By Philologos
An ancient expression meaning a gazelle’s raised horn was switched to the plain vanilla ‘my strength increased’ in a new translation of the Bible into modern Hebrew.
Read More
By Philologos
Does the famed toast ‘l’chaim’ date back to a Byzantine custom of testing wine for poison? Philologos prefers to believe it evolved from an ancient expression meaning, ‘all right.’
Read More
By Philologos
A reader objects to the word ‘Yahweh,’ which he finds offensive. Philologos says it’s a legitimate Biblical term and no one has to read it if they don’t want to.
Read More
By Philologos
Soccer fans borrowed the term ‘Jew goal’ to apply to an easy score. Philologos says the term is an anti-Semitic insult, but teams may be happy to have plenty of ‘em.
Read More
By Philologos
Jews have been toasting with the expression ‘L’chaim’ for centuries. Philologos investigates a reader’s complaint that we may have been wrong for just as long.
Read More
By Philologos
Words are always changing and there’s no point in fighting ‘linguistic apostasy,’ a reader says. Philologos doesn’t entirely agree, especially when it comes to ‘gay.’
Read More
By Philologos
Yahweh is the hypothetical but widely accepted scholarly version of God’s sacred biblical name. This very old name has gotten itself some very new vibes.
Read More
By Philologos
Does the Russian word for central train stations come from London’s Vauxhall? Or from similar words in German and Yiddish? Philologos ponders the possibilities.
Read More
By Philologos
President Obama inadvertantly said ‘Jews’ when he meant to mention janitors. Philologos wonders if he really has wealthy Jewish donors on his mind.
Read More
By Philologos
Rosh Hashanah is done for the year. But two readers seek advice from Philologos about the proper grammar and usage of the well-known greeting l’shana tova.
Read More
Reconsider Decision on Rabbis and Intermarriage
Is Steven Hawking’s Decision To Boycott Israel a Boon to BDS?
Alas, Poor GOP: 3 D.C. Scandals That Weren't
Forced Out by Nazis, Grandmother Returns With Family to Germany
Mother of Jewish Teen Killed on Brooklyn Bridge Speaks Out
You've successfully signed up!