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Do Jews have their own language?
The two major languages that are associated with Jews
are Hebrew and Yiddish, though many Sephardic Jews speak
Ladino and Aramaic was once the language of choice for
Ancient Jews. Biblical Hebrew was the language spoken
by the ancient Jews during Biblical times. Jews, throughout
history, learned this language in order to read the Torah
and pray. Yet, until modern Israel was formed, this Hebrew
(Hebrew alphabet is to the right), was mostly a language
reserved for prayer.
Aramaic displaced Biblical Hebrew for the Jews in Ancient
times. Though it is similar to Hebrew, the Ancient Jews
used it instead of Hebrew for everyday life and for scholarly
studies. It was the dominant language of Jews for centuries,
especially for the Babylonian Jews. The language became
so widespread that synagogues provided Hebrew Scriptures
with a translation (a Targum) of Hebrew into Aramaic.
They were much more than just translations, as they included
many interpretations as well. Portions of Ezra and Daniel
and the Dead Sea Scrolls are written in Aramaic.
In Europe, Jews developed Yiddish, which was the common
everyday language of the people. It is mostly a mix of
German and Hebrew used by Jews who preferred to use Hebrew
for praying and studying the Torah. Its influence is apparent
today in such words and expressions as, "Oy vey!"
or "What a Schlep!"
A large number of Sephardic Jews still speak Ladino. As
a Sephardic equivalent to Yiddish, it is a language based
on Spanish with Hebrew elements, like being written in
Hebrew script. When the Jews were expelled from Spain
in 1492, they brought Ladino with them to many Mediterranean
countries, such as Turkey. The language, as well as Sephardic
culture, grew there for centuries. An estimated 150,000
people still speak some Ladino, though the number is steadily
decreasing.
 Eliezer
Ben-Yehuda (left; 1858-1922) sparked the modern revival
of Hebrew. He believed that since Hebrew was the language
of Biblical Israel, that it should be the spoken language
of the Jews in Israel (instead of Yiddish). Ben-Yehuda
sought to modernize the language, and often formed new
words that were nonexistent during the Biblical age. He
succeeded in this monumental task of reviving Hebrew from
a "dead language" and transforming it into the
language of the Jews in Israel.
Yet, despite this, Hebrew is still a language that is
generally relegated to praying and Biblical studies outside
of Israel. Outside of Israel, many Jews are only acquainted
with Hebrew through praying or studying it in preparation
for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Most Jews speak the language
of the country they reside in, and therefore do not use
Hebrew as the Israeli Jews do.
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