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On Root / In search of breadcrumbs, oxygen and pickles

All three things come from the same root, but we only have to eradicate one from our homes on Passover.

By Jeremy Benstein | Mar 17, 2013 | 07:41 PM

Keep the pita, lose the hummus and pickles for Passover.

On Root / How 'Europe' and 'Maghreb' both come from Hebrew

The Hebrew word for 'west' is ma'arav, thus Hollywood cowboy movies are ma'aravonim. Add a scimitar-slinger and camel, and what you get is a falafel western.

By Jeremy Benstein | Mar 11, 2013 | 12:08 PM | 4

On Root / Cowboys home on the Israeli range at dawn

Whether you're already out herding cattle or just gearing up with a cup of java, "boker" - morning - is the time for starting to see things distinctly. First in a two-part series.

By Jeremy Benstein | Mar 3, 2013 | 12:27 PM

On Root / Purim unmasked: In Hebrew, you're looking for yourself

What does the Messiah have to do with the Golden Calf (yes, that one) and inebriated revels? Read on.

By Jeremy Benstein | Feb 20, 2013 | 02:17 PM

On Root / Get the 'ba'al' rolling

The Hebrew word for husband and owner also runs the gamut from lord of the manor to lord of the flies.

By Jeremy Benstein | Feb 18, 2013 | 05:25 PM

On Root / I like love

From two different roots comes a whole host of affections, from like to love, and all the amateurish behavior in between.

By Jeremy Benstein | Feb 11, 2013 | 08:28 AM

On Root / Politically compromising positions

With the negotiations to form Israel’s the next government in full swing, politicians are seeing how far they can get each other to bend – politically speaking.

By Jeremy Benstein | Feb 5, 2013 | 07:03 AM

On Root / Eats fruits and leaves…

On the occasion of Tu Bishvat, we take a break from election analysis to look at the tree-related words that branch out into all areas of our lives.

By Jeremy Benstein | Jan 28, 2013 | 09:09 AM

On Root / Haves and have-nots on the Hebraic campaign trail

In the days before the election, Israel’s political parties are trying to get the last televised word in.

By Jeremy Benstein | Jan 21, 2013 | 02:20 PM

On Root / Israel's homegrown election lexicon

Last week we saw how Hebrew imported a number of words to its political lexicon; this week we explore our local election vocabulary.

By Jeremy Benstein | Jan 14, 2013 | 09:23 AM

On Root / The freedom of imported speech

While the nuances of Israeli politics may be unique to this country, the Hebrew political lexicon freely borrows from abroad.

By Jeremy Benstein | Jan 4, 2013 | 10:35 AM

On Root / Smoke, mirrors and election slogans

As elections draw closer, parties bend over backward - in so many words - to distinguish themselves from their rivals.

By Jeremy Benstein | Dec 30, 2012 | 03:36 PM

Labor party leader Shelly Yacimovich in front of a sign calling for regime change.

On Root / Political signs of the times

With elections fast approaching, the war of words between Israel's political parties is escalating.

By Jeremy Benstein | Dec 24, 2012 | 09:24 AM

David's Harp

Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, center.

David's Harp / Yair Lapid: New politics, or just born yesterday?

By David Rosenberg | 08:54 PM

David's Harp / Hugo Chavez, Yair Lapid and useful pigs

By David Rosenberg | 09:52 PM

Hungover in Israel's bond market – and partying on

By David Rosenberg | 05:08 PM

Double Take

African migrants looking through the fence at the Egyptian-Israeli border on August 4, 2012.

Double Take / African asylum seekers out of the spolight but not in the clear

By Joel Greenberg | 08:39 AM

Double Take / A month after Gaza war, Hamas still rides a wave of popularity

By Joel Greenberg | 07:22 AM | 4

Double Take / The politics of potholes in East Jerusalem

By Joel Greenberg | 09:41 AM

Someone Else's Simcha

Someone Else's Simcha / Amit and Nili's wedding - Don't stop believing

By Ron Ben-Tovim | 06:29 PM

Someone Else's Simcha / Sharon Shaya's bat mitzvah – Logging off long enough to grow up

By Ron Ben-Tovim | 06:33 PM

Someone Else's Simcha / Pnina and Yitzhak's 50th anniversary – Indian love, set in gold

By Ron Ben-Tovim | 01:56 PM

State of the Union

At least Israel's Pirate Party has a name that reflects its platform.

On Root / The political name game

By Jeremy Benstein | 09:36 AM

On Root / Our Big Fat Greek Hanukkah

By Jeremy Benstein | 08:59 AM

On Root / The ancient Jewish tradition of being counted

By Jeremy Benstein | 09:18 AM