Tevet, Palindromes, and the Ceasefire in Gaza

( The Times of Israel ) – On the occasion of the ceasefire in Gaza, let’s reflect on the current Hebrew month of Tevet: This word is a linguistic treat—it’s the only month that forms a palindrome, a word or phrase that reads the same backward and forward.

However, in Hebrew, this palindrome magic doesn’t hold up because the two “T” sounds in טֵבֵת come from two different letters: ט (tet) and ת (tav).

This begs the question: Why does the Hebrew alphabet have two letters for the same sound?

It turns out, they didn’t always sound identical! In ancient Hebrew, much like modern Arabic, these letters had distinct pronunciations:

ת (tav):

corresponds to the Arabic ت (tā) and has a, plain soft “T” sound like in the English word ‘top.’

ט (tet):

corresponds to the Arabic ط (ṭā) which has a heavy, emphatic “T” sound. It is pronounced with a deeper resonance, involving the throat and with more pressure on the tongue.

Over time, these subtle differences faded in most Hebrew dialects, merging the two sounds into one.

A great example is the Arabic word طَيِّب (ṭayyib), meaning “good” or “pleasant,” which parallels the Hebrew word טוֹב (tov) with the same meaning. Incidentally, it appears in our parsha this week – describing baby Moses:

“וַתֵּרֶא אֹתוֹ כִּי טוֹב הוּא”

“when she [his mother] saw how good/beautiful he was…” (Exodus 2:2)

Credit: ChatGPT

Both words not only share similar roots and meanings but also preserve the use of the emphatic “T” sound represented by ط in Arabic and ט in Hebrew, showing their shared Semitic roots.

The palindrome of Tevet symbolizes the desire for balance and harmony, much like the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Palestinians for this ceasefire to bring an end to the war on the Palestinians in Gaza, and the safe release of all the hostages.

But a palindrome symbolizes much more than a general wish for harmony and peace: you get what you give. If you give human rights and equality to all people living under your control, you get peaceful relations between different communities—even when they have vastly differing narratives. Benjamin Franklin summed up the connection between giving liberty and living in safety when he said:

Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Reprinted from The Times of Israel with the author’s permission