The Sleeping Beauty: Themes in the Cultural and Linguistic History of the Hebrew Language

The Hebrew Language has been awakened. In this course we will explore when, where, why, and by whom was this Sleeping Beauty revived; how both its awakening and hibernation has been connected to linguistic, cultural, and societal transformation over 25 centuries. We will examine poetry, liturgy, Midrash, and other writing by philosophers, poets, linguists, and religious leaders. We will discuss the connection of the revival of the language to the Zionist movement. Throughout the course we will try to answer questions such as: Why do we regard Hebrew as one and the same language after three millennia of constant linguistic change? Was the revival of Hebrew a miracle or a failure? How did Hebrew influence Jewish practices of exegesis? 3 hrs. lect./disc.