Education: Lightning Before My Eyes

How one obsessed visionary brought a dead language to life

Like some of the wilder prophets of the Old Testament—like Hosea or Micah or perhaps Jeremiah—Eliezer Perelman was a visionary possessed by one irresistible idea. He even spoke once of the transcendent moment in which it came to him: "Suddenly, like lightning before my eyes, my thoughts flew across the Balkans . . . to Palestine, and I heard a . . voice calling to me: The revival of Israel and its language in the land of its forefathers!"

Who was Eliezer Perelman to hear...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!