Classes begin today with Ulpan La-Inyan Level 2 at AACI Jerusalem and Levels 1, 3 and 5 at AACI Central (Tel Aviv) begin today. Level 4 begins tomorrow in Jerusalem. Level 1 in Jerusalem was cancelled, but suddenly we’re getting more interest, so we might open up the class over the next few days….
להשתתף The English word attend, historically, has to do with noticing – paying attention. That’s the word used to indicate presence, as in, I plan to attend the play, or, I plan to be present at the play. The Hebrew word used to express this type of presence is לְהִשְׁתַּתֵּף (le-heesh-tah-TEHF), which means, literally, to…
נחיתה for a larger font… No, not the landing at the top of the staircase… I’m talking about the landing of a plane at an airport… or, for that matter, the landing of a bird on the roof. The Hebrew word is נְחִיתָה (ne-khee-TAH). It comes from the root נ.ח.ת (n.kh.t). The verb to land is לִנְחוֹת (leen-KHOHT),…
Ulpan La-Inyan Midsummer Courses… …start this Sunday, July 25. The course lasts for six weeks; class meets 4-5 times a week for an hour or an hour and a quarter, depending on the level. We’ve got all the levels (1-5) offered in Jerusalem, and Levels 1, 3 and 5 offered in Tel Aviv – both at the local…
תשתית If you’d prefer a larger font… Perhaps you know the word for basis or foundation, in the more abstract sense: יְסוֹד (yeh-SOHD). There’s another word, however, for the foundation or infrastructure of a house, a city, a state, etc: תַּשְׁתִּית (tahsh-TEET), such that Israel’s Ministry of Infrastructure(s) is מִשְׂרַד הַתַּשְׁתִּיוֹת (mees-RAHD hah-tahsh-tee-YOHT). Over…
להתאבל If you’re familiar with Rabbinic law and literature, you probably know the word for mourner – אָבֵל/אָבֵלָה (ah-VEHL – m; ah-veh-LAH – f), as well as the word for mourning: אָבֵלוּת (ah-veh-LOOT). Here’s how to say to mourn: לְהִתְאַבֵּל (le-heet-ah-BEHL). Why this word today? I wish אבלות on no one….
Ulpan La-Inyan Midsummer Courses… …start next Sunday, July 25. The course lasts for six weeks; class meets 4-5 times a week for an hour or an hour and a quarter, depending on the level. We’ve got all the levels (1-5) offered in Jerusalem, and Levels 1, 3 and 5 offered in Tel Aviv…
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…