Usage Hebrew abbreviations

people

acronyms have been used in hebrew since @ least middle ages. several important rabbis referred acronyms of names. example, rabbi shlomo ben yitzchak known rashi, rav moshe ben maimon (maimonides) commonly known rambam (hebrew: רמב״ם‎), rabbi moshe ben nahman (nahmanides) likewise known ramban (hebrew: רמב״ן‎), , baal shem tov called besht (hebrew: בעש״ט‎).

a number of such acronyms differ in last letter. begin mahara- , acronym of words ...מורנו הרב רבי‎ (morenu ha-rav rabi ..., our teacher rabbi ...).

maharam , final m standing number of names, such moshe , meïr.
maharal judah loew ben bezalel
maharash either meir shauls or shmuel schneersohn.

text

the usage of hebrew acronyms extends liturgical groupings: word tanakh (hebrew: תנ״ך) acronym torah (five books of moses), nevi im (book of prophets), , ketuvim (hagiographa).

most often, though, 1 find use of acronyms acrostics, in both prayer, poetry (see piyyut), , kabbalistic works. because each hebrew letter has numeric value, embedding acrostic may give additional layer of meaning these works.

one purpose of acrostics mnemonic or way author weave name signature, or other spiritual thought, work, @ time when memorized. examples of prayers contain acrostics include:

ashrei – first letter of every verse starts consecutive letter of hebrew alphabet, omission of nun.
lekhah dodi – first letter of each stanza (not including first , last) spells out shlomo halevi (hebrew: שלמה הלוי) name of author shlomo halevi alkabetz.
shokhen ad – lines written letters line vertically, spelling name yitzchak, may refer patriarch yitzchak, or unknown author.