The Fascinating and Multifaceted 3,300-year Evolution and Regenesis of Hebrew

The Vilnius Jewish Public Library invites you to a lecture by professor Ghilad Zuckerman called “The Fascinating and Multifaceted 3,300-year Evolution and Regenesis of Hebrew” in English with simultaneous Lithuanian translation.

After centuries as a liturgical and literary medium, Hebrew underwent a dramatic transformation in the modern era. The lecture will shed light on its unprecedented revival in the early 20th century driven by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and others who saw language as central to cultural and national identity.

Professor Zuckermann will lead us on a journey through the history of Hebrew from its emergence after the conquest of Canaan, through its prominence during the Iron Age kingdoms of Israel and Judah, to its decline and [alleged] eventual disappearance as a spoken language by AD 100 (2nd century CE).

Key highlights include the story of a 3,700-year-old inscription–the earliest known Canaanite sentence–and the complex interplay of languages such as Yiddish in shaping modern Israeli Hebrew. Engaging, informative and rich with historical insight, this talk is ideal for anyone interested in linguistics, Jewish heritage and the dynamic forces behind language revival.

Ghilad Zuckermann, PhD, is a leading linguist, revivalist and founder of the field of Revivalistics, which explores language reclamation and revitalization globally. Listed among Australia’s top 30 “living legends of research” by the Australian (2024), he is the author of several acclaimed books, including Revivalistics (Oxford University Press, 2020) and Israelit Safa Yafa (2008). He received the Rubinlicht Prize for his outstanding contribution to Yiddish scholarship in 2023.

The event is free and open to the public, but the library requests you register here.

Time: 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 3
Place: Vilnius Jewish Public Library, Gedimino prospect no. 24, Vilnius
Duration: ~2 hours