Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes
Will be published approx. on 20. June 2019
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-0-87441-987-0 (ISBN)
Description
Why does Hebrew matter?
In answering this question, Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes addresses the many ways engagement with Hebrew enriches Jewishness-culturally, religiously, ethnically.
Whether you know Hebrew or not, linguist and cultural anthropologist Jeremy Benstein takes us on a journey into the deeper significance of Hebrew in the life of Jews and Judaism.
With fluency a distant goal for so many, Benstein provides another approach: engaging with Hebrew by focusing on the three-letter Hebrew roots - the "nuggets of knowledge" -- that are the building blocks of the language.
For instance, tzedakah, usually translated as "charity," actually relates to notions of justice (tzedek) and responsibility, not acts of generosity, thus encapsulating an entire economic world view. With many examples throughout the book, and in nineteen innovative "Wordshops," Benstein shows us both why and how to connect to Hebrew, as a vehicle to enrich our connection to Judaism and its values.
More than just a book about a language, this is a book about the Jewish people and the challenges we face as seen through our shared language, Hebrew.
In answering this question, Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes addresses the many ways engagement with Hebrew enriches Jewishness-culturally, religiously, ethnically.
Whether you know Hebrew or not, linguist and cultural anthropologist Jeremy Benstein takes us on a journey into the deeper significance of Hebrew in the life of Jews and Judaism.
With fluency a distant goal for so many, Benstein provides another approach: engaging with Hebrew by focusing on the three-letter Hebrew roots - the "nuggets of knowledge" -- that are the building blocks of the language.
For instance, tzedakah, usually translated as "charity," actually relates to notions of justice (tzedek) and responsibility, not acts of generosity, thus encapsulating an entire economic world view. With many examples throughout the book, and in nineteen innovative "Wordshops," Benstein shows us both why and how to connect to Hebrew, as a vehicle to enrich our connection to Judaism and its values.
More than just a book about a language, this is a book about the Jewish people and the challenges we face as seen through our shared language, Hebrew.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
West Orange, NJ
United States
Product notice
With printed dust jacket
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
568 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-87441-987-0 (9780874419870)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dr. Jeremy Benstein is an educator, author, and Hebrew lover. He holds a BA in linguistics from Harvard University, a master's degree in Judaic studies from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, and a PhD in cultural anthropology from the Hebrew University.
Born in Detroit and raised in Ohio, he has lived in Israel since 1983. Along the way, he helped found the Heschel Center for Sustainability in Tel Aviv. He lives in Zichron Yaakov with his wife, five children, two cats, and many books.