History

The Story of Hebrew

Paperback

Price:
$18.95/£15.99
ISBN:
Published:
Sep 11, 2018
2018
Pages:
296
Size:
5.5 x 8.5 in.
Illus:
34 b/w illus., 2 tables
Main_subject:
History
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The Story of Hebrew explores the extraordinary hold that Hebrew has had on Jews and Christians, who have invested it with a symbolic power far beyond that of any other language in history. Preserved by the Jews across two millennia, Hebrew endured long after it ceased to be a mother tongue, resulting in one of the most intense textual cultures ever known. Hebrew was a bridge to Greek and Arab science, and it unlocked the biblical sources for Jerome and the Reformation. Kabbalists and humanists sought philosophical truth in it, and Colonial Americans used it to shape their own Israelite political identity. Today, it is the first language of millions of Israelis. A major work of scholarship, The Story of Hebrew is an unforgettable account of what one language has meant and continues to mean.

Awards and Recognition

  • Finalist for the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in History (Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award)
  • One of CHOICE’s Outstanding Academic Titles for 2017