Musing – How much Hebrew do you already know?

Hebraic Musing – How much Hebrew do you already know?

 We are into the Jewish High Holy days – the Fall feasts of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Tabernacles. This might be a good time to find that you already know more Hebrew than you realize!

·         Hallelujah    Hallel = praise; Jah = short name for God

·         Adonai         Lord

·         Messiah       Coming Savior, or Christ (Greek) or “the Anointed One"

Jehovah       The highest and most revered name of God from Yod, Hei, Vav, Hei; or  hwhy

·         Elohim         Pluralized Name of God—a lesson of its own re names of God

Frequently used words to help your ear for Hebrew:

·         Barukh        Blessed, as in Barukh atah Adonai

·         Melech         King

·         Eloheynu     Elohim, Our God

·         Olam            Forever or everything

And now you understand Barukh Atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech Ha-Olam, the start of many prayers in Hebrew.   In English: “Blessed are You, Lord, Our God, King of the Universe.”

The most favorite prayer of the Jews is the “Shema” from Deut. 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” NIV   This is typically recited at least three times a day and is also in the mezuzah affixed to the doorpost. Identifying Jewish children in orphanages after World War II was easy. They simply recited Sh’ma Y’srael, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai Echad. The children who remembered their mother’s prayers would cry, thus easily identified as Jewish.

Hebrew offers you many ways to say Hello:   (accent on italicized syllable)

·         Hello; peace.  Shalom (shah-lohm)

And when you have to leave, use one of these phrases to say Good-Bye:

·         Peace.              Shalom (shah-lohm)

·         Be Well.          Kol Tuv (kohl toov)

·         See you soon. L'hitraot (leh-hee-trah-oht)

Finally, a few more familiar Hebrew words:

·         Sabbath          Seventh day of the week, commanded to rest with Him

·         Abba               Affectionate title for “father”, more like “daddy”

·         Amein             Amen

·         Shabbat Shalom (shah-baht shah-lohm) Have peaceful Sabbath.    
                        A greeting for all day Friday and during the Sabbath (Saturday)

·         L’chaim          To Life; made popular by Tevye singing in Fiddler on the Roof

·         Mazel tov!      Congratulations.  Lit.: good luck or "a good sign"

Point to Ponder

Maybe we will all need these greetings at the ‘Pearly Gate’?

Shalom Aleichem (shah-lohm a-Lech-im; Peace to you)     Response – Aleichem Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                               September 30, 2014
Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings” 

Twitter  @YosefBrusherd
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com