Month: December 2021

HEBREW LANGUAGE DAY!!
YOM HaLASHON HaIVRIT – יום הלשון העברית

Time to Celebrate! In 2012 the Government of Israel formally declared the 21st of the month of Tevet as “Hebrew Language Day.” Since this year the 21st falls on Shabbat, the public observance of the day has been brought forward to Thursday, December 22, 2021.

Why the seemingly random date of the 21st of Tevet? And why do we need a day dedicated to the Hebrew language? After all, Hebrew is spoken throughout (most of) Israel on a daily basis and is studied as both a modern and a classical language throughout the world.

Due, primarily, to the efforts of one person, Hebrew was revived as a spoken language. That person was ELIEZER BEN-YEHUDA, who was born on the 21st of Tevet, 5618, corresponding then to January 7, 1858.

When Ben-Yehuda arrived in Palestine in 1881 he became convinced that the nation of Israel (the Jewish people) must speak its ancestral language: Hebrew. He ran into tremendous opposition from those that thought that Yiddish – among other suggestions– should be the common language. But he persisted, and spoke only in Hebrew with his son Itamar (originally named Ben-Zion; the latter changed his name after his mother died). Itamar became known as the first native-born Hebrew-speaker in 2000 years.

Imagine, if you will, taking an ancient language, like Latin or Acadian and turning it into a “living language” for debating in parliament, reporting the news, or building a multi-million dollar start-up. There were hundreds of vocabulary words that Ben-Yehuda had to come up with, basing himself on ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and even Arabic. Needing a word for electricity, he found the word חַשְׁמַל – “hashmal” in the first chapter of Ezekiel, which meant gleam or spark, and now we use that word for electricity, without thinking twice about it. Some of the words he invented didn’t quite catch on.

Other than writing an authoritative, multi-volume Hebrew dictionary (completed posthumously by his second wife, Hemda), his long-lasting accomplishment was establishing the Committee of the Hebrew Language (Va’ad HaLashon), which later became the Academy of the Hebrew Language. To this day, at its home on the campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the academy directs the development of Hebrew, including – but not limited – to inventing new words and terms.

The biography of AV”I (a Hebrew acronym for אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֵּן־יְהוּדָה – Eliezer ben Yehuda), and his family, is fascinating. There are many worthwhile websites and YouTube videos that you can find on your own.

AV”I died on the 26th of Kislev, 5683 – December 16, 1922. It’s interesting that in the Jewish tradition, we usually observe the anniversary of the death of a great leader, scholar, etc. How, appropriate it is that for the person responsible for the Rebirth of the Hebrew language, we mark his birth! May his memory be for a blessing!

When you come to Israel I’ll be happy to take you to two buildings which served as AV”I’s homes in Jerusalem. In the meantime, enjoy the charming song about AV”I on YouTube. The link below is for the Hebrew text and English translation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYGeOEziQtY&list=PLKblw3yQy_qjHzpHisxokmKRQH3lv0sHU

Saturday night, December 4, 2021

In the Jewish Tradition we read a portion of the Torah every week on Shabbat (Saturday) morning, completing the Five Books of Moses each year. The weekly portions were established prior to the division of the Hebrew Bible into chapters (which was developed by Christian clergy in the 13th century). There are several times when the end of one Torah portion gives us a preview of what’s to come, but this week’s portion is definitely a “page turner” – or perhaps a scroll-roller!

This morning, in the Genesis portion called Miketz (“AT THE END of two years…”), we read the continuation of the Joseph Cycle, which began last week. Miketz starts with Chapter 41 (Pharaoh’s dreams) and ends with Ch. 44, verse 17, when Joseph says to his brothers: “Only he in whose possession the goblet was found (i.e. Benjamin) shall be my slave; the rest of you go back in peace to your father.” Stay tuned for next week’s drama!

Even though for over 60 years I’ve known how the story unfolds, every year my eyes well-up with tears hearing-and-reading the several times when the mighty viceroy of Egypt, Joseph, breaks down and cries several times in private – at least up until this point.

And then the portion leaves us with a cliffhanger! What’s going to happen to poor Benjamin?! What’s Judah going to say to his father Jacob (AKA Israel)?

So this morning – as if I didn’t know how the story develops – I found myself having my annual sneak preview, reading ahead in next week’s portion, Vayigash, to the end of Ch. 41 and into Ch. 45 – at least through verse 16. Here Joseph breaks down and cries in the presence of his bothers, who were dumbfounded by Joseph’s revelation. Then Joseph cries on Benjamin’s shoulder (literally: the back of his neck) and those of the rest of his brothers. Get out the tissues!

Why does the story affect me so much? Maybe it’s because of my namesake (though “Yosef” is not my given Hebrew name; long story), or the fact that, like the protagonist, I’m the penultimate child in a large family (in my case there were 6 children, Joseph had 11 brothers and a sister). Maybe it’s because I cry at weddings and movies – sometimes because the latter are so bad! Or perhaps it’s because this is some of the best literature ever written.

Want to spend a fascinating few minutes? Take a look at the text and trace the circumstances in which Joseph cries. What does it say about Joseph? What does it say about leadership? What does it say about us?

Many wishes are in order: Shavua tov (have a good week), Hodesh Tov (have a good month of Tevet), and Happy Hanukkah (Happy Hanukkah!). Other season’s greetings to follow.

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