THE POWER OF WORDS: EXPLORING HAPPINESS AND MEANING IN JEWISH CULTURE
Recently, I was told about the fascinating book, People of the Word – Fifty Words That Shaped Jewish Thinking, written by Mendel Kalmenson and Zalman Abraham. Both authors have an impressive body of work, including books and articles, and have served in various influential roles. Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson is an editor at Chabad.org, while Rabbi Zalman Abraham is a member of the leadership team at the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and director of The Wellness Institute.
Each chapter of the book is a word in Hebrew with an English translation. The first chapter, “Happiness” explores the Hebrew word simcha—often translated as “joy”—and its central role in Jewish tradition. As highlighted in a 2023 Jewish Chronicle article, the book delves into how “language not only reflects but also shapes cultural values.”
From the introduction I learn “there are many words in Hebrew that describe joy and happiness: sason, simchah, gilah, rinah, ditzah, chedvah, and tzahalah, each of which describe a different shade of joy, from spontaneous joy (gal means wave) to the kind of exuberant joy expressed in song (rinah) and dance (ditzah), as well as the bittersweet joy that is tinged with sadness (sason), such as when a parent walks their child down the aisle.”
I quote from the book, “Language is a mirror of Jewish culture. British author Adam Jacot de Boinod famously noted that dictionaries reveal more about a culture than its guidebooks. For instance, Hawaiians have dozens of words for fishing nets and sweet potatoes, staples of their diet, while the Inuit languages are renowned for their numerous terms for snow.”
Words have power to express our worldview and shape us. In Power of Words, University of California cognitive scientist Lera Boroditzky argues that “how we speak influences how we think.” In People of the Word, Rabbis Kalmenson and Abraham take this idea further, showing how “key Hebrew words embed profound values into everyday Jewish life.”
The book calls attention to Nobel laureate Robert Aumann, who suggested that “the Jewish focus on learning, curiosity, and gratitude has lasting impacts, from personal contentment to societal contributions.”
One of the book’s most striking discussions relates to the Hebrew word tzedakah. Unlike the English concept of charity, “tzedakah combines justice and compassion.” Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sackszl beautifully explained this in Hebrew: “giving is both a moral obligation and an act of kindness.” This linguistic connection reflects the importance of philanthropy as “a cornerstone of Jewish culture.”
My years of work as a fundraiser have illuminated to me the close connection between philanthropy and change.
My brain drifts to Viktor Frankl, Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama in times of persecution and global unrest, when they leaned into the pursuit of happiness and joy as an act of defiance and survival. Jewish history is replete with moments of hardship, yet “our culture’s focus on resilience, hope, and the joy found in small blessings has enabled the community to endure.” Today, as anti-Semitism rises in cities around the world, the teachings of simcha, “finding joy in community, faith, and tradition” offer a powerful antidote to despair.
Happiness doesn’t mean ignoring pain or injustice but “finding strength to face them.” Joy can become a sanctuary, reminding us of the values and connections that make life meaningful. It can inspire action, sustain our spirits, and build a foundation of hope that no hatred can destroy.”
Rabbi Duvid Polter, JSL Chaplain, is the one who shared People of the Word with me. It reminds us that “language is more than a tool for communication; it’s a vessel of culture and a guide for living.” Rabbi Polter has been sharing insights from this book with the residents, enriching their understanding of Jewish thought and values. He helps them gain new insight into these words which have been misunderstood for centuries. Rabbi Polter’s discussions at JSL not only introduce residents to these profound ideas but also “invite us all to reflect on the words that shape our own lives.”
The authors of People of the Word invite us to ‘Tingo’ – an invaluable word from the Pascuense language of Easter Island (near Chile) meaning “to borrow objects from a friend’s house, one by one until there’s nothing left.” They invite us to borrow words from their book, one by one, and make them our own – in thought, word and deed.
As we explore the beauty and depth of Hebrew language and Jewish thought, “we find a timeless toolkit for building a meaningful and joyful life. For residents in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and those participants in the services of the Dorothy & Peter Brown Jewish Community Day Program deserve to seek answers, learn daily, and find happiness… and they do at Jewish Senior Life.
Shabbat Shalom.
