More about Eliezer Ben-Yehuda
Eliezer wrote an article, “She’elah Lohatah” (“A Burning Question”)
that was published in P. Smolenskin’s Ha-Shakhar in 1879.
For the first time, the idea of a national rebirth
of a Jewish nation in Eretz Israel was clearly propounded.
Ben-Yehuda linked the Jewish national revival
with the general European awakening
and said that the Jewish people should learn
from the oppressed European peoples
that were fighting for political freedom and national revival.
The Jewish people must establish a community in Eretz Israel
that would serve as a focal point for the entire people,
so that even those Jews who would remain in other lands
would know that they belong to a people
that dwells in its own land and has its own language and culture.
In this essay, the fundamental principles of Zionism were actually anticipated:
the settlement of the land for the creation or a national entity,
an independent nation designed to save from assimilation and annihilation
those Jews that are scattered all over the world and who wish to migrate there.
While studying medicine in Paris Ben-Yehuda contracted tuberculosis,
and his doctors did not forecast a long and happy life for him.
He resolved to discontinue his medical studies
and make his home in the more favorable climate of Israel,
where he hoped he could continue his advocacy
before succumbing to his illness.
In 1881, he left for Jerusalem. He traveled by way of Vienna,
where he was joined by his childhood sweetheart, Deborah Jonas.
He had written to her of his illness
and his dim chance of a long and full life.
He bade her forget him --
but she surprised him with a Ruth-like pledge,
“wherever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge...”
They married in Cairo, on their way to make a home
in the once and future Land of Israel.
In October 1881, they arrived in Jaffa where Eliezer informed his wife
that henceforth they would converse only in Hebrew.
Eliezer & Deborah c.1882
Dvora and Eliezer established the first Hebrew-speaking home
in Jerusalem, and their son, Ben-Zion
(who later became known by his pen-name, Itamar Ben-Avi)
was the first Hebrew-speaking child in modern times.
Ben-Zion Ben-Yehuda, age 4
Soon after he and Deborah arrived in Jerusalem,
Ben-Yehuda, together with Y.M. Fines,
D. Yellin, Y. Meyuhas, and A. Mazie founded
the society "Tehiyat Israel" (Rebirth of Israel)
established on five principles:
Work on the land and expansion of the country’s productive population;
Revival of spoken Hebrew;
Creation of a modern Hebrew literature and science in the national spirit;
Education of children in a national and, at the same time, universal humanistic spirit;
Active opposition to the halukkah (dole) system.
He also founded the "Committee of the Hebrew Language,
which eventually became the Academy of the Hebrew Language
Eliezer (first on R.) and members of his Language Committee
During the period 1882-85, Ben Yehuda worked on a Hebrew periodical
published in Jerusalem, called Ha-havazzelet, and put out
a supplement to the periodical under the name Mevasseret Zi’yon.
This journalistic work satisfied his need to be politically active
for the nationalist cause. At the same time, he taught
in the Jerusalem Alliance school, which post he accepted
only after he was permitted to use Hebrew exclusively
as the language of instruction in all Jewish subjects.
Ben-Yehuda published a geography book called ‘Eretz Yisrael,’
and translated many texts to use in his classroom
to teach everything from mathematics to world literature.
Toward the end of 1884, he founded a weekly, Ha-Zevi,
which later became a biweekly under the new name, Ha-Or.
In his class and in his papers he constantly coined new words
for everything that had no words since Hebrew was last used.
He published a “list of words” in every paper he published,
but before long it became obvious that
people could not keep collecting these lists --
there was a need for a “book of words” --
yes, even the word for dictionary did not exist in the tongue of the prophets.
Ben-Yehuda thus was launched on his greatest undertaking:
"Milon Halashon Ha’ivrit ha’yshana vehakhadasha"
-- the Dictionary of the Hebrew Language, ancient
and modern.
In 1891, Ben-Yehuda’s wife, Deborah, died
of the disease that he had contracted in Paris.
On her death bed she wrote a letter to her sister, sixteen years her junior.
“If you want to be a queen,” her letter said,
“hurry to Jerusalem and marry my prince, my darling Eliezer.”
Ben-Yehuda was a broken man after the death of his Deborah --
but the sister began her campaign to fulfill her sister’s wish.
She wrote to him, pretending an interest in Hebrew --
which he, of course, could not resist.
She chose for herself a Hebrew name -- Hemda. It meant “darling” --
and that’s how she unlocked his heart.
About six months later he married her,
and she became his assistant, ally, advocate and constant companion
in his political and literary activities.
Eliezer & Hemda c.1890
After his death in 1922, Hemda and his son Ehud, my father,
continued his work by preparing for publication the remaining volumes
of his dictionary -- which, because of the ravages of the depression,
the second World War and the battle for Israel’s independence,
was completed in 1959, in sixteen volumes plus an introductory volume
called Ha-Mavo-ha-Gadol (the great introduction).
Hemda Ben-Yehuda c. 1940
Eliezer Ben-Yehuda has been recognized by history --
for his role in the revival of the tongue of the prophets.
His role in the rebirth of the Jewish nation
is much less known or acknowledged.
I feel it needs to be -- it should be proclaimed from the rooftops daily!
Why? Because it lends legitimacy to the Zionist enterprise
and dates its beginning beyond any reasonable doubt.
Eliezer's revival of Hebrew was a tool for Zionist success.
It is doubtful if the Jews returning from the four corners of the world
could have agreed on a national language for their reborn state
had Hebrew not been prepared for them ahead of time.
Eliezer Ben-Yehuda is buried in the Mount Olives cemetery in Jerusalem,
in a family grave-site bordered by a wrought iron fence
with a gate above which there is an inscription in old Hebrew characters --
"To the reviver of our tongue - Eliezer Ben-Yehuda"
the same type of characters that he used on his family crest --
a map of Eretz Yisrael framed in the shape of a house.
It is the Hebrew Homeland -- and above its roof is the legend,
“ein zo agada” -- it is no dream!
Why is it not a dream, you may ask?
Maybe because he willed it so much, dedicating his life,
his wife and his children to that cause.
Do you want to read more
about this amazing man of vision?
Look for the book Fulfillment of Prophecy,
which will be published any day now.