Hava Nedaber lvrit: Am Yisrael, Torah Indivisible By NIRA LEV Each month in this space, L'Chayim will present a Hebrew lesson entitled, "Hava Nedaber Ivrit!" (Let's Speak Hebrew), whose aim is to encourage further study of Hebrew. The lesson will include a brief story utilizing the Hebrew words to be studied and a vocabulary list with English translations. The lessons will be prepared by Nira Lev, associate professor of Hebrew language and literature at the Midrasha College of Jewish Studies. Mrs. Lev also teaches Hebrew language and literature at the Community Jewish High School at the United Hebrew Schools. Following is this month's lesson: Like other Jewish chagim, Shavuot is not only a religious and historical chag, but it is also related to tevah, to agriculture. Shavuot is one of the three pilgrimages, Shalosh Regalim, designated in the Tanach, the other two being Sukkot and Pesach. On these chagim, in biblical times, oley regel flocked to Yerushalayim from arba kanfot ha'aretz. On Shavuot, also called Chag Ha'bikkurim, or Chag Hakatzir, the farmers brought their bikkurim to Beit Ha'mikdash. These bikkurim, the first fruit, included the seven varieties, shiv'at ha'minim, for which Yisrael is known: cheetah, seorah, anavim, t'eynim, rimonim, zeitim and t'marim. Shavuot also has a religious, historical aspect: our masoret tells us that Aseret Ha'dibrot were given to Bnei Yisrael on Har Sinai on the sixth day of chodesh Sivan, on Shavuot. It is called Z'man Matan Torateynu, or Chag Matan Torah. The word "Shavuot" means "weeks" and it refers to the fact that this chag occurs seven weeks after Pesach. In biblical times, on the second day of Pesach, a measure of barley, called omer was brought as an offering to Beit Ha'mikdash. From that day on'the Torah commands us to count shiv'ah shavuot or 49 yamim, and the 50th day of this period is Shavuot. This counting is called "S'firat Ha'omer" and the period between Pesach and Shavuot is known as "S'firah." In Israel, the celebration of Shavuot combines all the aspects of the chag. In Israel Shavuot marks the beginning of a new season, kayitz, and it is celebrated with special chagigot in every belt sefer. The children wear b'gadim I'vanim like the kohanim in Beit Ha'mikdash, with zerim made of fresh p'rachim on their heads. They bring salim full of perot to school which are later distributed to the poor. The most beautiful chagigot take place on the kibbutzim, where, because of its agricultural nature Shavuot is a central chag. All the chaverim of the kibbutz gather around the central bama outdoors, and enjoy a beautiful tekes of celebrating the first fruit of kayitz. in every beit knesset, and in all schools, "Megillat Ruth" is read. This is the seepur of Ruth the Moabite who accepted God and the Torah and joined the Jewish people. It is appropriate to read this story on the chag that celebrates Matan Torah. Ruth is believed to be the great-grandmother of David Ha'melech and Shavuot marks both the day of birth and death of David. Megillat Ruth also takes place during the katzir of the kayitz and thus is tied to the agricultural aspect of the chag. Shavuot is another chag that shows us how Am Yisrael, the Torah and Eretz Yisrael are one and indivisible. Meelon (Dictionary) holidays, festivals chagim a holiday, a festival chag nature tevah The Bible The Tanach pilgrims oley regel the four arba kanfot ha'aretz corners of the earth the first fruit bikkurim harvest katzir The Temple Beit Ha'mikdash wheat cheetah barley seorah grapes anavim figs t'eynim pomegranates rimonim olives zeitim dates t'marim tradition masoret The Ten Commandments Har Sinai Mount Sinai Z'man Matan Torateynu .The time of giving of our Torah Matan Torah .The giving of the Torah seven weeks shiv'ah shavuot days yamim counting s'firah summer kayitz celebrations chagigot school beit sefer clothes b'gadim white I'vanim priests kohanim wreathes zerim flowers p'rachim baskets salim fruit perot members chaverim a stage, a platform bama a ceremony tekes synagogue beit knesset a story seepur scroll megillah Aseret Ha'dibrot s vit a e' Sandek Was People's Advocate P ■ By BETTY PROVIZER STARKMAN Sandek, as a family name originates from the Hebrew word for godfather — "sandek." This name was adopted by a respected member of the Jewish community who often acted as an advocate or emissary for his people. Scattered Seeds, Chicago, 1986, by Dr. George Sackheim, has references to an Indiana family bearing this name. Pomerantz/Pomerance, is a name of Ashkenazic origin. It denotes that an ancestor was either a grower or seller of oranges. The Encyclopedia Judaica (New York and Jerusalem 1971), has an article about the Polish poet, Berl Pomerantz. The name Selnik/Celnik, could have originated from the Polish work celnik, meaning "custom's house official." Its origins could also be from the Yiddish, tselnik, meaning "haberdasher." The surname Spitz, could be of geographic origin. It may have been adopted in Germany by someone who lived near a pointed hill. Spitz in German means "pointed." The name could also stem from the Yiddish, Shpitsn, meaning "lace," and taken by a family producing or selling lace. The source of the Sephardic family name Kordova/Cordoba, is geographic. It denotes residence in the ancient Spanish city of Cordova. Moses Maimonides was born in Cordova in the year 1135. The synagogue where he worshipped as a youngster has been partially restored and renamed Rambam Synagogue. The Jewish Encyclopedia, has two biographies from 17th century and 18th century Holland and Germany. The name Mirski, is of Eastern Ashkenazic root. In Polish mir means "peace." This is a descriptive family name taken by a respectful peaceful ancestor. The name may also be of geographic origin and may have been adopted by a former resident of the city of Mir, located in Belorussia. Smetana is a name of Eastern Ashkenazic root and probably adopted by a family who lived in Czechoslovakia. In Czech, smetana means "soured cream." This name was probably used by a producer or seller of soured cream. Bonner is an Ashkenazic family name adapted from the German, dormer, "thunder." It is one of the many ornamental surnames taken from the natural phenomena that surrounds us. Klayman is of Eastern Ashkenazic root and of occupational origin. In Yiddish kley means "glue." The surname Klayman was thus taken by a maker or seller of glue. The family name Wortman stems from the Yiddish, "haltn vort" or to keep one's word. This was then a nickname for a very trustworthy person. Betty Provizer Starkman is the past president and founder of the genealogical branch of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Sivan Why was the Torah given during the month of Sivan and not earlier? A midrash says that the zodiac sign of Nisan is a lamb, and the sign of lyar is an ox, neither of which can praise the Torah. But the sign of Sivan is twins, and twins are human, and have mouths to speak with, hands to clap together, and feet for dancing. Mt. Sinai The name Sinai is from the Hebrew word sneh, meaning thorn bush. Such bushes grow in abundance on the desert mountain. It was out of such a (burning) bush that God first appeared to Moses, urging him to lead the Jewish people out of Egyptian slavery. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 53