Dr. Cyrus Adler announces the publication by the Dropsie College of Part One of David Kimhi’s Hebrew Grammar (Mikhlol) by Dr. William Chomsky, member of the Faculty of Gratz College in Philadelphia. This famous grammar of Kimhi’s is pointed out by Dr. Chomsky as the culmination of three hundred years of scientific activity in the field of Hebrew grammar, and for the first time this grammar, systematically presented and critically annotated, is made available in the English language.
Not the least interesting part of the grammatical work is Kimhi’s own preface. One passage, in particular, compels the reflection that history repeats itself. “Ever since our ancestors were exiled into foreign countries,” he says, “they forgot the sacred tongue and trained their children and grandchildren to speak the language of the respective nations among whom they dwelt,” and then he goes on to say that he is publishing this grammar in order that “we should take good care of what is left to us of our tongue and do not corrupt or misuse it.”
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