[Ads-l] Earliest True Acronym

[James Landau]

I don't know if the following is a legitimate response to this thread, but:
Encyclopaedia Judaica (Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House Ltd, 1971, this is from the 1973 second printing, page 803 left-hand column
<quote>
The Talmud (Shab. 119g; Sanh 111a) also offers a homiletical etymology of "Amen" by explaining it as made up of the initial letters of _El Melekh Ne'eman_("God, faithful King") ---a phrase by which the reading of the _Shema_ is preceded when recited other than in congregational worship.  However, in the older prayer orders (Amram, Saadiah, VItry) the original "Amen" appears before the _Shema_.
<end quote>
James Landau
jjjrlandau at netscape.com

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