People of the Word
Fifty words that shaped Jewish thinking
In People of the Word, we gain insight into fifty key Hebrew words that have been mistranslated and misunderstood for centuries. Each chapter takes the reader on an etymological journey into the big ideas that continue to shape Jewish thought, values, and culture to this day. A growing body of research suggests that language does more than communicate our perception of reality; it creates it. The patterns, structures, and particular words used in each language not only offer a window into a culture’s sensibilities, dispositions, and priorities, they help shape them, as well.
In the words of Charlemagne: “To have a second language is to have a second soul.” Moreover, unlike other languages, Hebrew words and names are not arbitrary. They are definitive and expressive of the true nature of things and are therefore understood to provide insight into the nature and meaning of things. This means that a deeper understanding of any given object or idea is embedded within the Hebrew word used to describe it. In G-d’s language, words are portals into the meaning of things from the Divine perspective.
This book is, therefore, more than just a book of words. It provides windows of insight into Jewish history, thought, culture, meaning, and practice. It is an attempt at capturing the unique spirit of Judaic thought that sets it apart from its counterparts and popular society. It includes many relevant themes to provide a glimpse of the profound depth of Jewish philosophy by unpacking fifty Hebrew words to uncover their deeper meaning, significance, and insights into life.
Praise for People of the Word
“People of the Word beautifully illustrates how words create worlds and how concepts conceive.
If you’d like to learn more about Judaism, and no less so about yourself, this splendid book is a must-read.”
PROFESSOR TAL BEN-SHACHAR
Creator of the Most Popular Course In Harvard's History
“This book is filled with information and mind-expanding insights that will deepen your knowledge of Hebrew and your understanding of life. Rabbis Kalmenson and Abraham’s wisdom is prodigious and they have produced a book that the Jewish community really needs both for its erudition and its compelling readability.”
—JOSEPH TELUSHKIN
Bestselling author of more than 15 books, including volumes about Jewish ethics, Jewish literacy, as well as the book Rebbe, a New York Times bestseller
“People of the Word condenses decades of learning into a clear roadmap for spiritual, ethical, and positive living. The Rabbis open up a dimension of human potential for a broad readership that has been held deep within Jewish wisdom. In short, an invitation to see and live in an added dimension.”
—LISA MILLER, PhD
Professor, Columbia University and NYT bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain
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Also available at the Apple Books and Kindle stores or as an .epub via direct download.