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IS IT HARD TO

LEARN HEBREW?
Yaniv

ANSWERS! ? תי ִר ְב ִע דֹמ ְל ִל ה ֶשׁ ָק ם ִא ַה

Editor’s note: Our resident, totally unofficial Israeli guide brings you insights into a lighter side of the Israeli
experience you won’t likely find in the usual news sources. Yaniv will also respond to readers’ questions and
observations (non-halachic of course). He can be reached at yaniv@mizrachi.org. Enjoy!

QUESTION: The return of Hebrew to regular usage (lenses). And when my aunt first came
anticipate making Aliyah soon, but is nothing short of miraculous. Show to Israel, she was very moved by the
have weak Hebrew skills. Is it hard me another ancient, sacred language, fact that all the government ministers
I to learn Hebrew? with no native speakers, subsequently were named after Avraham’s wife –
acquiring several million native speakers Sarah Chutz (Sar HaChutz – Foreign
YANIV ANSWERS: almost bin lyla (overnight). Minister), Sarah Pnim (Sar HaPnim –
First of all, relax. Everything will be Interior Minister), Sarah Bitachon (Sar
sababa (that’s Arabic, not Hebrew). Hebrew poses a special challenge for HaBitachon – Defense Minister).
Globally, Hebrew (Ivrit in Hebrew) many new olim (that’s Hebrew, not
is spoken by some 9 million people Chinese), because it’s written from Don’t get flustered if you don’t master
with 7 million of them living in Israel. right to left. My teacher told me this Ivrit right away; with time and steady
Actually, some say Israelis speak “Israeli” is because originally the writing was attendance in Ulpan (that is a Hebrew
– a dialect loosely based on Hebrew. done by engraving on stone tablets word!) you’ll avoid some of the common
But I am by no means a purist; if I was, with a hammer in one hand and a chisel mistakes people make. I once overheard
I might be working for the Academy of in the other. With a dominant right a young lady say to a bus driver, “Na
the Hebrew Language. Yes, that’s a real hand holding the hammer, the natural l’hagid li matay la’ledet,” (can you please
place where they decide on the rules direction is right to left. tell me when I should give birth?) She
of speaking proper Hebrew and create meant to say “laredet,” to get off the bus.
new words to reflect new ideas and Hebrew has approximately 80,000 The driver scolded her and said, “Aht
avoid a total balagan (that’s Polish, not words, less than half the amount of chayevet lilmod Ivrit!” (You simply must
Hebrew). At any rate, while Hebrew English words. That’s why there are so learn Hebrew!), to which she replied,
is the official language of the State of many derivatives of the same shoresh, or “S’licha, aval ani pashut lo g’vina” (I’m
Israel, a great many Israelis speak English root word. Such as in these very useful sorry, but I’m simply not cheese!). She
(that’s English, not Hebrew), or at least everyday phrases: meant to say, “Ani lo m’vina” (I don’t
understand it well enough to sell you a ןַּ ג ַּ ב ן ָ ג ּ ָ ד ל ּ ֵ דִּ ג ןָּנַּ ג, A gardener grew corn in understand).
shwarma (that’s Turkish, not Hebrew). the garden; or: ןַּ ג ַּ ב ל ַ דָּ ג ל ֹודָּ ג ן ָ ג ּ ָ ד, tall corn And the worst thing that can happen?
Now that you are calm, allow me to grew in the garden. You’ll have to use a melon! (milon means
reflect on Hebrew – Lashon HaKodesh, The genius took the elevator to bring the dictionary; melon – believe it or not,
the Holy Tongue. According to Chazal, leaf up to the attic: תי ִ ל ֲ ע ַּ מ ַ ה ל ַ ע ה ָ ל ָ ע יוּלּ ִ ע ָ ה means melon.)
Hebrew is the original language of הָּי ִ ל ֲ ע ַ ל ה ֶ ל ָ ע תוֹל ֲ ע ַ ה ְ ל ה ָ ל ֲ ע ַ מ ְ ל.
the world; the language Adam and
Chava and our three forefathers and We just don’t always hear things clearly
four foremothers spoke. The Torah, of (Israelis speak like they drive) and we
course, is written in Hebrew (except for tend to get our genders in a twist too. Feel free to send me your own
a few words in Aramaic) and Hebrew has A friend once lectured to a group of personal favorite Ivrit bloopers,
always been a daily language of Jews in opticians and spent an hour talking or any other perplexing questions
Eretz Yisrael. about adashim (lentils) instead of adashot you have: yaniv@mizrachi.org

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