Why “Foreign” Words Matter

Question: Why does it matter if I use “foreign” words?

RAMI: It matters far more than most people realise, because language is not neutral—it is a vessel of identity, memory, and covenant.

When a Jew replaces words like תהלים (Tehillim – Psalms), שמות (Shemot – Names), or דברים (Devarim – Words) with foreign substitutes, he is not merely translating—he is displacing meaning. The Torah was not given in translation. It was given in לשון הקודש (Lashon HaKodesh – the Holy Tongue), and each word carries layers of meaning that cannot be fully transferred into another language without loss.

This is not about accessibility; it is about alignment. A teacher who claims the student “cannot understand” the original terms has already lowered the standard instead of raising the student. The result is a gradual detachment—not only from the language, but from the concepts themselves. Over time, the covenant becomes abstract, distant, and ultimately negotiable.

The Hebrew word is not simply a label—it is the thing itself. תהלים is not just a “book of psalms”; it is a structure of praise rooted in its own linguistic form. שמות is not merely “names”; it is a revelation of identity and essence. When those words are replaced, the depth is flattened, and what remains is a shadow.

This is precisely how assimilation begins—not always through rejection, but through substitution. A community that abandons its language slowly abandons its distinctions, and a people without distinction cannot remain separate. The Torah commands us to be קדוש (Kadosh – separate, holy). Language is one of the primary tools through which that separateness is preserved.

There is also a deeper reality. According to the Holy Zohar, creation itself is formed through Divine speech. Words are not incidental—they are creative forces. When we align our speech with the language of Torah, we align ourselves with that structure. When we replace it, we step outside of it.

This is why the casual use of “foreign” terms is not casual at all. It reflects a shift in allegiance—from the internal language of the covenant to the external language of the nations. And once that shift occurs, everything else becomes easier to redefine.

Using the correct words is not about being rigid—it is about being faithful. It is about preserving the precision, depth, and identity that were given to us, not adapting them to fit a world that was never meant to define us.

In short, it matters because language is not just how we speak—it is how we remain who we are.

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RAMI Q&A is a regular WireNews column addressing questions on Torah, ethics, faith, culture, and the practical challenges of modern life. Each response is grounded in Jewish thought, clarity of reasoning, and fidelity to first principles, offering considered answers rather than opinion or sentiment.

Rabbi Rami ben Ze’ev was previously known as Ram ben Ze’ev. The addition of the letter י represents a personal step of spiritual refinement and deeper alignment with Torah, expressing humility, growth, and a strengthened commitment to the service of G-D. All teachings and writings are now published under this name.

To submit a question, email ask@ramibenzeev.org.