Learn all about Hebrew Book Week
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Israel Series at HebrewPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Israeli holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 20, Hebrew Book Week. |
| Hebrew Book Week - שבוע הספר (shvu’a haseffer) is celebrated every year, during the month of June. Throughout the week, book fairs are held in many towns where various cultural activities meant for all ages are held. |
| Let’s learn about the week when books become our heroes. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| Can you guess how many books are published each year in Israel? |
| If you don't already know, keep listening! The answer will be revealed at the end of this lesson! |
| A Jewish proverb reads as follows, “One who possesses many books possesses great wisdom”. Books occupy a dignified status in Jewish culture because of the unique role of the written word - המילה הכתובה (hamila hactuva), and because of the significant role of Jewish literature in shaping Hebrew culture and society in the Land of Israel. |
| Bracha Pla’i, who founded the Masada Publishing House, inaugurated the first “Hebrew Book Week” in 1926. The first event took place on Rothschild Avenue, in Tel Aviv- שדרות רוטשילד, תל אביב (sderot rotchild), and lasted for one day. On that day, leisure reading books were sold at big discounts. These events were conducted every other year until 1961. Since then, Hebrew Book Week has been held simultaneously all over the country every summer. |
| The week’s activities, which are conducted all over the country, include new and used book fairs, meetings with authors, special activities in public libraries, and activities for children and young adults, like story hour, writing workshops, street performances, and more. During Hebrew Book Week, the Sapir Award Ceremony - טקס פרס ספיר (Pras sapir)—which awards a larger financial prize than any other literary prize—is held as well. |
| Since 1996, Hebrew Book Week activities have also been conducted in the Haredi sector - המגזר החרדי (hamigzar ha’haredi). Book fairs are held in Haredi towns, where only books tied to Torah study are sold. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Can you guess how many books are published in Israel each year? |
| Every year, 4,200 new books are published in Israel. Every year, 34 million books are sold in Israel, which include 17 million books for leisure, reference, and encyclopedias. Most of the remaining books are textbooks. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? What was the last Hebrew book you read? |
| Leave a comment letting us know at HebrewPod101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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