Hebrew Language Academy Corrects Common Term for Pomegranate Preparation
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the Hebrew Language Academy has clarified the correct term for separating pomegranate seeds, a common practice during the holiday preparations. The Academy stated that the verb "lefarred" (לְפָרֵד) is the accurate term for this action, not the commonly used "lefarek" (לפרק) or "lekalef" (לקלף).
According to the Academy, the pomegranate seed itself is referred to in ancient texts as "pered" (פֶּרֶד) or "prida" (פְּרִידָה). They further explained that the verbs used to describe the process of extracting these seeds include "parta" (פָּרַט), "parad" (פָּרַד) in the simple conjugation (Binyan Kal), and "pered" (פֵּרֵד) in the intensive conjugation (Binyan Pi'el).
Examples cited from classical Jewish texts include "poretz be-rimon" (פּוֹרֵט ברימון) from Masechet Ma'asrot, "ha-rimon she-parad" (הרימון שפְּרָדוֹ) from Masechet Uktsin, and "me'farredin rimmonim la'asotam pered" (מְפָרְדִין רימונים לעשותן פרד) from Tosefta Shevi'it.
