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Today, FanDuel is the market leader in the Garden State and has expanded to Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Colorado,Indiana,Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee and Iowa.

So, besides awesome promos, does the FanDuel Sportsbook app have to offer sports bettors? Are there any bonus offers you should be aware of? What’s it like to use the platform?

For those answers and everything else regarding FanDuel, read on.

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FanDuel welcome bonus

The sports betting marketplace is quite crowded and competitive. To stand apart from the competition, operators aren’t shy about offering enticing incentives for new users.

FanDuel hits that mark with one of the more generous offers we have seen. New users are entitled to a risk-free bet of up to $1,000.

To qualify for the bonus, you must sign up for an account and make a deposit. From there, place your first wager.

If your bet is correct, your account will be credited with the winnings, which you can keep or withdraw as per usual.

If your bet loses, then FanDuel will refund the amount of your wager, up to $1,000, within 72 hours. FanDuel puts the amount in your account as site credit and is not able to be withdrawn. The site credits have a one-time playthrough requirement.

Here’s an example of how it works:

Let’s say you deposit $100 and use these funds for your first wager. If your bet wins, your account will be credited with the winnings. You can withdraw the winnings or keep it in your bankroll. It’s entirely up to you.

If your $100 bet loses, FanDuel will credit your account with $100 in site credits within 72 hours. This amount is not able to be withdrawn.

You can use this $100 to place another bet. If it wins, you can withdraw or keep the winnings.

The $100 is not able to be withdrawn yet because you have only played once. If you place another $100 bet and that wins, the full amount in your account will be available for withdrawal.

Do I need a Fanduel sportsbook promo code for the bonus?

FanDuel promo code None - Use Links to receive the risk-free bet of up to $1,000. You automatically qualify for the bonus offer when you signup at Fanduel from TheLines. If your first wager loses, FanDuel will credit your account with site credits equal to the amount of the wager.

FanDuel sportsbook promo code for March 2021

Online SportsbookFanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook Promo CodeNone - Use Links
Risk-Free Bet BonusUp to $1,000!
Legal StatesMI, NJ, PA, IN, WV, CO, TN, IA, IL & VA
Last Verified:March 2021

FanDuel sports betting points & rewards

As of right now, FanDuel does not offer a loyalty rewards program for its sportsbook customers.

There has been speculation of that changing as the company’s sportsbook operations continue to grow. We will update this page as new information becomes available.

For its daily fantasy sports (DFS) operations, the FanDuel Players Club program will reward you with what is known as FanDuel Points (FDP).

For each $1 in entry fees, you will earn five FDPs. As your FDP balance adds up, you can redeem these points to enter paid contests with every 2,400 in FDPs equaling $1.

Also, as a member of the FanDuel Players Club, you will qualify for monthly tiers depending on how much you play. At the end of the month, you will receive an entry to weekly or monthly free-play events based on your tier level.

Redeeming rewards at retail locations

Since the sportsbook doesn’t have a loyalty program as of yet, there’s no way for you to redeem rewards at FanDuel’s retail locations. If the company chooses to implement the rumored rewards program, we would imagine there will be an in-person redemption option.

FanDuel online sportsbook: How to create a new account

Signing up at FanDuel is a quick, easy and painless process.

After accessing the sportsbook and clicking the “Join Now” button, FanDuel will ask for standard sign-up information such as your name, address and email. After entering the info, your account will be created automatically.

If you happen to run into any trouble while creating your account, the customer support information for FanDuel is on the right-hand side of the screen. There are email and chat options, as well as a toll-free support number.

Users must be at least 21 years or older and be in the state to sign up and use FanDuel Sportsbook. The company uses geolocation technology, which verifies that users are where they say they are.

FanDuel sportsbook app

FanDuel offers a top-notch sports betting app. Clear information about downloading the app is available on FanDuel’s web portal. You will be able to download the app that coincides with your mobile device’s operating system.

  • Availability: The FanDuel sports betting app is available for both Apple and Android devices.
  • Speed: The apps are quick and intuitive. We didn’t come across any annoying lags in our tests.
  • OverallPerformance: The app is smooth, user-friendly and has an appearance that is easy on the eyes. It’s simple to navigate and quite similar to the web experience, albeit in a condensed manner.
  • Markets: All markets that are available online are also available on mobile.
  • LiveBetting: The live betting feature is available for app users.
  • BetSlip: On most mobile sportsbooks, it can be tough to navigate the betting slip. Well, that’s not the case on FanDuel. It’s easy to minimize and restore the slip, as well as to place or cancel bets.
  • GeneralLayout: FanDuel offers a clean layout that is easy to navigate. We are impressed with the betting slip feature as it’s much easier to use than on other mobile sportsbooks. The platform is responsive but not overly sensitive.
  • Cashier: Similar to the bet slip, the cashier function also works great on mobile. All of the information you need will appear right on the screen, eliminating the need to toggle back and forth.

FanDuel browser, desktop review

Since FanDuel nails it on mobile, one would expect they would do the same on the desktop side. Well, that assumption is right on the money.

The website is clean and smooth with a sharp appearance. It’s fast and responsive with a layout that makes it easy to find what you need.

Everything available on the mobileside is also available on the web version.

In fact, it’s even easier to find what you need. The mobile and tablet experience requires more of a condensed view of the lay of the land. On your desktopcomputer, you’ll have the full layout right in front of you.

On the left-hand side, you’ll find a clickable list of sports offerings.

In the center, you’ll find a rotatingmenu of promotions atop the market offerings, which are broken down into categories such as “Popular” and “Live.”

To the right, an empty bet slip stands at the ready for you to add wagers.

As with the mobile experience on FanDuel, we have no complaints. One note to keep in mind: While you can access the web version on mobile, you’re better off going with the app on those devices. The app is optimized to work on smaller screens, while the web-based version is not. It’s still functional but stick with the app for mobile.

Conference

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FanDuel user experience

We found that FanDuel Sportsbook to be a fantastic offering.

Both the web and mobile-based options are quick and easy to use, not to mention being visually appealing. The clean layout of markets and sports offered is a gigantic plus, as is the easy-to-use bet slip.

The cashierfunction is seamless and provides several options. FanDuel also offers many ways to get customer support, including a live chat option and a toll-free support number.

Sports betting at FanDuel gets a big thumbs up from us.

While our personal preference is for the larger, web-based version, there’s nothing not to like on mobile. We were able to quickly find what we were looking for in the smaller setting and had no trouble navigating around.

Is FanDuel legal and safe?

FanDuel Sportsbook is officially up and running in several states, and the company has its sights set on entering many more in the future. In all markets in which it’s available, it’s completely legal and safe to play on FanDuel. Here’s a look at where things stand in the following states.

  • FanDuel New Jersey: A retail FanDuel Sportsbook opened at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford in July 2018, which was followed by the online and mobile rollout in September.
  • FanDuel Pennsylvania: FanDuel’s retail outlet opened at Valley Forge Casino in March 2019 with the online and mobile launch taking place the following July.
  • FanDuel West Virginia: The Casino Club at the Greenbrier unveiled a FanDuel Sportsbook in Sept. 2018, but online and mobile didn’t come out until Aug. 2019.
  • FanDuel Indiana: Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa in Michigan City opened up a retail FanDuel sportsbook in Sept. 2019, which was followed by the online and mobile launch in October.
  • FanDuel Iowa: 2020 marked the debut of FanDuel in Iowa via a partnership with Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, which is also home to a retail FanDuel Sportsbook.
  • FanDuel Colorado: FanDuel went live in Colorado on May 1, 2020. The company has hitched its wagon to Golden Gates Casino Black Hawk for market access.
  • FanDuel Virginia: Launched on January 21, 2021. There are no requirements for having a brick-and-mortar partner in the state.
  • FanDuel Illinois: Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria is the land-based partner for FanDuel in Illinois, which went live in the state in August 2020.
  • FanDuel Tennessee: FanDuel was one of the first online sportsbooks in Tennessee, going live on November 1, 2020, which was the very first possible date. There are no requirements for having a land-based partner in Tennessee.
  • FanDuel Michigan: FanDuel has partnered up with MotorCity Casino in Detroit and launched on January 22, 2021.

FanDuel has become a market leader in every state entered to date. We’re going to assume the same thing will occur across the US as sports betting legislation gets passed elsewhere and FanDuel enters additional markets.

How does FanDuel benefit casual bettors?

For those new to sports betting, a perfect world scenario involves a platform that is simple, clear, and easy to get around.

When questions come up, it would be great to have a few various support options. In addition, some basic educationalmaterial would be helpful.

FanDuel nails it on all fronts. The platform is laid out in a clear-cut fashion with everything the user needs only a click away.

How does FanDuel benefit experienced bettors?

Experienced bettors know what they want.

In a nutshell, a platform devoid of annoying kinks and glitches, a smooth experience, an efficient cashier function, and odds that are in line or better than the general market. Users will get all of the above at FanDuel and then some.

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Betting options at Fanduel Sportsbook

Sports bettors will find all of the various wagering options they could ask for at FanDuel.

There are standard bets, including moneyline, pointspread and totals, as well as futures, props and livebetting.

FanDuel offers a wide array of sports as well.

From popular options such as football and basketball to individual contests like golf and tennis, the site has you covered. FanDuel even offers niche sports such as cricket and rugby, all of which you can clearly find on the main menu of sports offerings.

The selection you will find on FanDuel is as good as you will find on other sportsbooks, and better than those that don’t expand into niche offerings.

For each of the games and events, the layout is clean and makes the odds for the specific bet types crystal clear.

Using the NFL as an example, you will be able to see on the same screen the moneyline, point spread and total odds. Clicking on a game or event will bring up the other betting markets available, such as props or alternative wagering opportunities.

For props, you will find wagers related to things such as “the first player to procure a TD” or “receiving yards for (player) will be over/under (xx) yards.”

These bets are kind of like a game within a game, and they help to enhance the experience from a viewing and wagering perspective.

What’s not available at FanDuel

FanDuel has covered all the bases. You will find a wealth of sports to bet on, as well as numerous wagering options.

There are a few state-specific differences to keep in mind:

  • FanDuel PA: The sportsbook is up and running for retail and mobile with no restrictions in place.
  • FanDuel NJ: Retail and online sportsbooks are open for business. Users are not permitted to bet on college games involving teams that are in the state.
  • FanDuel IN: The retail and online sportsbook are both up and running.
  • FanDuel WV: Retail operations are open while the online side recently resumed operations.
  • FanDuel CO: Colorado bettors can not wager on esports.
  • FanDuel IL: The online sportsbook is running, and the expected in-person registration requirement is currently waived.
  • FanDuel MI: No major betting restrictions in place.
  • FanDuel TN: Live betting on college sports is prohibited
  • FanDuel VA: The online sportsbook is up and running. The law strictly prohibits betting on any of Virginia’s college teams, including in-game betting on college sports

FanDuel odds boost

FanDuel does offer odds boosts from time to time, but there is no set schedule on what will be available and when.

However, you can see current odds boosts from the main betting screen. There’s a separate tab for “OddsBoosts,” which you can find right next to the “LiveBetting” tab.

Additionally, the promotion’sbanner will occasionally display unique odds boost opportunities. If you opt in for promotional emails, you will also receive offers at times for current odds boosts and special promotions.

How does FanDuel’s pricing compare to other sportsbooks?

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For a sportsbook to remain competitive in today’s crowded marketplace, they need to offer pricing that is at least in line with market standards, if not better.

In our research, FanDuel is right where it needs to be in terms of odds.

In fact, we found that the moneyline odds available on certain games were even better than the average odds at other books.

Naturally, there will be the occasional outlier in which FanDuel may be off on a line in comparison to another. For the most part, the sportsbook is on top of the marketplace and has an excellent feel for where lines should be.

Let’s take a look at the moneyline odds for a Week 1 NFL game as an example. Here are the averageodds for this contest at the major sportsbooks:

  • Washington Redskins: +325
  • Philadelphia Eagles -425

Here are the current moneyline odds for the same game on FanDuel:

  • Washington Redskins: +350
  • Philadelphia Eagles: -430

While the odds on the favored Eagles are -430 on FanDuel versus an average of -425 elsewhere, check out the leap in the potential return for betting on the underdog Redskins. FanDuel is offering odds of +350, while other books are offering +325.

Let’s run through the math for a $100 wager to see the difference:

  • Winning $100 bet at odds of +325 = $325 profit
  • Winning $100 bet at odds of +350 = $350 profit

This may not seem like a massive difference in the grand scheme of things, but adjustments of a few points in either direction can add up to a substantial amount throughout a season. This works in the other direction as well.

Check out the average moneyline odds for this Week 1 NFL game:

  • Indianapolis Colts: +265
  • Los Angeles Chargers: -325

Now, check out what FanDuel was offering for the same contest:

  • Indianapolis Colts: +250
  • Los Angeles Chargers: -300

The odds for the Colts are a little better elsewhere, but the price for the favored Chargers is much better on FanDuel.

Here’s the math:

  • Winning $100 bet at odds of -325 = $30.80 profit
  • Winning $100 bet at odds of -300 = $33.30 profit

Once again, it’s a better return on FanDuel, and differences as this can add up during NFL season.

We can’t promise that FanDuel will have the best price every time. However, we can tell you that the odds are competitive and the book provides even better prices than average on some games.

How to deposit and cash out winnings?

FanDuel offers numerous funding options on the deposit and withdrawal side.

It accepts major credit and debitcards, as are ACH, wire and online bank transfers. PayPal is another convenient option that can prove to be useful.

Some banks and payment providers will automatically block gambling-related transactions. There are no such restrictions with PayPal, so users of the online payment processor can deposit and withdraw with ease.

Payments are seamless and go through smoothly. On the withdrawal side, payments process quickly on FanDuel’s end. However, transactions can take some time to go through via bank or PayPal.

ACH and e-check withdrawals are generally approved within 24 hours; however, it could take between three and five business days for funds to be deposited into your bank account.

PayPal transactions are processed quickly by FanDuel, but it could take 24-48 hours before it appears in the PayPal account.

FanDuel has opened up a number of retail sportsbooks in states it has entered, so there are options to be found for doing business in person. Here’s what the current lay of the land looks like for cash at the cage with FanDuel.

FanDuel cash at cage options

  • FanDuel NJ: Cash at cage is available at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, 1 Racetrack Dr., East Rutherford, NJ 07073.
  • FanDuel PA: Cash at cage is available at Valley Forge Casino Resort, 1160 1st Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406.
  • FanDuel WV: Cash at cage is available at The Greenbrier, 101 Main St. West, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986.
  • FanDuel IN: Cash at cage is available at Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa, 777 Blue Chip Dr., Michigan City, IN 46360.
  • FanDuel IA: Cash at cage is available at Diamond Jo Casino, 301 Bell St., Dubuque, IA 52001.
  • FanDuel CO: Cash at cage not available at this time.
  • FanDuel IL: Cash at cage is available at Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino, 21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria, IL 61611.
  • FanDuel MI: Cash at cage not available at this time.
  • FanDuel TN: Cash at cage not available at this time.
  • FanDuel VA: Cash at cage not available at this time

How to contact customer service

FanDuel offers several customer support options.

You will find at the bottom of the homepage a clickable link labeled “Support.” Clicking the link brings you to a new page that lists out the contact options available.

There’s a live chat feature that is available around the clock, as well as an email option.

FanDuel also offers a toll-free number, so you talk to someone directly from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

The mailingaddress for the company is also displayed right on the support page.

We’re big fans of reliable customer support, and this is another area in which FanDuel nails it. Representatives on the online chat feature are polite and well-informed. After clicking the chat feature, we were speaking to someone in less than a minute. We found the same when we tested the support phone number.

If support is a major factor when you measure a sportsbook operator, then you will be pleased with FanDuel.

FanDuel and sponsorships

Through both DFS and sports betting, FanDuel has been very active on the sponsorship front. The company has a number of deals in place with major sports leagues. On the betting side, the company has inked deals to serve as official gambling partner for the following thus far:

  • New Jersey Devils

We would imagine there will be more to come in this area as FanDuel Sportsbook expands elsewhere. The company already has a big national presence thanks to lots of ad spending through the years, but further engagement in local markets can only help with growth.

History of FanDuel

From its roots as a daily fantasy sports company, FanDuel has branched out into sports betting.

The company joined the Paddy Power Betfair family in 2018. Soon thereafter, the landmark Supreme Court ruling on sports betting dropped.

FanDuel was founded in 2009. The company quickly became a significant player in the burgeoning DFS scene. The legalization of sports betting was still a ways away at this time, so DFS filled a niche as a legal avenue for users to have a little skin in the game while watching sports.

FanDuel wasted little time leaping into action. New Jersey was the first state to legalize sports betting, and FanDuel would open a retail sportsbook at the Meadowlands soon afterward. The company rolled out its FanDuel NJ website and mobile offerings for the Garden State shortly after that.

The company has followed a similar path in other states it has entered, including a FanDuel in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The retail operations came first with the online sportsbook coming later.

FanDuel went live with an online book in Colorado in the spring of 2020, Illinois in August of 2020, Iowa in September 2020, Tennessee in November 2020 and Virginia in January 2021. The sports gaming giant plans to enter more states as legalization matters are ironed out.

The reception for FanDuel has been positive, as well as from the sports betting community. It’s quite clear that the DFS giant is well on its way to becoming a significant force in the industry.

Level: Basic

  • Hebrew uses a different alphabet than English
  • Hebrew is written right-to-left
  • The Hebrew alphabet has no vowels, but pronunciation aids are often added
  • There are several styles of Hebrew writing
  • Hebrew letters have numerical values
  • Writing in Hebrew may require a special word processor and fonts

The Hebrew and Yiddish languages use a different alphabet than English. The picture below illustrates the Hebrew alphabet, in Hebrew alphabetical order. Note that Hebrew is written from right to left, rather than left to right as in English, so Alef is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Tav is the last. The Hebrew alphabet is often called the 'alefbet,' because of its first two letters.

Table 1: The Hebrew Alphabet

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If this sounds like Greek to you, you're not far off! Many letters in the Greek alphabet have similar names and occur in the same order (though they don't look anything alike!): Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta ... Zeta ... Theta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, Mu, Nu ... Pi ... Rho, Sigma Tau.

The 'Kh' and the 'Ch' are pronounced as in German or Scottish, a throat clearing noise, not as the 'ch' in 'chair.'

Note that there are two versions of some letters. Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pei and Tzadei

Like most early Semitic alphabetic writing systems, the alefbet has no vowels. People who are fluent in the language do not need vowels to read Hebrew, and most things written in Hebrew in Israel are written without vowels.

However, as Hebrew literacy declined, particularly after the Romans expelled the Jews from Israel, the rabbis recognized the need for aids to pronunciation, so they developed a system of dots and dashes called nikkud (points). These dots and dashes are written above, below or inside the letter, in ways that do not alter the spacing of the line. Text containing these markings is referred to as 'pointed' text.

Table 2: Vowel Points

Table 2: Vowel Points

Most nikkud are used to indicate vowels. Table 2 illustrates the vowel points, along with their pronunciations. Pronunciations are approximate; I have heard quite a bit of variation in vowel pronunciation.

Vowel points are shown in blue. The letter Alef, shown in red, is used to illustrate the position of the points relative to the consonants. The letters shown in purple are technically consonants and would appear in unpointed texts, but they function as vowels in this context.

There are a few other nikkud, illustrated in Table 3.

The dot that appears in the center of some letters is called a dagesh. It can appear in just about any letter in Hebrew. With most letters, the dagesh does not significantly affect pronunciation of the letter; it simply marks a split between syllables, where the letter is pronounced both at the end of the first syllable and the beginning of the second. With the letters Beit, Kaf and Pei, however, the dagesh indicates that the letter should be pronounced with its hard sound (b, k, p) rather than its soft sound (v, kh, f). See Table 3. In Ashkenazic pronunciation (the pronunciation used by many Orthodox Jews and by many older Jews), Tav also has a soft sound, and is pronounced as an 's' when it does not have a dagesh.

Shin is pronounced 'sh' when it has a dot over the right branch and 's' when it has a dot over the left branch.

Vav, usually a consonant pronounced as a 'v,' is sometimes a vowel pronounced 'oo' as in 'food' (transliterated 'oo' or 'u') or 'oh' as in 'Oh!' (transliterated 'o'). When it is pronounced 'oo,' pointed texts have a dagesh (though sometimes, Vav with a dagesh is pronounced 'v'). When it is pronounced 'oh,' pointed texts have a dot on top (though sometimes, Vav with a dot on top is pronounced 'vo').

Illustration 1: Pointed Text

Illustration 1 is an example of pointed text. Nikkud are shown in blue for emphasis (they would normally be the same color as the consonants). In Sephardic pronunciation (which is what most people use today), this line would be pronounced: V'ahavtah l'reyahkhah kamokhah. (And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18).

The style of writing illustrated above is the one most commonly seen in Hebrew books. It is referred to as block print, square script or sometimes Assyrian script.

For sacred documents, such as torah scrolls or the scrolls inside tefillin and mezuzot, there is a special writing style with 'crowns' (crows-foot-like marks coming up from the upper points) on many of the letters. This style of writing is known as STA'M, an acronym for 'Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot,' which is where you will see that style of writing. For more information about the STA'M alphabet, including illustrations and relevant rules, see Hebrew Alphabet used in writing STA'M.

Table 4: Hebrew Cursive Font

There is another style commonly used when writing Hebrew by hand, often referred to as Hebrew cursive or Hebrew manuscript. Table 4 shows the complete Hebrew alphabet in a font that emulates Hebrew cursive.

Another style is used in certain texts, particularly the Talmud, to distinguish the body of the text from commentary upon the text. This style is known as Rashi Script, in honor of Rashi, the greatest commentator on the Torah and the Talmud. Rashi himself did not use this script; it is only named in his honor. Table 5 shows the complete Hebrew alphabet in a Rashi Script font.

As mentioned above, the Hebrew alphabet that we use today is referred to as Assyrian Script (in Hebrew, K'tav Ashuri). But there was once another way of writing the alphabet that the rabbis called K'tav Ivri, which means 'Hebrew Script.' Many examples of this ancient way of writing the Hebrew alphabet has been found by archaeologists: on coins and other artifacts. It is quite similar to the ancient Phoenician writing. An example of this script is seen at Scripts of the Hebrew Language, side-by-side with other styles of Hebrew writing that were discussed above.

The rabbis of the Talmudic period were well aware of this ancient K'tav Ivri, and they raised the question whether the Torah was originally given in K'tav Ivri or K'tav Ashuri. A variety of opinions are expressed in the Talmud at Sanhedrin 21c-22a: one opinion states that the Torah was originally given in K'tav Ivri, but was changed to K'tav Ashuri in the days of Ezra, after the Babylonian Exile (the Babylonians, and consequently the Jews in exile, used K'tav Ashuri). Another opinion says that the Torah was written in K'tav Ashuri, but that holy script was denied the people when they sinned and was replaced with another one; when the people repented, the K'tav Ashuri was restored. A third opinion states that the Torah was always in K'tav Ashuri.

The general consensus is that the Torah was given in K'tav Ashuri, because the Talmud makes other references that don't make sense in K'tav Ivri. The Talmud talks about final forms of letters in the original Torah, but K'tav Ivri doesn't have final forms. It talks about the center of the Samekh and the Final Mem miraculously floating when the Ten Commandments were carved all the way through the tablets, but there is no Final Mem in K'tav Ivri, and neither Samekh nor Mem would have a floating center in K'tav Ivri as they do in K'tav Ashuri.

All authorities maintain that today, the only holy script is K'tav Ashuri. Any Torah scrolls, tefillin or mezuzot must be written in K'tav Ashuri, and specifically in a style of K'tav Ashuri known as STA'M, discussed above.

K'tav Ivri is understood to be in the nature of a font, like Rashi script, rather than in the nature of a different alphabet, like Greek, Cyrillic or Roman. The names of the letters, the order of the letters, and the numerical value of the letters are apparently the same in both K'tav Ashuri and K'tav Ivri; thus, any religious significance that would be found in the numerical value of words or the sequence of the alphabet is the same in both scripts. The only difference is the appearance.

The process of writing Hebrew words in the Roman (English) alphabet is known as transliteration. Transliteration is more an art than a science, and opinions on the correct way to transliterate words vary widely. This is why the Jewish festival of lights (in Hebrew, Cheit-Nun-Kaf-Hei) is spelled Chanukah, Chanukkah, Hanuka, and many other interesting ways. Each spelling has a legitimate phonetic and orthographic basis; none is right or wrong.

Table 6: Values of Hebrew Letters

Table 6: Values of Hebrew Letters

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Each letter in the alefbet has a numerical value. These values can be used as numerals, similar to the way Romans used some of their letters (I, V, X, L, C, D, M) as numerals. Table 6 shows each letter with its corresponding numerical value. Note that final letters have the same value as their non-final counterparts.

The numerical value of a word is determined by adding up the values of each letter. The order of the letters is irrelevant to their value: the number 11 could be written as Yod-Alef, Alef-Yod, Hei-Vav, Dalet-Dalet-Gimel or many other ways. Ordinarily, however, numbers are written with the fewest possible letters and with the largest numeral first (that is, to the right). The number 11 would be written Yod-Alef (with the Yod on the right, because Hebrew is written right-to-left), the number 12 would be Yod-Beit, the number 21 would be Kaf-Alef, the number 611 would be Tav-Reish-Yod-Alef, etc. The only significant exception to this pattern is the numbers 15 and 16, which if rendered as 10+5 or 10+6 would be a name of G-d, so they are normally written Teit-Vav (9+6) and Teit-Zayin (9+7).

Because every letter of the alphabet has a numerical value, every word also has a numerical value. For example, the word Torah (Tav-Vav-Reish-Hei) has the numerical value 611 (400+6+200+5). There is an entire discipline of Jewish mysticism known as Gematria that is devoted to finding hidden meanings in the numerical values of words. For example, the number 18 is very significant, because it is the numerical value of the word Chai, meaning life or living. Donations to Jewish charities are routinely made in denominations of 18 for that reason.

Some have suggested that the final forms of the letters Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pei and Tzadei have the numerical values of 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900, providing a numerical system that could easily render numbers up to 1000. However, there does not appear to be any basis for that interpretation in Jewish tradition. A cursory glance at any Jewish tombstone will show that these letters are not normally used that way: the year 5766 (2005-2006) is written Tav-Shin-Samekh-Vav (400+300+60+6; the 5000 is assumed), not Final Nun-Samekh-Vav (700+60+6). Indeed, writing it in that way would look absurd to anyone familiar with Hebrew, because a final letter should never appear at the beginning of a word! But even where numerology is used only to determine the numerical values of words, you will not find examples in Jewish tradition of final letters being given different values. For example, in traditional sources, the numerical value of one name of G-d that ends in Final Mem is 86, not 646.

I have received several e-mails pointing out that the numerical value of Vav (often transliterated as W) is 6, and therefore WWW has the numerical value of 666! The Internet, they say, is the number of the beast! It's an amusing notion, but Hebrew numbers just don't work that way. In Hebrew numerals, the position of the letter/digit is irrelevant; the letters are simply added up to determine the value. To say that Vav-Vav-Vav is six hundred and sixty-six would be like saying that the Roman numeral III is one hundred and eleven. The numerical value of Vav-Vav-Vav in Hebrew would be 6+6+6=18, so WWW is equivalent to life! (It is also worth noting that the significance of the number 666 is a part of Christian numerology, and has no basis that I know of in Jewish thought).

While we're on the subject of bad numbers, it is worth noting that the number 13 is not a bad number in Jewish tradition or numerology. Normally written as Yod-Gimel, 13 is the numerical value of the word ahava (love, Alef-Hei-Beit-Hei) and of echad (one, as in the daily prayer declaration, G-d is One!, Alef-Cheit-Dalet). Thirteen is the age of responsibility, when a boy becomes bar mitzvah. We call upon G-d's mercy by reciting his Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, found in Exodus 34:6-7. Rambam summed up Jewish beliefs in Thirteen Principles.

Many fonts have a built-in Hebrew character set. Current versions of Windows should have the Hebrew characters built into their fonts; if not, your browser may be able to automatically download fonts for viewing Hebrew on the web simply by viewing a Hebrew web page. In Windows, you can see these characters using the Windows Character Map tool. Persuading your computer to type these characters, however, can be a bit of a trick!

This page displays some standard fonts that should include Hebrew characters, so you can see if your browser supports them. If you do not already have Hebrew web fonts installed, your browser should give you an opportunity to download them.

This page includes a JavaScript tool that will help you type Hebrew, if you have Hebrew support. The results of that script can be copied and pasted into your word processor, if it supports Hebrew characters. Depending on your word processor, you may need to reverse the results for them to appear properly. The page can reverse them for you. Feel free to download that page and use it on your own computer. The scripts you need to run it are all in the file.

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If you are serious about writing a significant amount of text in Hebrew, you will need a proper Hebrew word processor. I have used DavkaWriter, from Davka Software. DavkaWriter comes with many attractive Hebrew fonts including both consonants and vowels that will map to your keyboard in an intuitive phonetic way or in the standard Israeli keyboard format. It is very easy to switch between Hebrew and English within a document. DavkaWriter even comes with little stickers to put on the keys of your keyboard so you can learn their keyboard mappings, and an onscreen display shows you their keyboard mappings. Davka also has a lot of fonts available, as well as a lot of other Hebrew and Judaic software. For mobile devices, there are a number of apps, many of them free, that will allow you to type Hebrew characters.

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