Halacha:

Kriyat HaTorah 

Parsha:

Vayishlach 

Description

The word קטנתי, which highlights Yaakov's prayer for salvation from what he anticipates is the imminent attack of Esav, is marked, in most Humashim, with the trope mark גרש; however, in a number of manuscripts (and in the Koren Tanakh) it is marked with a רביע. In this brief shiur, we explore the history and background of טעמי המקרא (trope markings) and suggest that the meaning of the phrase depends on which pausal mark is used - and that the dispute between Rashi and Ramban as to the meaning of Yaakov's words hinges on what little mark appears over the letter.