I’ve decided that I love dagesh even though gutturals don’t so much (though aleph does get its dagesh on in Leviticus 23:17). Today I praise God for the Masoretes and their similar love for the dagesh. For without them today would not even be possible. The dagesh doubles the fun. The dagesh hints at the hiding place of a nun (sneaky nun thought that it could assimilate! Dagesh says, “Think again, silly nun.” [Nun as in the Hebrew character, not nun like the habit. Dagesh isn’t so good at pointing out hiding nuns…though who can forget the sneaky, mischievious nuns from the Sound of Music]). Disgress…I mean, dagesh also points out our friend the piel. April 10 is Dagesh Day. If a waw starts gettin’ sad, boom! Dagesh and now you’re a shureq!

[PS. What’s the plural of dagesh? Dageshi? Dageshae? Dageshim? Dageshoat?]