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Translating the Bible… into Hebrew

Ha'aretz reports on an effort underway in Israel to translate the Bible into modern Hebrew:

In Israel - which was established 60 years ago as the national home of the Jewish people, which "gave the world the eternal Book of Books" (according to the Declaration of Independence), and whose official languages, alongside Arabic, include that same Hebrew in which the Book of Books is written - a move is afoot to publish the Bible in contemporary Hebrew. In other words, to translate the Bible into Hebrew. To rewrite it, in the same language, using different words.

This is a private commercial endeavor launched by a veteran teacher of the Bible, Avraham Ahuvia, and publisher Rafi Mozes of Reches Educational Projects. The entire text is vocalized, and each verse appears in the original form alongside the translated version.

The Education Ministry cried foul upon hearing of the idea and hastily issued a directive banning use of the new translation in schools.

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Marge Eiseman

09/10/08 06:05 PM

Interesting timing of this news. Storahtelling is about to hold their first Maven training in Israel—to teach people to bring a Modern Hebrew interpretation/translation/dramatization to make the Torah understandable to everyone (as we’ve been doing in English).

Too bad the Education Ministry is trying to limit Torah understanding…

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