Mandel JDS Students Celebrate Hebrew Language Day!!
Dear Mandel JDS Families,
I am delighted to share that Mandel Jewish Day School students celebrated Hebrew Language Day (יוֹם הַלָּשׁוֹן הָעִבְרִית) this week, a day dedicated to honoring the beauty, history, and living spirit of the Hebrew language.
Hebrew Language Day (יוֹם הַלָּשׁוֹן הָעִבְרִית) is a day celebrated annually on the 21st of Tevet in the Hebrew calendar. The day marks the birthday of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, recognized as one of the revivalists of modern spoken Hebrew. The purpose of this day is to promote the status of the Hebrew language in Israel and around the world.
The Miracle of Hebrew's Revival
The story of Hebrew's revival is remarkable and unprecedented in linguistic history. Hebrew had not been a living, breathing part of ordinary, secular life for centuries, remaining alive primarily in liturgy and religious ceremonies. Ben-Yehuda arrived in Palestine in 1881 with what seemed like an impossible dream: to transform Hebrew which hadn't been spoken as a daily language for nearly 2,000 years into a vehicle for social and cultural cohesion of the returning Jewish nation.
Ben-Yehuda spoke many languages. His first language was Yiddish, and he learned to read Hebrew and spoke Russian and French. Ben-Yehuda dedicated his life to his vision of making Hebrew a unifying language for the new society in the forming Jewish homeland. He claimed that speaking Hebrew was healing and declared, "The two things without which the Jews will not be a nation: the land and the language." He created over 300 new Hebrew words from ancient Hebrew structures, and since then, more than 15,000 new words have been added. Ben-Yehuda made Hebrew alive, usable, and all encompassing. Similar to Ben-Yehuda’s mission, Hebrew language comes alive at Mandel daily; in classes, hallways, at recess, during lunch, and in T'fila.
This past Thursday, Mandel students began and will continue learning during the next few weeks with our beloved Shinshinim, more about Ben-Yehuda and his work, which touches our mission and vision of connecting to the people and the land of Israel. Greetings in Hebrew, singing, reading, writing, telling jokes, and even arguing in Hebrew helps to unify us with all Hebrew speakers and Jewish people around the world, building a strong Jewish identity and sense of belonging.
One popular tradition associated with Hebrew Language Day is the Hebrew Language Academy's selection of the "Hebrew Word of the Year," where the public nominates and votes for their favorite new words, celebrating the creativity and vibrancy of modern Hebrew. At Mandel, each student chose their favorite Hebrew word and a colorful wall of Favorite Hebrew words in order of Alef Bet is placed in the Lobby.
The song "Eliezer Ten Lanu Mila" (Eliezer, Give Us a Word), perfectly captures Ben-Yehuda's mission of replacing foreign loan words with authentic Hebrew alternatives, making Hebrew a complete, living language for all aspects of modern life.
When you come to visit Mandel we invite you to participate and add your favorite Hebrew word. (Hebrew teachers will be happy to assist you).
Shabbat Shalom!
Naama Arzi
Director of Jewish Life and Learning
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