱכָל־בּוֹ מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר. כֵּן ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ יַגִּיעֵנוּ לְמוֹעֲדִים וְלִרְגָלִים אֲחֵרִים הַבָּאִים לִקְרָאתֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, שְׂמֵחִים בְּבִנְיַן עִירֶךְ וְשָׂשִׂים בַּעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ. וְנֹאכַל שָׁם מִן הַזְּבָחִים וּמִן הַפְּסָחִים אֲשֶׁר יַגִּיעַ דָּמָם עַל קִיר מִזְבַּחֲךָ לְרָצון,

Pesach Haggadah, Magid, Second Cup of Wine

We raise the cup until we reach "who redeemed Israel"

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt, and brought us on this night to eat matsa and marror; so too, Lord our God, and God of our ancestors, bring us to other appointed times and holidays that will come to greet us in peace, joyful in the building of Your city and happy in Your worship; that we shall eat there from the offerings and from the Pesach sacrifices, the blood of which shall reach the wall of Your altar for favor, and we shall thank You with a new song upon our redemption and upon the restoration of our souls. Blessed are you, Lord, who redeemed Israel.

We say the blessing below and drink the cup while reclining to the left

Blessed are You, Lord our God, who creates the fruit of the vine.

תהילים קמ״ז:א׳-ה׳

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ כִּי־ט֭וֹב זַמְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּי־נָ֝עִ֗ים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה׃ בּוֹנֵ֣ה יְרוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם יְהֹוָ֑ה נִדְחֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל יְכַנֵּֽס׃ הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃ מוֹנֶ֣ה מִ֭סְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים לְ֝כֻלָּ֗ם שֵׁמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃ גָּד֣וֹל אֲדוֹנֵ֣ינוּ וְרַב־כֹּ֑חַ לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּֽר׃

Psalms 147:1-5

Hallelujah.
It is good to chant hymns to our God;
it is pleasant to sing glorious praise.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
He gathers in the exiles of Israel. He heals their broken hearts,
and binds up their wounds. He reckoned the number of the stars;
to each He gave its name. Great is our Lord and full of power;
His wisdom is beyond reckoning.