Author Description

Words for the Wise contains sixty-two short articles on Hebrew, Holidays, History and Liturgy. On Liturgy, 8 articles, including the origin of and insights into Shalom Aleikhem, Anim Zemirot, and Maoz Tzur. On Holidays, 9 articles, including the origin of the recital of Le-David Hashem Ori, the underlying meanings of the words lulav, atzeret, and Pesaḥ, and the background to the Fast of Gedaliah. On History, 18 articles, including a history of the city of Acco, and on the lives of Rashbam, Judah Touro, Golda Meir, and Yigael Yadin, and on an important manuscript of Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. On Hebrew, 27 articles, including insights into the roots ישן ,חול ,זמר ,זהר and רגע, the etymology of the word ממזר, the meaning of כתונת פסים, and interesting words in Hallel.<br/><br/>Mitchell First has a J.D. from Columbia Law School and an M.A. in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. He has published articles on Jewish history and liturgy in periodicals such as Biblical Archaeology Review, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Ḥakirah and AJS Review. He resides in Teaneck, N.J., and is a personal injury attorney in New York City. His previous books include Links to Our Legacy: Insights into Hebrew, History, and Liturgy (2021), Roots and Rituals: Insights into Hebrew, Holidays, and History (2018) and Esther Unmasked: Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy (2015). He is presently a regular columnist for the Jewish Link.