Praise for Previous Works

“Entertaining, erudite, and enjoyable…. The articles are thoughtful, witty, well written and – in many cases – challenge previously held assumptions.” — Jerusalem Post

“We owe Mitchell First our thanks for tackling such questions and broadening our Jewish horizons.” — Lehrhaus

“Mitchell First has produced a groundbreaking study of Jewish intellectual history.” — Professor Sid Z. Leiman

“Mitchell First… combines extensive research into primary sources, the contributions of other contemporary scholars, and his own original ideas to build stronger structures in the pursuit of truth.” — Rabbi Hayyim Angel

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.