how to say “generously” in Hebrew

Languages in general often make use of concrete images to express abstract ideas – we call this figurative language.


Here’s a beautiful example from Hebrew.


Imagine a woman sitting on a park bench on a cool autumn day, enjoying a sandwich. As she watches the chirping birds skipping down from the trees onto the green slopes, the figure of a small boy passing by her interrupts her reverie. Glancing at the boy, the woman sees a frail figure with stooped shoulders making its way through the park.

“Orphan Boy” statue at Ireland Park, Toronto

The woman’s heart sinks… and then opens up.


She calls to the boy, “Are you hungry? Come over here. I’ve got something for you.” With caution but with desperate hope, the boy approaches this woman who smiles at him graciously and introduces herself. From her handbag, the woman pulls out her lunchbox, opens it up, and hands him its contents. She asks him his name, to which he responds that it is David, and that he is an orphan…

To give generously, in Hebrew, is לָתֵת בְּיָד רְחָבָה (lah-TET beh-YAHD reh-khah-VAH) – literally, to give with a wide hand.


Now being the time of the Jewish high holy days, ’tis the season.