Left, North and the Path Forward

The Hebrew word שְׂמֹאל (smol) means “left,” referring to the directional sense (such as the “left hand”). Its origins trace back to the ancient Semitic root ש-מ-ל (S-M-L), which is linked to the concept of the left side.

This connection extends beyond Hebrew. In Arabic, the similar-sounding shimaal (شِمال) also means left. But here’s where it gets interesting: change the diacritical marks, the nikkud, and you get shamaal  (شَّمال), which means ‘north‘!
How did the same word become both ‘left’ and ‘north’?

This reflects the ancient practice, found also in the Jewish tradition, of using east—the direction of the sunrise—as the primary point of orientation. And when facing east, the north is on your left!

In fact, east is also referred to as קֶדֶם (kedem), as in  הַר הַקֶּדֶם (“mountain of the East,” Genesis 10:30). Facing east was considered “forward“–which is the origin of the word קדימה  (kadima)—’forward,’ or in slang ‘let’s go’.

The remarkable similarities between Hebrew and Arabic, along with the shared cultural heritage of Jews and Arabs, point to the only true path forward: a future built not on domination and subjugation but on freedom, dignity, and equality for all people in the region.