Q&A: Different Pronunciation Customs
Different Pronunciation Customs
Question
I’ve come across several different customs regarding the pronunciation of kamatz, holam, and the like—Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Yemenite (and even Shami and Baladi differ from each other). Seemingly, the whole discussion of how to pronounce words is really a historical question: what was it like in the past, in the Temple, what is the original source. And seemingly, when we’re talking about a matter of fact, it doesn’t make sense for each person to follow his rabbis, because in this issue the figure of “the rabbi” has no special significance. We want to know what the truth is, what it was then—and only one position can be correct. So the question is: why do we follow our rabbis rather than simply clarifying the issue? After all, some communities have their own claims, and assuming we need to investigate what the truth is—did the rabbis of each and every community all investigate and just happen to come out exactly in line with their own custom?
Answer
Quite apart from the claim that this is a factual question, if you have a way to examine what is correct and reach a conclusion, there is no need or obligation at all to follow the customs. As it says in the Jerusalem Talmud: if Jewish law is uncertain in your hands, follow the custom.
Discussion on Answer
Not necessarily. A custom can be changed, so even if in the past they pronounced it a certain way, today one can speak differently. That needs to be discussed.
Does the Rabbi agree that this is a factual question?