how to say “to make the most of something” in Hebrew
The Hebrew word for juice – that which is squeezed out of a fruit – is מִיץ (meets).
To squeeze something out so as to get the most out of it – such as life or a topic of discussion – is לְמַצּוֹת (leh-mah-TSOHT). It’s an “intensive” פיעל (pee-EL) verb.
For example, הִיא מִצְּתָה אֶת כָּל הָאֶפְשָׁרֻיּוֹת (hee meets-eh-TAH et KOHL hah-ef-shah-roo-YOHT) – She exhausted all her (literally, the) options.
למצות sounds like מַצָּה (mah-TSAH) – Matzo, eh? I don’t think there’s a relationship. However, at least one rabbinical/liguistic authority believes there’s a connection between the מצה that we eat and another Biblical homonym, מצה, meaning a fight.
But why fight? It’s פֶּסַח (PEH-sahkh) – Passover! Let’s make the most of it!
חַג שָׂמֵח (khahg sah-MEH-ahkh)!
Happy holiday!
We’ve still got a few spots……
