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In quest of divinity
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A linguist with a difference, Shmuel Yacobi has set on a unique sojourn to restore the lost sheen of Hebrew language, says MUBIN SULTAN.
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Yacobi interacting wiht Jews at Machilipatnam
`NOW FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,'-Hebrew.
Hebrew, the oldest language used by the earliest theologians is almost extinct now. Determined to restore the lost sheen of the language and present it before people alien to it is Shmuel Yacobi, the founder and president of the Hebrew Open University that offers certificate courses in Hebrew language and Bible courses. It is also the only university in the country that offers an honorary Doctorate of Divinity in recognition of the genuine efforts by members of the Church. Yacobi obtained his Masters degrees in theology, divinity and the Hebrew language from The Council of the Eastern Jewry. He is currently running Hebrew-coaching centres in Vijayawada, Guntur and Machilipatnam and has a wide range of students from all backgrounds, belonging to diverse faiths. Most of them are enthusiastic linguists and members of the church.
Hebrew is the language of the Semites and was first used as the medium to write the Bible. Shmuel believes that it is thus, important to learn Hebrew to know the original text. His several trips to Israel and the United States of America were aimed at mastering the language and helping Indians learn it too. His son, Yehoshua, now a citizen of Israel, has decided to follow suit and is busy getting acquainted with the nitty-gritty of Hebrew.
Taking advantage of the revolution in information and technology, Shmuel and his sons decided to offer Hebrew as a correspondence course through Internet and the move drew positive response from many across the world. "We offer material prepared by the best teachers of Hebrew from various countries of the world," says this globetrotter who keeps himself busy attending symposiums and meets on cultural, theological and literary affairs in different parts of the world. A regular visitor to places like Rome, Tokyo, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, Germany, and Paris to discuss the language and the Jewish culture, Hebrew has apparently become a part of this passionate teacher now.
Known as an ancient city, which is the centre of world religions and a hub of political activity, for Shmuel, a stroll in the meandering streets of Jerusalem is like flipping through the pages of the Bible. His eyes light up when he talks about the city. "It's like a second home to me."
The Internet helps him spend time with his `students' counselling and helping them learn Hebrew. Contrary to what history claims he believes that the Telugu languages might have had a connecting link with Hebrew. "Many words, which sound similar in both the languages, mean the same. For example, the word `abbo' exists in Hebrew too and has a similar meaning to that of the English `abbo'. Giving shape to his urge for writing, he authored a book called `Cultural Hermeneutics' revolving around the cultural and linguistic similarities between the Jewish and the Andhraites.
They follow Jewish laws and values in their day-to-day life while their eating habits are strictly guided by the Jewish norms of food and kitchen--the `kosher'. Friends in Israel who often visit his coaching centre at Machilipatnam encourage the family.
Shmuel admires Telugu and his fascination for the `Italian of the East' brought to fore the poet in him. His wife, Jhansi Rani, is the National Director of the Hebrew Open University. All his sons are involved in teaching Hebrew helping their father's endeavour to popularize the language. "Interestingly, most of the foreign languages like Russian, French and German sound close to something like Hebrew," he says with excitement writ large on his face.
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Metro Plus
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