When one recites the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha’etz," "Boreh Peri Ha’adama" or "Boreh Peri Ha’gefen," how should he pronounce the word "Peri" – as "Peri," or as "Feri"? Meaning, does the letter "Peh" in this word have a "Dagesh" ("dot"), in which case it is pronounced "Peri," or does it not have a "Dagesh," such that it is pronounced "Feri"?
Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998) ruled that the proper pronunciation of this word is "Feri." Normally, he explained, the letter "Peh" receives a "Dagesh" when it appears at the beginning of a word, as it does in the case of "Peri." However, this rule does not apply if the word in question is preceded by a word which ends with an "Alef," "Heh," "Vav" or "Yod." In such cases, the "Peh" does not receive a "Dagesh" and is therefore pronounced as an "F" sound. Accordingly, since the word immediately preceding "Peri" is "Boreh," which ends with the letter "Alef," the "Peh" at the beginning of "Peri" does not receive a "Dagesh," and the word should therefore be pronounced, "Feri."
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, in his work Yabia Omer (9:22), disagrees. He notes that the previous word affects the status of a "Peh" at the beginning of a word only if the two words are recited in immediate succession. In this instance, however, the words are separated by a slight pause. When one recites a Beracha, he should make a slight pause after the word "Boreh," before continuing with "Peri Ha’etz" or "Peri Ha’adama." Since there is a pause between "Boreh" and "Peri," the word "Boreh" has no impact upon the pronunciation of the "Peh" at the beginning of the word "Peri." We therefore revert back to the standard rule that a "Peh" at the beginning of the word receives a "Dagesh," and thus, according to Hacham Ovadia, the word should be pronounced "Peri," and not "Feri."
A similar discussion arises concerning the pronunciation of the word "Ki’r’uteh" in the phrase in Kaddish, "Be’alma Di Bera Ki’r’uteh…" The letter "Kaf," like the letter "Peh," receives a "Dagesh" at the beginning of a word unless it immediately follows an "Alef," "Heh," "Vav" or "Yod." The word preceding Ki’r’uteh is "Bera," which ends with the letter "Alef," and therefore, seemingly, one should pronounce the word without a "Dagesh," as "Chi’r’uteh." However, as Hacham Ovadia notes, one should make a slight pause in between the words "Bera" and "Ki’r’uteh." The word "Ki’r’uteh," which means "in accordance with His will," refers back to the earlier phrase, "Yitgadal…Shemeh Rabba"; the interim phrase, "Be’alma Di Bera," is parenthetical. We proclaim that God’s Name shall be glorified "Ki’r’uteh," in the manner which He wills. Since the word "Ki’r’uteh" does not immediately follow "Di Bera," as there is a slight pause after "Di Bera," the "Kaf" at the beginning of "Ki’r’uteh" indeed receives a "Dagesh" and is pronounced "Ki’r’uteh," rather than "Chi’r’uteh."
Summary: When one recites a Beracha over fruit, vegetables or wine, he should say "Peri" (as in "Peri Ha’etz") rather than "Feri." In the beginning of the Kaddish prayer, one should recite "Ki’r’uteh" rather than "Chi’r’uteh."
