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Hebrew From Right to Left

Question

Why is Hebrew written and read from right to left?

Answer

Fascinating question. Perhaps I should just say that I don’t know! But I’ll mention something that might help. In the world of Torah understanding, right is always associated with mercy (“chesed”, “rachamim”), and left with judgment (“din”). No value judgments here; both are essential to the functioning of the world, and both are good. But in terms of the way things run, we always need mercy to come first. The world couldn’t exist any other way.

Best wishes,
Michoel Reach

Answered in cooperation with STAR-K Kosher Certification, Baltimore, MD