As unbelievable as this seems, this actually almost became a reality. When the pilgrims aboard the Mayflower set off, their leader and the future governor of the Plymouth Colony William Bradford, studied Hebrew and had a great love of it as a holy language, and when they took a vote over what language was to be used in the new colony, Hebrew lost by one vote. Hebrew was still taught in institutes of higher education during the colonial era. In 1780, due to strong anti-British feeling, some Congressmen apparently seriously suggested that English be banned and Hebrew become the official language.
Suppose these proposals had come through. How would a Hebrew-speaking America have evolved?
Suppose these proposals had come through. How would a Hebrew-speaking America have evolved?
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