When teaching Nekudos, is it common practice amongst the Yeshivishe/Litvishe Mosdos to teach which Nekudos are the Tenuos Gedolos and which are the Tenuos Ketanos, or not? I ask this not out of curiosity, but rather as a practical inquiry.
Most youngsters, I assume, would find this concept hard to understand. For them, it is difficult enough to master each sound and associate it with the given symbol. Adding the classification of Tenuah Gedolah and Tenuah Ketanah will surely burden them with extra baggage. My “Safek” is, is it really worth the extra pressure and anxiety to teach this concept to children at such a young age, when in all practicality is serves little in the way of their mastering Kriah?
Most youngsters, I assume, would find this concept hard to understand. For them, it is difficult enough to master each sound and associate it with the given symbol. Adding the classification of Tenuah Gedolah and Tenuah Ketanah will surely burden them with extra baggage. My “Safek” is, is it really worth the extra pressure and anxiety to teach this concept to children at such a young age, when in all practicality is serves little in the way of their mastering Kriah?
Although there is supposed to be a definitive difference between the Tenuos, where the Gedolos are considered as ‘stronger’, meaning the pronunciation is heavier, I find it hard to differentiate this in practice, and I’m pretty certain that children that are first learning Kriah do not master this concept. The Ashkenazi pronunciation does not lend itself to simple classification according to the sound of the Nekudah. Thus, the child learning to read, if he is taught the Tenuos, will probably have to learn and memorize them with little real understanding of the classifications. Yes, he can remember “PiTuChay ChoSam” (which must be explained, along with the correction of switching the Cheerik Maleh for the Cheerik Chuser, as explained in the Mishna Berurah), but this is not a simple piece of information for a beginner (especially since he probably does not recognize the words or know their spelling). Then, he must remember the 5 Tenuos which are left out, and classify them as Ketanos. Again, not an easy task for a beginner. (Yes, he might be taught NiCham Kol MuKeh, but it is Latin to
him.)
In summation, my feeling is that this concept should not be taught at the time of Hascholas Kriah. I do not know if there is a Mesorah to teach it or not. (I did not learn it until after my Bar Mitzva.) I would appreciate to hear the opinions of
others.
K. Gross
him.)
In summation, my feeling is that this concept should not be taught at the time of Hascholas Kriah. I do not know if there is a Mesorah to teach it or not. (I did not learn it until after my Bar Mitzva.) I would appreciate to hear the opinions of
others.
K. Gross
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