Goodbye

Lehitraot is the standard Hebrew farewell, and its literal meaning reveals a beautiful optimism: 'until we see each other again.' Built from the reflexive verb lehitraot (to be seen mutually), it assumes that parting is temporary and reunion is certain. This stands in contrast to the finality implied by some farewells in other languages. The word belongs to the hitpael verb form, which in Hebrew indicates reciprocal action — seeing each other, not just being seen. This grammatical detail reflects a core Jewish value: relationships are mutual, and true seeing requires both parties to be present and engaged. In Israeli culture, goodbyes are rarely brief. A typical Israeli farewell involves multiple rounds of lehitraot, often accompanied by kisses on both cheeks, extended conversations at the door, and at least one 'wait, one more thing' after the initial goodbye. The warmth of Israeli social culture means that lehitraot is less a conclusion and more a pause in an ongoing conversation. While shalom can also mean goodbye, lehitraot is considered the more standard farewell in modern Hebrew. Other informal options include yalla bye (mixing Arabic yalla with English bye), which perfectly captures the multicultural linguistic landscape of contemporary Israel.