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Dear family and friends — Mishpachati (family) v (and) chaverim (friends) yikarim (dear):
Shalom (peace, hello).
Dateline Jerusalem — I have decided to make a conscientious effort to learn Ivrit (Hebrew) since I am here in Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel) two years. I actually carried on a conversation at a misada (restaurant) the other day. I called to the waiter “Slicha” (“excuse me”), and he came to the shulchan (table). I told him “Ani rotza…” (” I want…”), and proceeded to order.
Of course, my pronunciation was so bad he barely could understand me and began to speak Anglit (English) to me. I know a few milim (words) and can say a few sentences like “Ani lo medeberet Ivrit ” (I do not speak Hebrew) or “Ani lo mevina Ivrit ” (“I do not understand Hebrew”) so I get by. I can even say ” Ani ovedet gan technologie” (“I work at the technology park”). That sentence gets me a 10 percent discount at the canyon (mall) located across the street.
All street and highway signs are in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
I have been trying to read them on my way to work, aval (but) by the time I start sounding out the Hebrew letters, the bus has long passed the sign.
On my street, the English part of the street signs are different on each corner. Whoever did the translation was not very consistent. But, I have noticed that problem on highway signs as well. For example, the city of Beit Shemesh (house of the sun) is also Bet Shemesh, and the city of Rehovot is often spelled Rechovot and Rekhovot. I wonder if it is intentional to misspell translated words so that people like me who decipher the Hebrew and mispronounce it can find their way.
Choo-Choo Is the Rekevet
Often I am unable to find milim in the Hebrew-English/English-Hebrew dictionary.
Hebrew words have basic roots that make up the middle of the mila (word). The prefix and suffix change according to gender, particular verb tense and case (the infinitive usually starts with “L”), and whether the word is singular or plural.
Also, most words start with “ha” (the). These rules are simple to learn (even for an illiterate like me), but there are so many exceptions to the rules. But without knowing the basic root when I see or hear a mila, I can't find it to look up in the dictionary.
Last night I took a rekevet (train) home after having a wonderful dinner at a Chinese misada in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). The rail system in Israel is an enjoyable experience. The trains are air conditioned with comfortable seats with a shulchan between them.
Before every stop, an announcement is made so that people know when to disembark. The only inconvenience was that I had to wait a half an hour when I switched trains to get to my destination.
At night I was unable to see the scenery, but during daylight hours, it is a beautiful route through the forest.
As I sit in my kisa (chair) or on my sopa (sofa) in my salon (living room) I look around the cheder (room) and think about my last two years living here in Israel. It has been an absolute pleasure.
I only wish you all could join me here. I know that you would love it as much as I do.
L'hitraot. Shachar
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who moved to Israel 22 months ago.
