Low Price Guarantee
We Take School POs
The Joys of Hebrew
Contributor(s): Glinert, Lewis (Author)

View larger image

ISBN: 0195074246     ISBN-13: 9780195074246
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
OUR PRICE: $104.50  

Binding Type: Hardcover - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: November 1992
Qty:
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Foreign Language Study | Hebrew
- Reference
- Religion | Judaism - General
Dewey: 398.992
LCCN: 92028624
Lexile Measure: 1050(Not Available)
Physical Information: 1.16" H x 6.32" W x 9.5" L (1.35 lbs) 304 pages
Themes:
- Ethnic Orientation - Jewish
- Holiday - Hanukkah
- Holiday - Passover
- Religious Orientation - Jewish
Review Citations: Booklist 12/15/1992 pg. 763
Library Journal 11/15/1992
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
When do you say mazal tov? What is the English equivalent to the Talmudic expression Alya ve-kots ba (a sheep's tail with a thorn in it)? What is a get, a golem, a kibbutz, a chalutz? What four plant species are waved during prayers on the harvest festival of Sukkot? You'll find answers to
these questions and hundreds of others--all in clear English--in this remarkable collection of the best known, most loved Hebrew words and phrases in the English speaking world.
From Acharon to Zohar, this informative and often humorous dictionary features over six hundred Hebrew words and expressions arranged in alphabetical order (the Roman alphabet is used throughout, as well as Hebrew head words). The first such guide to Hebrew, this volume is more than a mere
lexicon--it is a jubilant celebration of Hebrew itself, a treasure trove of Jewish wit, wisdom, culture, and tradition. Lewis Glinert provides a concise definition of each entry, and then illustrates the word's usage with generous passages from the Bible and the Talmud, the prayers and the sayings
of famous rabbis, the razor's edge of Jewish humor, excerpts from the work of Elie Wiesel, Adin Steinsaltz, S.Y. Agnon, Martin Buber, Naomi Shemer and other contemporary writers, folklore from all over the Jewish world, and colorful slices of modern Israeli life. There are words directly related to
the practice of religion, such as amida (a prayer said standing, under one's breath, essentially a cry for help--for wisdom, health, peace, prosperity, and so forth) as well as the names of all the Jewish holy days and religious customs; words from everyday Jewish experience, such peot (the long
sidecurls customarily worn by the Chasidim); many words familiar from their use in Israel, such as rega (literally, one moment, it is the Israeli equivalent of Mexico's maņana) or miluim (army reserve service); and many traditional sayings, such as Tsarat rabim chatsi nechama (A public woe is
half a comfort). In addition, Glinert provides at the back of the book an alphabetical list of familiar biblical names in English, Sephardi/Israeli Hebrew, and Ashkenazi Hebrew.
This celebration of Hebrew language and culture is a joy to read and to use. Everyone from Bible students to collectors of Judaica, from Woody Allen fans to people planning a journey to the Holy Land, will be delighted by this informative volume.

 
Customer ReviewsSubmit your own review
 
To tell a friend about this book, you must Sign In First!