Telisha

Telisha (Hebrew: תְּלִישָא‎) is one of two cantillation marks found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. There are two versions of the Telisha: Telisha ketana (תְּלִישָא קְטַנָּה‎) and Telisha gedola (תְּלִישָא גְּדוֹלָה‎), the latter of which has a longer melody and higher peak. The Telisha trope can occur independently or can follow a Pazer or one of several other trope sounds. The Telisha ketana must be followed by a Kadma.^[1]

The Hebrew word  תְּ֠לִישָא‎ translates into English as detached. This is because they are never linked to the following note as a single phrase. קְטַנָּה‎ refers to little (the shorter note) and גְדוֹלָה‎ to great (the longer note).

The Telisha gedola can be found in the Torah 266 times.^[2] The Telisha ketana occurs 451 times.^[3]

Total occurrences[]

Melody[]

While the names "Telisha Ketana" and "Telisha Gedola" are 6 syllables each, they are usually applied to words with far fewer syllables, often just one. In one-syllable words, only the notes leading to and from the peak are included. In multiple-syllable words, the additional syllables are recited at the level of the first note leading up to the peak.

Telisha Ketana[]

Telisha Gedola[]

References[]