Chosen Peoples

This audio collection brings to life the inaugural lecture of a series created to celebrate the legacy of a pioneering 19th‑century Hebraist. Through vivid storytelling, the speaker traces the scholar’s humble beginnings in a town without a synagogue, his self‑directed mastery of Hebrew, and his lasting contributions to biblical studies and liturgical translation. Listeners are invited to share in his passion for reviving a language once confined to ritual.

The lecture expands the conversation, comparing the rebirth of Hebrew with contemporary efforts to rescue Welsh, Irish, and other endangered tongues. It examines why sacred languages often persist beyond everyday speech, shaping both communal identity and the authority of religious leaders. By the end of the first act, the audience gains a fresh perspective on how language, faith, and culture intertwine, setting the stage for deeper exploration in later talks.