להשתתף The English word attend, historically, has to do with noticing – paying attention. That’s the word used to indicate presence, as in, I plan to attend the play, or, I plan to be present at the play. The Hebrew word used to express this type of presence is לְהִשְׁתַּתֵּף (le-heesh-tah-TEHF), which means, literally, to…
נחיתה for a larger font… No, not the landing at the top of the staircase… I’m talking about the landing of a plane at an airport… or, for that matter, the landing of a bird on the roof. The Hebrew word is נְחִיתָה (ne-khee-TAH). It comes from the root נ.ח.ת (n.kh.t). The verb to land is לִנְחוֹת (leen-KHOHT),…
Ulpan La-Inyan Midsummer Courses… …start this Sunday, July 25. The course lasts for six weeks; class meets 4-5 times a week for an hour or an hour and a quarter, depending on the level. We’ve got all the levels (1-5) offered in Jerusalem, and Levels 1, 3 and 5 offered in Tel Aviv – both at the local…
תשתית If you’d prefer a larger font… Perhaps you know the word for basis or foundation, in the more abstract sense: יְסוֹד (yeh-SOHD). There’s another word, however, for the foundation or infrastructure of a house, a city, a state, etc: תַּשְׁתִּית (tahsh-TEET), such that Israel’s Ministry of Infrastructure(s) is מִשְׂרַד הַתַּשְׁתִּיוֹת (mees-RAHD hah-tahsh-tee-YOHT). Over…
להתאבל If you’re familiar with Rabbinic law and literature, you probably know the word for mourner – אָבֵל/אָבֵלָה (ah-VEHL – m; ah-veh-LAH – f), as well as the word for mourning: אָבֵלוּת (ah-veh-LOOT). Here’s how to say to mourn: לְהִתְאַבֵּל (le-heet-ah-BEHL). Why this word today? I wish אבלות on no one….
Ulpan La-Inyan Midsummer Courses… …start next Sunday, July 25. The course lasts for six weeks; class meets 4-5 times a week for an hour or an hour and a quarter, depending on the level. We’ve got all the levels (1-5) offered in Jerusalem, and Levels 1, 3 and 5 offered in Tel Aviv…
להתאחד If you live in Israel, surely you’ve heard of the health care provider, מְאוּחֶדֶת (meh-oo-KHEH-deht). In English, it would be called United – like the airline. The word is feminine since it refers to קוּפַּת חוֹלִים (koo-PAHT khoh-LEEM) – health care provider (literally, “sick people’s register” – we could also use some health care…
להפנים With some basic Hebrew you’d know how to say inside, as in I’d rather sit inside – בִּפְנִים (beef-NEEM). Here’s how to say to internalize: לְהַפְנִים (le-hahf-NEEM). For example, הִפְנַמְנוּ אֶת הַמֶּסֶר (heef-NAHM-noo et hah-MEH-sehr) – we’ve internalized the message. Today’s “three-weeks” call to action This Shabbat, I’m going to…
לחסור If you know some Hebrew (about Level 3 in Ulpan La-Inyan), you probably know the word for it’s missing – חָסִר (khah-SEHR). Here’s how to say to lack: לַחֲסוֹר (lah-khah-SOHR) or לַחְסוֹר (lahkh-SOHR). This word appears conjugated in Psalms 23: הַשֵּׁם רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר (hah-SHEM roh-EE loh ekh-SAHR) – the Name (God) is my…
חודר A room of a house or a building can be thought of as a part of the structure that has been penetrated. It is called, in Hebrew, a חֶדֶר (KHEH-dehr). To penetrate is לַחֲדוֹר (lah-khah-DOHR) or לַחְדּוֹר (lahkh-DOHR). That which is penetrating is חוֹדֵר (khoh-DEHR). Today’s “three-weeks” call to action I’ve had…
לחוות For those who have attended the Mayanot Birthright trip, you may recall the name of the tour operator – הַחֲוָיָה הַיִּשְׂרָאֵלִית (hah-hah-vah-YAH hah-yees-rah-eh-LEET) – the Israel (more accurately, “the Israeli”) Experience. To experience is לַחֲווֹת (lah-hah-VOHT). What happens to us happens to us. But how we respond to what happens to us…