'Since you honored me by writing to me about the ayin and the other letters that appear on the medals in question, I find myself strongly inclined to draw a conclusion in support of what I surmised for a long time; namely, that in the past the silent letters of the Hebrew alphabet were vowels. I would like very much to know your opinion on this since you are the teacher in Israel [es enim Magister [in] Israel]. In truth I know absolutely nothing of Samaritan letters, and with regard to reading Hebrew I entertain doubts whether the use of the vowel points before the [time of the] Masoretes is to be accepted or rejected.' (translation from Minc 1985, p. 119)