0

The Hebrew proposal failed, but has been restarted. However, I don't see why it will do much better. Meanwhile, I hold my self back from asking Hebrew-related questions, out of fear of political down-votes.

I hereby suggest extending the scope to include biblical Hebrew as its usage and meaning are inseparable from Jewish life and culture. However, modern Hebrew should remain out of scope*. It should also be considered to include other Jewish languages.

* Except to clarify differences: Why did the staff first become an alligator (tanin), and then a snake (nachash)? Why the grouping of faith (emunah) and national defence (bitachon)? – Confusion due to Modern Hebrew's novel definitions for tanin and bitachon.

| |
  • 1
    "Political"? [] – Double AA♦ Aug 28 '14 at 19:45
  • @DoubleAA An agenda to suppress Hebrew here in order to promote the proposed site. I remember seeing such a case, but I can't find it now. – Adám Aug 28 '14 at 19:46
  • 1
    Could you propose some sample questions for both "on-topic" and "off-topic" under this scheme? The ends of the scale are easy to see; it's always the fuzzy middle ground that causes problems. – Monica Cellio Aug 28 '14 at 19:48
5

I always thought that biblical Hebrew was on topic. You know, if you have a question about what a word means in a certain Pasuk. I'm pretty sure such questions are left open all the time.

Talmudic Hebrew and Aramaic as well.

| |
  • 3
    With the caveat that they must identify as such. A question like "what does אמתלא mean?" has nothing to do with Judaism. "What is the concept of אמתלא and how is it different than ..." does. – Y     e     z Aug 28 '14 at 19:48
  • @YEZ, what about what does אמתלא mean in Mesechta ... Daf ...? I think I have seen that on topic. But when it comes to biblical Hebrew, I'm sure. – Yishai Aug 28 '14 at 19:50
  • Right. As of now every question "about Hebrew language" is officially off-topic, even if it doesn't get closed. – Adám Aug 28 '14 at 19:51
  • 2
    I agree. I just meant as opposed to citing an arbitrary hebrew/aramaic word with no context of why it relates to Judaism. – Y     e     z Aug 28 '14 at 19:51
  • 2
    @NBZ, if you are asking about a Posuk, it is related to Judaism, which puts it back on topic. – Yishai Aug 28 '14 at 19:51
  • 4
    @NBZ you missed the lead-up line to that line of that post. They are not on-topic because they are Hebrew. But if they relate to Judaism then they are not off-topic because they are Hebrew. – Y     e     z Aug 28 '14 at 19:52
  • 4
    @NBZ No! Please read the beginning of the sentence you've quoted from: "questions unrelated to Judaism ..." Being about Hebrew, whether Biblical, Mishnaic, or Modern, does not make a question on-topic but also does not make it off-topic. If the question's about Judaism, it's on-topic. If not, it's not. Here's a handy Venn diagram I made to illustrate this concept, and if you scroll up and down in the chat log there, you'll see other formats of illustration. – Isaac Moses♦ Aug 28 '14 at 19:55
  • @YEZ and IsaacMoses I think you are right. Maybe that text could be clearer? – Adám Aug 28 '14 at 19:56
  • 1
    @IsaacMoses Please please please include those diagrams on the scope page! :-D – Adám Aug 28 '14 at 19:58
  • @IsaacMoses I remember that :) – Y     e     z Aug 28 '14 at 20:05

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .