how to say “to smile” in Hebrew

On the Jewish calendar, this is the week leading up to the saddest day of the year, תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב – the ninth of (the month of) Av (teesh-AH beh-AHV), the anniversary of the Great Temple’s destruction – the symbol of hope, light, love, devotion and everything good – twice in Jewish history.


I’ve therefore chosen such positive elements of the Temple as a theme for this week’s Ktzat Ivrit entries… so that together we can spread them and make the world a better-lit place – so that we can rebuild the Temple.


Smiling releases endorphins and other chemicals in the body that not only reduce stress levels, they make the smiling person feel good. But beyond the person smiling themselves, others catching a glimpse of a smile are also likely to have some positive feelings and even smile themselves. Smiling is contagious.

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