Dear Language Enthusiast,
Greetings from Transparent Language! As we approach the year 2000, many
questions arise around the issues of Y2K, as well as cultural and religious responses to
the new millennium. Here at Transparent Language, Inc. we thought this would be a good
opportunity for you to look at a contemporary topic and how Israel is managing it.
Included below is an article dedicated to interesting Y2K issues in Israel such as
computer bugs and the expected influx of visitors.
You will also find tips for using Languages of the World appended to the articles.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
Lamrot sheyrov hayisraeylim lo yakhgeygu eyt siyum haeyleyf, hahakhamot sheyl yisraeyl
likrat khagigot shvat alpayim, al yedey hama-arav, heym mimratsot beyofeym maftia. Asakim
veyhamenshala mirteymu lekhakh bemeyreyts, heym biglal sibot yeshamot, keymuma veheym
biglal sibot khadashot keteykhnologia.
Haekhad beyanuar, 2000, yakhul bakhodesh hareyvi'ei shel shnat 5760 al pi haluakh
haivri, veylikrat sof shnat 1420 al pi haluakh hamusleymi. Mikol makom, motsrim rabim
bokharim lehatkhil et shnat alpayim, ba'aliya lereygeyl lamkomot hakdoshim kegon:
Bet-lekhem, natseyreyt virushalayim. Misrad latayarun hayisraeyli hakhriz eyt yisraeyl
ka"ya-ad harishmi sheyl hamileynyum." Tsfuyim leyhagiya lesham ke-4 milyon
mmevakrim, asheyr yishtatfu byoter mimey-ah eyrulim, hametukmamim lestiyum alpayim. Shamim
lehuleydeyt yeshu bveyt-leykhem. Hameymshala hayisraeylit moketet beymstaim meyukhadim
kedey levadey sheykol haeyruim yisha-aru khagigiyim. Hi heykima koakh meyukhad sheytafkido
lezahot kvutsot datiyont kitsomiyot, asheyr yeymasu leyhakdim eyt milkheymeyt Gog-Umagog
al yeydey hasata o al yedey mekita be-emtsaey alimut. Beyisraeyl, hadeyaga labitekhon hi
ba-alat khashivut raba. Hamevakrim yihyu tsfuyim livdikot bitkhomiyot kapdaniyot.
Kemo-kheyn, yimaktu eymtsaey bitakhon nosafim leyad hamekomot hakdoshim, kekhol sheyshnat
alpayim mitkareyveyt.
Deaga raba nova-at meyhaeyum sheyl pigmey Y2K bamakhsheyvim. Yisraeyl hina akhat
hamedinot hamovilot behay-tek. Khokrim mikvutsat gertneyr, deyrgu ota kamedina hakhamishit
baolam mibkhinat hakhanata le-Y2K. Uvda zu lo manah behayot asher tsatsu veyalu, beyikhud
avur meshaleym hamisim hayisraeyli.
Be-eykhad beyanuar, im tkhilat snat haksafim hakhadasha, heykhlitu shiltomot hamas
lehatkhil lehishtamesysh betokhna khadasha sheymateyma le-Y2K. Aval heym hivkhinu bimhirut
sheyhatokhna higiah meyukhar. meyakhar sheyhameymshala lo yakhla leyhanpik tofsey nikoy
likviat tashlum hamas, hama-asikim nidreshu lanakot 50% miskhar haovdim. Beikvot tlunot
rabot sheyl ba-aley hamaskorot, haykheylu harashuyot leyhanpik tfasim haktuvim bayad.
Davar hamokhiyakh sheyafilu am sheykvar ra-a khatsi treysar mileyniya kholfim, yakhol
lirot et shnat alpayim kemisayon meyik.
In English:
Although the majority of Israelis will not be celebrating a millennium, Israel's
preparations for the west's upcoming year 2000 celebration are surprisingly spirited.
Business and government alike are gearing up - for reasons as old as faith and as new as
technology.
January 1, 2000, will occur four months into the year 5760 of the Jewish calendar, and
towards the end of the Islamic year 1420. However, many Christians are choosing to begin
the year 2000 with pilgrimages to holy sites such as Bethlehem, Nazareth or Jerusalem. The
Israeli Ministry of Tourism is billing Israel as "The official destination of the
millennium," and some 4 million visitors are expected to attend more than 100 planned
events commemorating the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
The Israeli government is taking precautions to ensure that all events remain cause for
celebration. A special task force has been set up to identify religious extremists who may
try to usher in Armageddon by inciting or committing acts of violence. Travelers should
note that security concerns, always paramount in Israel, may result in screening of
visitors and additional security at holy sites as 2000 approaches.
A far newer concern is the threat of Y2K computer bugs. Israel's leadership in
high-tech industry earned it a 1998 rating as the world's fifth-most-prepared country for
Y2K, according to researchers at the Gartner Group. But that hasn't kept problems from
cropping up - most notably for Israeli taxpayers.
With a new fiscal year starting January 1, tax officials planned to launch Y2K
compliant software this year. But when the software arrived late, Israelis noticed in a
hurry. Since the government could not generate the tax-deduction forms that determine
withholding, employers were required to withhold 50% of workers' pay. Only when complaints
poured in from angry wage earners did authorities began issuing handwritten forms, proving
that even a land that has seen half a dozen millennia go by can find the year 2000 a
taxing experience.
Sources:
National Public Radio, All Things Considered, January 12, 1999
USA Today, March 9, 1999
Globes Publishers
Tips for Languages of the World
The following are some hints to help maximize your use of Languages of the World.
Don't miss the Grammar information in the Grammar Window in the lower right-hand corner of
the screen! This window tells you the part of speech of the selected word in the Title,
along with other information.
Languages of the World also includes a special Grammar Basics file to help you focus on
grammar. To open it, choose 'Reference / Grammar Basics' to see the first page of Grammar
Basics, or select a word in the Title, click the 'Word Tools' button, and select a grammar
topic which applies to that word to go directly to the appropriate topic.
