Hebrew, the historic language that forms a bridge across time

Hebrew scientific writing began in Italy; Spain was the home of Hebrew poetry, but Hebrew also underpinned the written words of medicine, philosophy, astronomy and science as well as its more familiar use in religious texts.

Glinert introduces us to Church Fathers, to medieval monks and Christian Kabbalists, all of whom had their own uses for Hebrew. He explains its role in Renaissance and Reformation, how it was adopted by Puritan New England who saw themselves as part of the ten lost tribes. The mysteries so many were certain were wrapped up in its syntax, its alphabet, its very being, meant that Hebrew continued to live not only in Jewish texts and prayers but also in the libraries of assorted scholars and mystics. 

He explores what the language meant to those who possessed it during the two millennia it had slipped out of its role as a mother tongue. Hebrew accompanied the Jewish people in our long diaspora; it formed a bridge between the many communities and kept a link to our sacred beginnings. Now once again a spoken language, Hebrew continues to embody our cultural heritage and distinctiveness, forming the ways we see the world. This book opens the window for us to see how, in its many facets, it does just that.