Israel is in the Middle East. The Middle East is largely an Arabophone region. These two facts are undisputed. However, Israel insists on behaving like a western outpost in the Orient. While it does so with regards to its foreign policy, it is equally true, and just as foolhardy, with regards to domestic issues.
While many Israelis would like [...]
Posts under ‘Language’
On the Importance of Arabic
On the Importance of Hebrew
One of the most important steps in pre-statehood Zionism was the revival of the Hebrew language. In 2,000 years of exile the Jewish people has developed many languages of its own, but they do not serve an overarching national purpose. Yiddish and Ladino have an important cultural and historical place, but do not unify us [...]
Middle Eastern Food on the Food Network Redux
I recently saw Bobby Flay do a falafel “Throwdown” on the food network. This time, however, they actually featured authentic dishes, and did not give a bad name to one of the world’s greatest cuisines.
For those of you unfamiliar with “Throwdown“, the concept is pretty simple. Bobby Flay (a pretty well-known chef) goes around the [...]
The Urge to Terrorize
Speaking in Bethlehem yesterday, the Pope called on the Palestinians to “have the courage to resist any temptation… to resort to acts of violence or terrorism.”
On the Road, Home and Away
Traveling the world, the endless hours between places with names like Kathmandu and Kasar Devi can be taken in stride, and enjoyed. And on these roads, there is talk of the short trips back home, that will no longer just be tolerated – the hour between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will fly by in an instant.
A.B. Yehoshua – Thoughts
A conversation of sorts, took place tonight between A.B. Yehoshua and Leon Wieseltier, at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C. Hearing him introduced as “A.B. Yehoshua” grated on my ears a bit. Even when reading his name in English, I always heard it in my head as “Aleph Bet Yehoshua.” I don’t [...]
Operation Cast Lead – Etymology
I’ve dealt with the military and political aspects here and international opinion here.
The name chosen for the operation is a pretty clever one, and while it just sounds like another rather meaningless name, it is somewhat of inside joke to Israelis. As the operation began on Hannukah, Cast Lead is a reference to a Hannukah [...]
Yiddish AND Hebrew
Ynet has an interesting article on the revival of the Yiddish language. Ynet focuses on the alleged dichotomy between Hebrew and Yiddish. Yet, one should not need to choose between the two, as a professor quoted in the article says, “Jewish literacy requires both Yiddish and Hebrew.”
However, saying that “Yiddish is the ancestral tongue of [...]
Overheard in Hebrew
For those of you who speak Hebrew and are familiar with the type of blog popularized by Overheard in New York, another time wasting tool is now available.
גונב לאזניי, with the clever subtitle of “ציטוטים של ציתותים” is basically Overheard in Israel, and will provide you with endless hours of entertainment, ensuring you get absolutely [...]
