Culture  Art&Culture
Egyptian Hebrew?
Itamar Eichner
Published: 20.12.07, 07:31
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20 Talkbacks for this article
1. Egyptian intellgence needs spies
Nora ,   Tel Aviv   (12.20.07)
Hebrew studies at Egyptian universities are not part of peaceful Israelo -Egyptian relation enforcement. Far from it. All those "students'' are listed and followed closely by Egyptian Intelligence. The curious ones are harrassed, the sympathisers are punished and the "Sons of Egypt'' are channeled to become part of the Egyptian Intelligence Forces. Israel should obtain from the relevant faculties the lists of Egyptian students learning Hebrew and follow them closely for years.
2. it's a shame
(12.20.07)
that hebrew is the only thing of israel that is taught at these so called universities. it would benefit their students if an intellectual and a real historian lecturer and professor taught them jewish history and the history of the holy land of the jews, the real history behind all the wars that they inflicted on us and the true real outcomes of these wars. what these universities teach is revisionist history in line with what they arabs want to believe happened and in line with their agenda of annihilating jewish presence in their midst as well as revisionist history that is only arab wishful thinking. teach the truth, not language. the truth is more important for arabs to know than a language because they have been denied the historical truth of their region and particularly that of israel for generations.
3. #1 thanx for repeating exactly what the article says
(12.20.07)
seriously. read! then post a comment.
4. Arabic & Hebrew has a lot in common
Rami ,   Nazareth   (12.20.07)
Languages are a wonderfulthing. It is a great idea to teach hebrew in arabic universities. it would be nice for the arab world to see how much the two semitic language have in common
5. If they're going to teach
Avi   (12.20.07)
Hebrew by way of comedy, then they might as well do it with Kishon. They'll get a much better picture of the language and it's people than through anything concocted by someone who's never set foot in Israel.
6. Learning Hebrew in Egypt
Manny ,   Israe;   (12.21.07)
It's a shame that more young Jews in the Galut don't learn Hebrew.
7. i can just see it now...
(12.21.07)
i'm walking the streets of Cairo, someone asks me what time it is. i say 7. and he goes "ma sheva?" ahh, the laughs...
8. #2 its a shame
Said ,   London, UK   (12.21.07)
It truly is a shame that history isn't taught properly. But your argument is too one-sided: the nascent state of Israel commited crimes too; you just prefer to live in fantasy land where you can dream that Israel has done absolutely nothing wrong. And if we're talking real history here, then I suppose the rightful owners of the land are Canaanites, the Jews arrived as invaders from Egypt. You don't know how much I crack up when I read posts calling the Palestinians invaders and squatters. Oh the irony.
9. #6
(12.21.07)
I agree that the language is an important element in unifying Jews. It's a language that belongs to the entirety of the Jewish people, and it should be made available to those who want to learn it. Oftentimes though, I see many English to Hebrew books that are very tourist oriented. They don't point out the grammar structures necessary to be able to control the language in a way that is necessary for fluency.
10. A SLIVER OF LIBERTY WRAPED UP IN A BURKAH , mooslim STYLE
MOSHE ,   US   (12.21.07)
11. #8 - Said, take your pick...
Joe ,   Los Angeles, CA   (12.21.07)
Said, before you start talking history, read a book on the subject (and not just the Bible). Archaeological studies and linguistic evidence, as well as historical accounts from Egypt, all point to the fact that the ancient Israelites were, in fact, a Canaanitic people who, under King David, amalgamated other Canaanitic tribes into the Kingdom of Israel. After the destruction of both the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea by the Bablyonians, the Philistines and remaining Canaanitic peoples vanished from the face of history. When presented with evidence from archaeology and linguistics, the Jews are the only descendants of Canaanites still living to this very day. The only way Palestinians could be descendants of Canaanites is if the Palestinians are descended from Jews. If, however, you take the Bible to be historic fact, then you must accept as fact that the Canaan and his descendants were cursed by Noah to be slaves. You must also accept as fact that the Canaanites "sinned flagrantly" against haShem and haShem was justified in giving the Land of Canaan to the Israelites, due to the flagrant sins of the Canaanites against Him. Either way, Said, arguing that Palestinians are descended from Canaanites means either of the following: a) Palestinians are actually Jewish; or b) Palestinians were rightfully dispossessed of their land because of their sins against haShem and are doomed to be slaves. Take your pick, Said...
12. know your enemy ... this is the reason
(12.22.07)
13. Egyptian interest in Hebrew.
EGW ,   vancouver canada   (12.22.07)
Jews have been ignored or/and reviled for so long, by so many that ANY reference of interest in them sends their hearts jumping for joy. Where I grew up, in a very anti-semitic, religious country, even a mention of smoked salmon in a movie was enought to send all the community to see it, nodding their heads at this wonderful recognition. PSHAW..... PHFOOIE !! The Egyptians regard us as offspring of pigs and monkey's, don't forget, escaped slaves, and likely it's either a fad, or they are being enciouraged by the government who are expecting a concerted, Islamic final onslaught on Israel, and will need Hebrew speakers to deal with the subdued , captive remnants of the Jewish population. What else could it be...maybe they all want to convert....and come on aliya??
14. For JOe in LOs Angeles, what are you smoking there boy???
EGW ,   vancouver canada   (12.22.07)
Joe, you're talking a lot of pseuo-nonsense. The "12 Tribe Children of Israel" structure was still WELL established, up to and after the David period, even by archaeological evidence. The Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians, not Babylonians, who did-in Judah, temporarily. There are many other errors in your foolish lecture, but I stopped reading half-way through. There comes a time when "enough-is-enough", and in the case of your letter, it's far too much. Gei Gezunt. P.S. ( can be pronounced as P(i)ss) The Canaanites didn't "sin flagrantly" against "Hashem", since "flagrantly" implies "knowledge"-and they had none of "Hashem".
15. Zionist pornography - that's a good one!
(12.22.07)
16. #4 Rami - Inta Mazbut, You are absolutely right
Squalid Ibn Harman ,   Qtir   (12.23.07)
Who every thought that Hagashash Hachiver would be diplomats par excellance? But Rami I couldn't agree with you more. But I will take it a step farther. Bridging as many Semitic languages and understanding the evolution of the Semitic language family is beyond facinating. Understand the relationships and transformations: Hebrew SH usually goes to Arabic S. Therefore we have (Shalom, Salaam), (Saken - Shochen [to live]), (Madrasi,Midrash [school])(Al Quds - Hakadosh [Holy City Jerusalem]. Now that you understand this there are exactly the opposite [Smol -Shmaal [left]). Next to Aramaic. Hebrew SH goes to T (Shor to Tor for bull which goes to Arabic El Tor across N. Africa to Spain El Toro (also Latin connection of Taurus). Now the opposite comes in Hebrew Torah for Law goes to Arabic Shariya also Law with the transformation. The list goes on. But a little basic knowledge along with vision to see the connection and one can find that they know far more than they ever imagined. And the linguistic puzzle of this tree is truly exciting and amazing. p.s. Why do Arabs and Israelis translate Bet Lechem differently? Answer to follow in a later TB.
17. #14 - EGW, thanks for your criticism...
Joe ,   Los Angeles, CA   (12.23.07)
EGW, thanks for your criticism. I admit that I had a minor lapse of memory and pinned the blame for the destruction of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea on the Bablyonians, whereas the true culprits were the Assyrians. As regards the twelve tribes of Israel, their establishment before and after King David was not the issue under discussion. Anyone who would doubt this is a fool, and this is why I did not focus too much on the origins of the Jews in my talkback. The issue under discussion was the fate of the Canaanites, whom the Palestinians erroneously claim to be directly descended from. The Canaanites vanished from the face of history after the conquest of Judea and Samaria by Assyria, only to have their memory be dragged out of the dust by a people desperate to forge a national identity based around an idea that delegitimizes and supplants the Jewish people's right to live on the land of their ancestors. Hebrew is a Canaanitic language. Amalgamation of Canaanitic nations into the Kingdom of Israel happened. So far, archaeology has found no evidence of the Exodus from Egypt, and they have found no evidence of Jewish slavery in Egypt. As far as archaeology is able to determine, Jews have always lived in the region (albeit only in small communities during both exiles) and are its original inhabitants. The only people who can claim descent from Canaanites without flying in the face of history, archaeology and linguistics are the Jews (even though this flies in the face of Orthodox Judaism). Just so you know, EGW, "Goodbye" in Yiddish is "Zei Gezunt", not "Gei Gezunt". My 60+ year old parents are Syrian Jews from Aleppo whose native language is Arabic and even THEY knew that much Yiddish!! As regards your writing style, ad hominem attacks peppered with only one substantive point of criticism which doesn't even negate the original point I made cause me to question the necessity of responding to your talkback. Your style of debate speaks volumes about your intellect. If you're going to respond to me, don't just say, "There are many other errors in your foolish lecture, but I stopped reading half-way through." Point these errors out and refute me point-by-point. PS - "Flagrantly" doesn't imply knowledge, it implies obviousness or unabashedness. Open up a dictionary before you criticize a person's use of language.
18. no sex or nudity?
NG ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (12.23.07)
Don't all Israeli movies have sex or nudity? Seriously.
19. Joe that's too complex for Said to digest
Genuine Tosefta ,   Tveria   (03.16.09)
as he defines knowledge as mastery of the Quran, the only piece of crap Muslims ever need to know and it is for simple minds only divide the world into Dar A Salaam and Dar Al Harb and they are done with history, geography, literature, science, technology, arts, economy, morals or curiosity of the unknown sophistication such as yours going back so many years and understanding that not everything is clear cut and simple is beyond his kindergarten level
20. #16 response
Oren ,   Ramat Gan   (03.18.09)
you are completely correct besides your comparison between torah and shari3a, which are not related words at all. the only relation i can think of with regard to the word shari3a is that its root meaning is identical to the root meaning of the jewish equivalent to shari3a, namely halakha.
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