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FEBRUARY 26, 2015

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LASHON HAKODESH
HISTROY, HOLINESS & HEBREW

LTC
CONSULTING

SE RV IC E S

by Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Reviewed by Ruth Judah

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This elegantly presented book is an

easy read and provides a detailed texture
of the three essential Jewish languages;
Lashon HaKodesh, Aramaic and Modern
Hebrew. Using a structure that is decid-

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edly textbook, the information is simple

to grasp. At times original, interesting but
factual, the reader is left with a comprehensive understanding of the history of our ancient languages and their mystical magical
nature as interpreted and debated by wise
Rabbis of old.
Did Adam speak in Lashon HaKodesh
from his creation, did he speak it after eating the forbidden fruit, did he speak it in
Gan Eden, did he speak other languages as
well? Is Lashon HaKodesh the language
that angels understand because it is the supreme language that was created by G-d
Himself? Have we stopped conversing in
prayer book Hebrew because we are not so
holy? Have our negative traits necessitated an alternative collection of languages?
Rabbi Klein discusses these questions and
presents several answers but withholds
from passing judgment. As a result, the
book moves us to understand how and why
the rabbinical debate is ongoing.
Lashon HaKodesh is the purest language that Jews have had available from
the very start of creation, when Adam
could actually speak directly with Hashem.
As we have fallen further from the lofty
heights of our ancestors, the language has
been destined to prayer, where we can still

aspire. Modern Hebrew by contrast, with

its adoption of Yiddish, German and Arabic sounds, is the language of our mundane
lives. Rabbi Klein leads us to believe this
is all for the best.
Other languages have been taken up by
generations before us and these are all a
melting pot of many words so that Modern
Hebrew, Yiddish and Aramaic, as well as
Arabic, Greek and other ancient dialects,
frequent word structure which is an amalgamation of Lashon HaKodesh with the
additional language. In fact, Rabbi Klein
provides a delightful presentation that reminds us of the history of words with trilateral and quadrilateral syllables and sounds.
Even the Torah uses foreign words to express to the reader the possibility of interpretation and explanation.
The book works its way to an analysis
of Aramaic, a language which is essentially a collection of Semitic languages. Although there is still dispute about the origin
and importance of Aramaic, the language
comprises a vast collection of dialects
which evolved so long ago, as far back as
Abraham, and even further to the Torah.
Aramaicisms are found in the Torah, it is
the language universally accepted for a kosher Get, and it is still spoken in an estimated 19 varieties by pockets of Jews around
the world, yet it is undoubtedly dying out,
spoken by few. While this linguistic history is not part of the book, the material
that is presented encourages the reader to
consider these facts and the history of our
languages in more depth.
7KH SUDFWLFDO UDPLFDWLRQV RI XQGHUstanding the interconnection between the
earliest Jewish languages are few. Does
this matter? Rabbi Kleins book allows us
to learn a little more on the subject so we
can be conscious and cautious of the languages which are our ancestors legacy for
us.
Rabbi Klein is a fellow at the Kollel of
Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem and received
rabbinic ordination in Jerusalem, but his
routes lie in Valley Village where he was
schooled at Emek Hebrew Academy and
Yeshivah Gedolah of Los Angeles.
The book is available for purchase on
Amazon.com and at Mosaica Presss

website, mosaicapress.com.