Although yod is the smallest Hebrew letter (similar to the Greek iota ı),** its ancient form was much larger, looking more like yad “hand” (from shoulder to middle finger). It is the most frequent ...

Ron Kalom writes from Taos, N.M., to ask: “Dos pintele yid? Dos pintele yud? Dos pintele yod? Which one is correct, and how does one translate this Yiddish idiom?” Let’s take these words one by one.