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Vayigash – Raamses/ Ra’amses

On the connection between Parashat Vayigash and the English Language

In this parasha, we read how Joseph settles his family in the choicest part of Egypt, in the region of Raamses (42:12). Many commentators, however, point out a potential problem: in Parashat Shemot (1:11) we read that the Jewish slaves were forced to build Raamses many years later.

Rabbi David Silverberg, writing on the Herzog Tanach site [1], expertly explains how Rashi and the Ibn Ezra approach this issue. According to Rashi, the Jewish slaves fortified the already existing city of Raamses. In contrast, Ibn Ezra argues that the Torah refers to two completely different places with similar, but distinct, names. In Parshat Vayigash the Jews settle in “Ramses” (with a silent “sheva” vowel under the ayin), while in Parshat Shemot, the Jewish slaves were forced to build “Ra’amses” (with a “chataf patach” under the ayin).

When translating these names into English, translators must decide how to transliterate them. Check your English Haggadot at home: Do they refer to the city built by the Jewish slaves as “Ramses” or “Ra’amses”?  While Rashi might consider the difference inconsequential, Ibn Ezra would assert that writing "Ramses" instead of "Ra’amses" is incorrect.

[1] https://www.hatanakh.com/en/content/ramses-or-raamses-rashi-and-ibn-ezra

In conclusion:

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