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Israel’s First Nobel Prize Winner: Shmuel Yosef Agnon Posted by Ayana on Dec 8, 2016
Fifty years ago Israel won its first Nobel Prize. It was the literature prize and it was given to Shmuel Yosef Agnon (1887-1970). In December 1966, Agnon and his wife travelled from Jerusalem to Sweden, to receive international recognition of his life devotion: writing. His first works were published while he was still a teenager…
Road Games for a Drive Across Israel Posted by Ayana on Nov 27, 2016
Israel is a fairly small country. Standing 153 at the world ranking, Israel is even smaller than Taiwan. So we don’t have a lot of opportunities to a road trip, but we do know how to enjoy our car drive. We talk, we eat, we listen to music and we – kids and adults alike…
Shahar: The Origin of a Common Hebrew Name Posted by Ayana on Nov 13, 2016
Hebrew names are marvelous. Every name has a meaning, every name has significance. Last time we delved into the name Tal. Today we’ll check out another name from nature: Shachar שַׁחַר. שַׁחַר means dawn, the faint rays of light appearing before the sunrise. As with Tal, שַׁחַר originates from the Bible too. It appears, for…
Hebrew Colors Part 2: Linguistic Evolution Posted by Ayana on Oct 24, 2016
In 1969 the anthropologist Brent Berlin and the linguist Paul Kay published an interesting book: Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution (1969). Their research in the field of color terminology has been highly influential in anthropology and linguistics. They checked how many basic color terms for each language are universal, and concluded that the number…
Hebrew Colors Part 1: Introduction Posted by Ayana on Oct 10, 2016
Colors aren’t just adjectives. They are state of mind. Red is not only the color of the blood, it’s passion. Blue is not only the color of the sky, it’s clarity. Green it’s not only the color of the grass, it’s prosperity. No wonder colors are among the first words every language learner memorizes And…
Learning Hebrew Through Songs 2 Posted by Ayana on Sep 16, 2016
When it’s hot outside, the best way to cool off is to go to the sea. If you are too busy to go to the beach, or if you are living too far from sea, the best way to cool off is with a strong air conditioner and a good summer hit. Ha`Shalom Road (דרך…
Learning Hebrew Through Songs Posted by Ayana on Sep 3, 2016
“On the Way Home” (בדרך הביתה) is one of my favorite Israeli songs. It was written and composed in 1998 by Israel Bright (ישראל ברייט), the soloist of Ha`semahot band (השמחות). 18 years later, I’m still enjoying the relaxed vibe of the song. [The link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgWYCnuLqcM]. The lyrics: בדרך הביתה / השמחות מילים ולחן : ישראל…