Perhaps more than any other major religious tradition, Judaism is mediated through words. God first

communicates to our forefather Abraham through intelligible speech. Moses brings down from

Mount Sinai tablets inscribed with words

that codify the structure of Jewish moral order. The book of Deuteronomy commands that every Jewish

king write his own Torah scroll. Words. Words adorn the vertical beam of a Jewish doorpost. Words we

affix onto our arms and forehead in prayer.

Through words, we join together a bride and groom in marriage. In the focal center of Jewish prayer,

we repeat the verses of Deuteronomy that command us to inscribe the words of God's teaching on our

heart, that we may teach them diligently unto our children, and the words of God's teaching on our heart, that we may teach them diligently

unto our children. And for millions upon millions of Jews, the study of Jewish text, including

the oral Torah that records the built-up tradition of rabbinic sages mixing their intellect and

creativity, together with our sacred inheritance. The study of these

written words constitutes the holiest activity of all. So perhaps it is not surprising that,

seen in this light, words, letters, the technology and artistry of writing, the vocation

of the sophil, the scribe, deserve an elevated place in our tradition.

The English word calligraphy comes from the Greek callos-graphos, beautiful writing,

and the vast tradition of Hebrew calligraphy offers no small amount of beautiful writing indeed,

words and letters crafted to truly elevate and enhance that meets vote of study

and devotion. Welcome to the Tikva podcast. I'm your host, Jonathan Silver. This week we look at a new

book, a stunning book, The Beauty of the Hebrew Letter by the Sofail Izzy Pledwinski, newly published by

Brandeis University Press. Our conversation wanders a bit,

since Izzy isn't here to defend a particular thesis or argue a particular point, it's a little

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