def can_be_prefix(letter, place) -> bool:
    """ In hebrew writing, some letters can serve as
        word prefixes, and should be discounted when
        considering the numeric value of the whole word.
        This returns True if the letter in the given
        position of the str can be a prefix.
    """
    first_only = 'בכמלו'
    can_be_seconds = 'השד'
    if place <=2 and letter in can_be_seconds:
        return True
    elif place == 1 and letter in first_only:
        return True
    return False