Government announces national Hebrew Day

The government announced on Sunday a number of moves for the strengthening of the Hebrew language. As part of the plan the birthday of Eliezer Ben Yehuda, known as the reviver of Hebrew, may be announced as national Hebrew Day.

In addition, the government is expected to establish a team for the maintenance of the language, a Hebrew conference, an annual prize for forerunners of the language, a national medal, and stamps heralding famous names in the Hebrew world.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the cabinet meeting, "My father was born 100 years ago, and grew up in a home in which he learned the Hebrew of Ben-Yehuda and Haim Nahman Bialik. We owe Eliezer Ben-Yehuda for his contribution to the cornerstone of the revival of Israel in its own land.

"We gratefully accept the proposal made by Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar," he said.

The Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies determine that Ben Yehuda’s birthday will be named Hebrew Day.

The government is also expected to announce the holding of a conference led by Netanyahu and Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat, which will be devoted to a public debate on the current aspects of the language.

Around NIS 70,000 ($18,500) will be devoted to a Ben Yehuda Prize for those who help to promote the language and NIS 60,000 ($16,800) will be devoted to 200 government medals to the same effect. A public committee will be appointed to choose the persons given the awards.

Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon will be in charge of a national stamp in honor of the Hebrew language.

A document explaining the new plan says, “It has been proposed that the government work to commemorate people who have contributed greatly to the Hebrew language and that are not sufficiently commemorated in the public mind, including David Yellin, Joseph Klausner, Chaim Nachman Bialik, and Zeev Ben-Chaim.”