07 January - Eliezer Ben Yehuda birth anniversary

 

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (born Eliezer Yitzhak Perlman on 07 January 1858 – died 16 December 1922) was a Jewish linguist and lexicographer known for his efforts to revive the Hebrew language and make it a spoken and modern language. He played a crucial role in the language revival movement in pre-state Israel during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Key points about Eliezer Ben-Yehuda:

1. Early Life: Ben-Yehuda was born in Luzhki, Belarus (then part of the Russian Empire). He grew up in a traditional Jewish environment and received a traditional Jewish education.

2. Language Revival: Inspired by the Zionist movement and the idea of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, Ben-Yehuda believed that the rejuvenation of Hebrew as a spoken language was essential for the cultural revival of the Jewish people. At that time, Hebrew was mainly a written and liturgical language.

3. Move to Palestine: In 1881, Ben-Yehuda and his family immigrated to Palestine (then part of the Ottoman Empire). He committed himself to speaking only Hebrew in his household, and he encouraged others to do the same.

4. Lexicography: Ben-Yehuda worked on creating new words and expanding the Hebrew vocabulary to encompass modern concepts and technologies. He compiled dictionaries and wrote articles promoting the use of Hebrew in daily life.

5. Family Influence: Ben-Yehuda's wife, Hemda, was also committed to the revival of Hebrew. They raised their children in a Hebrew-speaking environment, and their son, Ben-Zion Ben-Yehuda, was the first native speaker of modern Hebrew.

6. Legacy: Eliezer Ben-Yehuda is often regarded as the "reviver of the Hebrew language." His efforts laid the foundation for the use of Hebrew as a living, spoken language in Israel. Today, Hebrew is the official language of the State of Israel and is spoken by millions of people.

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda's dedication to the revival of Hebrew had a profound and lasting impact on the linguistic and cultural identity of Israel. His legacy continues in the vibrant use of Hebrew in all aspects of Israeli society.