Israelis pick ‘homecoming’ as Hebrew word of the year
In annual vote celebrating Hebrew Language Day, ‘habaita’ is public’s favorite, after return of all living hostages and all but one of the deceased
By Times of Israel staff
Israelis chose the Hebrew word for “homecoming” as the word of the year, the Academy of the Hebrew Language announced Thursday.
The Academy asked the public for suggestions for words that summarized the previous year, offering 10 candidate words. Thousands of members of the public responded, with habaita — meaning “homecoming” or “homeward,” — coming in first, with 25 percent.
The word symbolized the return of all hostages from Gaza, with the exception of Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, whose body remains in the Strip.
It also symbolized the return home of some residents of towns near the Gaza and Lebanon borders that were ravaged or otherwise evacuated amid the multifront war, amid hope for the return of the rest, the Academy said in a Facebook post.