The struggles and victory of the Hebrew language

Teaching Hebrew to Jews in the Diaspora is a fateful and essential mission that will ensure the very existence of Jews, the future of Zionism and the State of Israel.

The Hebrew language, had it had its own voice, would have quoted RACHEL, our wise matriarch, who said: “With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed”. And, perhaps, it should have said “sisters” rather than “sister”, as we know that many languages waged war against Hebrew, attempting to banish it, push it aside and inherit its place – but all were vanquished.

Wise men and cautious scholars tried to keep it away from everyday usage, as if to say: What have you to do with secular days – you are a sacred language, fit for the Sabbath that is dedicated to rest and holiness. And there were others, educated “Hommes du Monde” who agreed, among themselves, that Hebrew would never suffice for science and higher learning and would only jeopardize the relationship between Jews and intellectuals in the outside world. There were, yet, others, who thought it should be connected to the Land of Israel. Namely, that only those who reside in ERETZ-ISRAEL would have the right and privilege to use it. However, those in exile would be exempt and permitted to speak, study and work – even in matters relating to Jews and Judaism, including Zionism and the State of Israel – in the local tongue of the people, among whom they reside.

But the Hebrew language fought and struggled for its right to exist on secular days and on the Sabbath alike, both overseas and in ERETZ-ISRAEL, and became the language of learning, the language of deeds and creation, thought and faith, prophecy and vision, poetry and legend, HALACHA and MIDRASH, rebuke and promise. Most of all, it strove to become the language of unity and existence, connection and solidarity among Jews, and preservation of Jewish uniqueness throughout the generations of renaissance and independence in our time.

The Hebrew language fought, struggled, and conquered!

Rabbi Bnaya was a prominent scholar who arrived in Yemen some 500 ago. Together with his disciples, he wrote the TAJ, exhibited in the University Museum. One day, he was reclining on a soft pillow upon an upholstered bench, one leg folded under him and the other, bent like a bridge, learning TORAH and re-interpreting HALACHIC traditional law and Torah intonations. His daughter, Hogla, bless her, was sitting at his feet, ready to be at his beck and call, and at the same time, registering his innovations. Legend has it that, Hogla, daughter of Bnaya, was blessed with the most beautiful penmanship in the world and that even as a very young girl, she would copy the entire bible in her own handwriting. Centuries later, the Bnaya family was renowned for its copyists of scriptures, including one of its young daughters. The books that were copied by the Bnaya family and by the young daughter can be found in the greatest museums and libraries in the world and they are famous for their splendor and gracefulness.

Once in a while, Rabbi Bnaya would lift his eyes from the book and glance at his disciples and at the other assistants, but only seldom would he be compelled to reprimand them as they were all doing their work faithfully and diligently.

There were five managing-assistants at his side: Hisdai the Shimonite; Hillel the Yizre’elite; Shamai the Galilean; Ezra the Levite and Hiskiyahu the Cohen, led by his son Joseph, a unique youth who was a most handsome, good-looking young man, tall and erect, firm and solid, of light complexion and honey-colored eyes, dark haired with curly waves cascading down his shoulders. It was not in vain that he was dubbed “Joseph the curly-haired man”.

Hundreds of people were in charge of doing the job: One had to mine metal ore from the bottom of the earth, the other had to cast the coins and yet another had to polish them. All was organized and directed by the five managing-assistants who, occasionally, needed the wise and good advice of Rabbi Bnaya, the ruler, or that of his son Joseph, who was as brilliant as his father and blessed by such wisdom, that it seemed to add even more radiance to his natural beauty. They, too, were TORAH scholars as well as warriors, tall and erect, dagger at hand to protect themselves and their enterprise against thieves and robbers, as well as their station as prominent people, close to the his majesty, the king.