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…
Ulpan La-Inyan midsummer classes We’ve got a midsummer session of our fun, relaxed and highly-effective conversational Hebrew classes, starting on July 25 and running through September 2. We’re offering a variety of levels at the AACI in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. I hope to see you in class! …
Special show for the Three Weeks As many of you know, I deliver a radio show once a week of Hebrew/Israeli music with some English explanation. The show is broadcast live at RustyMike Radio on Mondays from 3-4pm Israel time, and is rebroadcast the following Sunday early morning from 2-3am. In observance of…
לפקוח In English, we use the word open for virtually anything we’re opening. In Hebrew, there’s a special word for opening eyes. Whereas לִפְתּוֹח (leef-TOH-akh) is to open in the general sense – such as פָּתַחְתִּי אֶת הַבַּקְבּוּק (pah-TAKH-tee et hah-bahk-BOOK) – I opened the bottle; לִפְקוֹח (leef-KOH-akh) means to open eyes, as in פָּקַחְתִּי…
להרתם Even if you’re more or less fluent in Hebrew, there’s a good chance you don’t know this word. To enlist oneself or to devote oneself – say, to a cause – is לְהֵרָתֵם (le-heh-rah-TEHM). For example, כָּל הַיְּלָדִים נִרְתָּמִים לַעֲזוֹר בַּבָּיִת (kohl hah-yeh-lah-DEEM neer-tah-MEEM lah-ah-ZOHR bah-BAH-yeet) – all the kids “are enlisting” to help…
לקבל If you know a little Hebrew (for example, if you’ve taken Level 1 of Ulpan La-Inyan), you’re more than likely familiar with the word for to receive or to accept – לְקַבֵּל (le-kah-BEHL). What you may not know, unless you’ve immersed yourself in Hebrew culture, is that to express the idea of accepting a…
לפגוע If you spent time in Israel between 2000 and 2005, you certainly know the Hebrew word for terror attack – פִּגּוּע (pee-GOO-ah). This word means, literally, an act of causing hurt. To hurt someone emotionally is לִפְגּוֹע (leef-GOH-ah). For example, לֹא רָצִיתִי לִפְגּוֹעַ בָּך (lo rah-TSEE-tee leef-GOH-ah bahkh) means I didn’t want…