Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes

In answering this question, Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes addresses the many ways engagement with Hebrew enriches Jewishness—culturally, religiously, ethnically.

Whether you know Hebrew or not, linguist and cultural anthropologist Jeremy Benstein takes us on a journey into the deeper significance of Hebrew in the life of Jews and Judaism.

With fluency a distant goal for so many, Benstein provides another approach: engaging with Hebrew by focusing on the three-letter Hebrew roots – the "nuggets of knowledge" — that are the building blocks of the language.

For instance, tzedakah, usually translated as "charity," actually relates to notions of justice (tzedek) and responsibility, not acts of generosity, thus encapsulating an entire economic world view. With many examples throughout the book, and in nineteen innovative "Wordshops," Benstein shows us both why and how to connect to Hebrew, as a vehicle to enrich our connection to Judaism and its values.

More than just a book about a language, this is a book about the Jewish people and the challenges we face as seen through our shared language, Hebrew.