how do you say “egoism” in Hebrew?
If you know a bit of Hebrew, you’re familiar with the word אֲנִי (ah-NEE – I).
A synonym for אני is אָנֹכִי (ah-noh-KHEE). It’s used in more formal contexts, when someone really want to draw attention to who’s talking (the royal me).
Therefore, a Modern-Hebrew invention is the word אֲנוֹכִיוּת (ah-noh-khee-YOOT) – or self-centeredness.
My impression of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin was that this man had no אנוכיות – he dedicated his life to the cause of the Jewish people and their advancement in their proprietary land of Israel. He was not interested in personal gain – he saw only what was necessary to be done.
As my friend, colleague and student Yochanan said, “where have men like this gone?”
שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם – Shabbat Shalom (or שָׁבוּעַ טוֹב – good week…)
Ami