In this interview, host Orly Benny Davis speaks with Rabbi Ruven Kim Klene about his two books, focusing primarily on "Lashon Kodesh: History and Holiness in Hebrew." Rabbi Klene explains why Hebrew is considered the "holy tongue," citing the views of Maimonides (it lacks profane words) and Nachmanides (it is God's language of creation and prophecy). He describes Hebrew as a powerful spiritual tool where words possess inherent meaning, magnifying the impact of both commandments and sins. The discussion also touches upon his second book, "God versus Gods," which frames the biblical narrative as a polemic against idolatry—the struggle between monotheism and the concept of polytheism. Rabbi Klene connects these themes through a prophecy from Zephaniah, suggesting that in the messianic era, the world will adopt Hebrew as a universal language, symbolizing a unified worship of the one true God.
The Holiness and Power of the Hebrew Language
0:30 Introduction to Rabbi Ruven Kim Klene and His Two Books: The Rabbi clarifies that he has authored two distinct books: "God versus Gods: Judaism in the Age of Idolatry" and "Lashon Kodesh: History and Holiness in Hebrew."
1:47 The Meaning of "Lashon Kodesh" (The Holy Tongue): The conversation centers on the Hebrew language. The book explores both its history—from creation and Abraham to its modern revival—and its inherent holiness.
3:15 Hebrew as the Language of Creation: According to Jewish tradition, God used the Hebrew language and letters as the building blocks to create the world. Consequently, Hebrew words are not arbitrary but have an intrinsic connection to the concepts they represent; for example, the word davar means both "word" and "thing."
4:16 Why Hebrew is Considered Holy: Two primary rabbinic explanations are provided:
Maimonides: The language is holy because it is pure and lacks specific, vulgar terms for profane subjects.
Nachmanides: It is the language of the "Holy One" (God), which He used for creation and to speak to the prophets.
5:35 A Powerful Spiritual Tool: Due to its divine origin, speaking Hebrew is a potent spiritual act. Using it to perform a mitzvah (commandment) magnifies its significance, while using it for sinful speech (like slander) is a grave misuse of God's own tool.
7:03 Importance for Authentic Bible Study: Rabbi Klene states that for anyone wishing to study the Bible with intellectual honesty, reading it in the original Hebrew is essential to grasp its true, intended meaning without the filter of translation.
8:19 The Theme of "God versus Gods": The Rabbi briefly explains his other book, stating that its title reflects the central narrative of the Bible: the ideological battle between the one, true God (monotheism) and the pagan concept of multiple gods (polytheism).
9:54 A Prophecy of Universal Language: He connects the two topics by citing a prophecy from Zephaniah that in the Messianic era, the world will speak one "clear language." Many commentators interpret this as Hebrew, symbolizing a future where all of humanity recognizes and worships the one God.
10:51 How to Find the Books: Rabbi Klene provides his email, historyofhebrew@gmail.com, for inquiries. He notes that "Lashon Kodesh" is nearly sold out and he is seeking sponsors for a third edition.