tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post5724742914074716594..comments2024-01-21T02:58:08.208-05:00Comments on On the Main Line: What does "chashmal" mean?Mississippi Fred MacDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734864605700159687noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-32878996340446742892011-02-24T02:24:59.548-05:002011-02-24T02:24:59.548-05:00Rambam, in Yesodei Ha-Torah, lists "hashmalli...Rambam, in Yesodei Ha-Torah, lists "hashmallim" as the fourth-level group of angels, outranking "seraphim": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Angelarchy. "Hashmall" also appears as a Jewish surname; my guess is that it was given originally to amber merchants.<br /><br />S., thanks for the shoutout. When I was translating Shadal's letter to Zunz, his allusion to the סיר נפוח that brings near those who are far away baffled me until I realized, from the context, that the "bubbling pot" was a poetic reference to the steam engine that powered the locomotive.Dan Kleinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-50940665246841437152011-02-23T12:10:49.039-05:002011-02-23T12:10:49.039-05:00I saw that more than ten years ago, but I cannot f...I saw that more than ten years ago, but I cannot find it now (possibly due to faulty memory).<br />If you could find it, that would be great.<br />אהל רח"ל is available at Hebrew Books, but it is not searchable.Chaimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-4303996505136555362011-02-23T09:56:33.468-05:002011-02-23T09:56:33.468-05:00Chaim, that's absolutely fascinating. I see no...Chaim, that's absolutely fascinating. I see now that several sources use the term חשמליו, including Immanuel, but for angels.S.http://onthemainline.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-45639164592274891912011-02-23T09:48:29.577-05:002011-02-23T09:48:29.577-05:00S.,
I remember seeing in Chaim Lieberman's Ohe...S.,<br />I remember seeing in Chaim Lieberman's Ohel Rachel a title page that stated that the sefer (I think it was עין יעקב) was printed ברשות אדונינו המלך וחשמליו.<br />Indicating that he used the word חשמל for servants, or something similar.<br />I could not find it now in אהל רח"ל.Chaimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-50148389267697950522011-02-22T09:47:46.468-05:002011-02-22T09:47:46.468-05:00>Yeah, but they never blame Yalag. They always ...>Yeah, but they never blame Yalag. They always blame ben Yehuda.<br /><br />Ben Yehuda blamed Yalag, ayin sham.S.http://onthemainline.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-21774768390315095432011-02-22T09:02:04.636-05:002011-02-22T09:02:04.636-05:00The Ropshitzer has a vort in Zera Kodesh where he ...The Ropshitzer has a vort in Zera Kodesh where he describes hashmal as the dichotomy between Chas (be quiet) and Mal (speak). I cant recall the rest of the passage but this struck me because of the positive/negative forces in electricity!steve mcqueennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-70913369992700451202011-02-22T07:15:57.113-05:002011-02-22T07:15:57.113-05:00>A final final note: not surprisingly the fact ...>A final final note: not surprisingly the fact that the modern Hebrew term comes from the loftiest, most esoteric part of the Jewish tradition, and the fact that Yehuda Leib Gordon was a radical maskil inspired rejection of his term on the part of many traditionalists who do not call electricity chashmal in Hebrew to this day. They call it . . . electricity.<<br /><br />Yeah, but they never blame Yalag. They always blame ben Yehuda.chardalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-14488097157223922782011-02-21T18:52:20.787-05:002011-02-21T18:52:20.787-05:00Dave - yeah, I meant you. (balshan)Dave - yeah, I meant you. (balshan)DFhttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-43260461362009614312011-02-21T14:41:29.429-05:002011-02-21T14:41:29.429-05:00I thought it was in the Hakdama, but looking now i...I thought it was in the Hakdama, but looking now i dont see it there. It is definitely something he wrote, and when i find its exact location, I will iyh let u know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-78146421902889086742011-02-21T13:25:05.868-05:002011-02-21T13:25:05.868-05:00DF, *Dave* is the William Safire of the Jewish blo...DF, *Dave* is the William Safire of the Jewish blog world, not me. In fact I was so surprised that he hadn't already done a chashmal post. Naturally I looked.<br /><br />Dan Klein, able translator of Shadal, pointed out to me that he used סיר נפוח in 1852 for steam engine (since it brings those from far away near), as well as מרכבת אש in the very same letter See Iggrot V. II pg 1134, letter to Zunz http://books.google.com/books?id=T-wWAQAAIAAJ .<br /><br />Professor, many thanks for the reference.S.http://onthemainline.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-21987879973428583472011-02-21T13:16:55.439-05:002011-02-21T13:16:55.439-05:00Is "Dave" me? (If so - I'm not sure ...Is "Dave" me? (If so - I'm not sure who you are, DF...)<br /><br />In any case, great post! I've had "chashmal" in my queue for a while. Hopefully I'll be able to answer some of the questions you ask here...Balashonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01200811858068140830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-57632535731349733262011-02-21T13:11:45.058-05:002011-02-21T13:11:45.058-05:00Mississpi Fred, the William Safire of the Jewish B...Mississpi Fred, the William Safire of the Jewish Blog world. I love word derivation posts, keep it up.<br /><br />The balshanim must have had a blast in the 19th century, coming up with these hebrew names for scientific stuff. I've seen some great ones for "magnet", "telescope", and a ton of others. Mind you, today's balshanim could do the same thing with all the bogus "social science" phobias & syndromes they keep inventing. Problem is, you have to immerse yourself into that langauge and mindest, and not too many men have the stomach for it.<br /><br />Dave - whatchu think?DFhttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-66761475419039958172011-02-21T13:08:07.864-05:002011-02-21T13:08:07.864-05:00That is actually why, in the Sh"ut Beir Moish...That is actually why, in the Sh"ut Beir Moishe, before is portion called 'kuntris electric' he explains why he uses the word electric as opposed to chasmal. He explains how some say not to use the word chasmal for electricity as it is a disgrace to the real meaning. he rejects that, and says the reason why he doesnt use it is simply because it is modern hebrew (ie. made by 'tziyonim')Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com