לתרום If you’re familiar with Jewish tradition and Jewish law, you probably know the word for contribution – תְּרוּמָה (troo-MAH). The root ת.ר.מ (t.r.m), which makes up the word תרומה, is itself actually derived from a more basic root – ר.ו.מ (r.w.m), which carries the basic meaning of height and loftiness. So a תרומה…
לתקשר If you’ve taken our Level 1 conversational Hebrew class, or if you have equivalent background in Hebrew, you know that one of the words for to call someone on the phone is לְהִתְקַשֵּׁר (le-heet-kah-SHEHR). The root of that word is ק.ש.ר (k.sh.r) – connection. So when you call someone, you’re connecting with them. This guy…
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…
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…
להתחלק, לשתף To share a thing with one or more people – such as rent for an apartment – is לְהִתְחַלֵּק (le-heet-hah-LEK). To share a feeling or an experience, however, is לְשַׁתֵּף (le-shah-TEF). For example, רָחֵל שִׁתְּפָה אוֹתִי עַל הַטִּיּוּל שֶׁלָּהּ לְאֵירוֹפָּה (rah-HEL sheet-FAH oh-TEE ahl ha-tee-YOOL sheh-LAH le-ei-ROH-pah) – Rachel shared with me…
להקשיב, להאזין The most common word for to listen in Hebrew is לְהַקְשִׁיב. For example, אֲנִי מַקְשִׁיב לְךָ, חָבֵר (ah-NEE mahk-SHEEV leh-KHAH hah-VEHR) means I’m listening to you, friend, when both the speaker and the friend are male. קֶשֶׁב (KEH-shev), with the same root as להקשיב, means attention. Another word is לְהַאֲזִין (leh-hah-ah-ZEEN). If…
לחוש I believe that empathic listening can solve most if not all of the world’s interpersonal problems. Such listening takes two sides – an empathic listener and a speaker who is willing to be listened to. An essential part of empathic listening is an emotional component – that is, when someone is listening…
לנצל In English, to take advantage can mean a personal violation, or it can mean a productive, sometimes win-win situation. The same is true in Hebrew. It’s possible לְנַצֵּל בֶּן אָדָם (le-nah-TSEL ben ah-DAHM) – to take advantage of a person, such as a tourist in a foreign country that doesn’t know the…
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. To save 50 shekels, you must register…
להקדיש If you’ve been to a synagogue or a Jewish family for a traditional Shabbat meal, you’re more than likely familiar with the Hebrew word קִדּוֹש (kee-DOOSH) – Kiddush. In many synagogues, this word is associated with cholent, cake and coffee with non-dairy creamer. The word קידוש itself means sanctification; the root is…
היצע וביקוש If you know a bit of Hebrew, you’re probably familiar with the word for please – בְּבַקָּשָׁה (be-vah-kah-SHAH). When saying please, we’re actually saying, I’d like to have some of that! Likewise, the economic term for demand is בִּקּוּש (bee-KOOSH) – formed from the verb לְבַקֵּש (le-vah-KESH) – to ask for something/ to request. …