Siluk סִלּוּק
Your first trop — the mark that signals the end of every sentence in the Torah.
Ready to go?
Set yourself up for success
- Set aside at least 30 minutes. We're all busy, but shorter sessions generally limit retention.
- Find a quiet place. Even after many years, I still need a quiet spot to practice. The great thing is you can be inside or outside.
- Be in the right frame of mind. Reading requires focus. If you're tired or distracted or angry, you will struggle. Take a few minutes to recenter yourself before you start.
Get everything you need
- Print out your reading if you can. It's helpful to be able to take notes when you're learning. (Bring a pencil, too!)
- Use headphones if possible — they help you hear the melody clearly.
- Wear a kippah — it's customary.
Repetition is key to learning trop!
This is siluk
Siluk is a vertical line under the last word of a verse. It marks the absolute end of a sentence, which is why it is occasionally called sof pasuk (end of verse). In the Torah, sentences end with a colon, the two-dot punctionation mark.
Often paired with
Siluk is often preceded by merekha, which resembles a comma. Think of merekha as a partner for siluk. Merekha is sometimes, but not always, present with siluk. Siluk often stands alone.
We will see in future lessons that merekha partners with other te'amim besides siluk. It is what's known as a “conjunctive” trop. This means it will always be connected with another ta’am.
Important note: Merekha’s melody will depend on the trop it is partnered with, but I will help you learn more about this in future lessons.
Important
About siluk and sof pasuk
Siluk has two melodies
Don't be confused if you see a mark like siluk in the middle of a sentence!
"Normal" Siluk
This is the siluk melody used for all but the last sentence of an Aliyah.
Accent on later syllable
With multi-syllable words, the melody builds through the lead-in syllables and lands on the accented syllable.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
Accent on first syllable
With single-syllable words, you compress the melody into one syllable — there are no lead-in notes to build up.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
"Normal" Merekha-Siluk
Now practice the merekha-siluk pair for all but the last sentence of an Aliyah.
Accent on later syllable
When both words have multiple syllables, the melody flows naturally through each word.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
Accent on first syllable
When one or both words are single-syllable, compress the melody for those words.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
"Final" Siluk
This is the siluk melody used for the last sentence of an Aliyah.
Accent on later syllable
With multi-syllable words, the final melody builds through the lead-in syllables.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
Accent on first syllable
With single-syllable words, you compress the final melody into one syllable.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
"Final" Merekha-Siluk
Now practice the merekha-siluk pair for the last sentence of an Aliyah.
Accent on later syllable
When both words have multiple syllables, the final melody flows through each word.
Learn the melody
Practice with words
Accent on first syllable
When one or both words are single-syllable, compress the final melody for those words.