how to say “to identify with” in Hebrew
להזדהות
If you’ve made aliyah, you surely know the term for ID card – תְּעוּדַת זֶהוּת (teh-oo-DAHT zeh-HOOT). The root of זהות – identity – is ז.ה.ה (z.h.h).
To identity with someone or something is לְהִזְדָּהוֹת (leh-heez-dah-HOHT). For example, הוּא מִזְדָּהֶה עִם הָעָם הַיְּהוּדִי (hoo meez-dah-HEH eem hah-AHM hah-yeh-hoo-DEE) – he identifies with the Jewish people. Today, on the Fourth of July, I also proudly מזדהה with the American people – as an American.
Or, a woman might say to her friend, אֲנִי מִזְדָּהָה עִם מָה שֶׁאַתְּ אוֹמֶרֶת (ah-NEE meez-dah-HAH eem mah sheh-AHT oh-MEH-ret) – I identify with what you’re saying.
I’m proud to be an American,
but my first allegiance is to Israel.
but my first allegiance is to Israel.
The word להזדהות falls into the intensive-reflexive form – the הִתְפָּעֵל (heet-pah-EHL). So, in theory, the word should be לְהִתְזָהוֹת (leh-heet-zah-HOHT). However, since that’s difficult to pronounce, the t and z sounds switch, and the t takes on a voice to blend well with the z, thus becoming a d.
Try pronouncing the variations – this may help you make sense of that last sentence in the previous paragraph.
In the meantime,
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I’m going to take a few moments over the next day to reflect on my הִזְדַּהוּת (heez-dah-HOOT) – identificaion – with the Jewish people. Specifically, I’m going to reflect on what I do have in common with Jews who are unlike me – religiously, politically, ethnically…
Then I’m going to take a few moments להזדהות with human beings from all walks of life.
I invite you to do the same.