HaZvi (newspaper)

"HaZvi" (Lang-he|הצבי also "Hatzevi") was a Hebrew language newspaper published in Jerusalem by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, a leading pioneer of the revival of Hebrew as a spoken tongue, from 1884 to 1914.

The first issue of "HaZvi" was published on October 24, 1884. It began as a weekly paper and eventually developed into a daily. [ "Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel," Eliezer Ben Yehuda, pp. 123-124, Herzl Press & Magraw Hill, 1971]

"HaZvi" revolutionized Hebrew newspaper publishing in Jerusalem by introducing secular issues and techniques of modern journalism, especially after Itamar Ben-Avi, Ben-Yehuda's son, joined the paper. Influenced by the French press, Ben-Avi brought in sensational headlines and a style of reporting that differed from newspapers of the old school. "HaZvi " became the organ of the New Yishuv (pre-state Jewish community), as the first Jewish agricultural colonies were founded. The paper included translations of French literature (previously only German literature had appeared in translation) and original Hebrew prose. The need for Hebrew words to report the daily news prompted Ben-Yehuda to begin his lifelong project of compiling a Hebrew dictionary. All this fit in with the Hebraist ideology that was on the rise. [ Encyclopedia Judaica, "Newspapers, Hebrew," vol. 12, Keter Books, Jerusalem, 1978]

In 1908, the name of the paper was changed to "HaOr" ("The Light") due to licensing restrictions. [ Encyclopedia Judaica, "Newspapers, Hebrew," vol. 12, Keter Books, Jerusalem, 1978]

The paper was banned by the Ottoman government during the First World War due to its proposals for a Jewish homeland.

References

Bibliography

* Robert St. John. "Tongue of the Prophets", Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York, 1952. ISBN 0-8371-2631-2

External links

* [http://jnul.huji.ac.il/dl/newspapers/hazevi/html/hazevi.htm Archived issues of "HaZvi"] he icon