Although yod is the smallest Hebrew letter (similar to the Greek iota ı),** its ancient form was much larger, looking more like yad “hand” (from shoulder to middle finger). It is the most frequent ...

Ron Kalom writes from Taos, N.M., to ask: “Dos pintele yid? Dos pintele yud? Dos pintele yod? Which one is correct, and how does one translate this Yiddish idiom?” Let’s take these words one by one.

J, like I, came from the Hebrew yod. It too was an arm, wrist and hand that diminished and rotated over time, but poor J did not fare as well. In the tumble, J broke its wrist, making the bend. J was ...

A valuable contribution to Judaica of particular interest to Jewish communities in English speaking countries was made with the publication of the first volume of an English translation of Maimonides’ ...