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Writer's pictureThe UAB Team

Backpack, Bag, and How to Carry Them

Every student carries a ילקוט (backpack) on their back, filled with books, notebooks, writing tools, and food. However, the first ילקוט we know of actually contained stones, as it is told about David before his battle with Goliath: "And he chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in the ילקוט" (1 Samuel 17:40). The ילקוט, derived from the root לקט (to gather), was probably a shepherd's bag where they gathered their belongings. In the Middle Ages, ילקוט took on a figurative meaning as a collection of writings, such as the compilation of Midrashim "Yalkut Shimoni." This also led to the term 'ילקוט הכזבים' – a collection of tall tales from the Palmach culture.



In modern Hebrew, the ילקוט is primarily associated with school, whereas the general word is תיק (bag). The word תיק originates from Greek (θήκη, theke) and its basic meaning is a box or container. In rabbinic literature, תיק is mentioned in various contexts: a תיק for tefillin and Torah scrolls, a תיק for musical instruments like lyres and harps, and even a תיק for money – a wallet. In modern Hebrew, the verb תִּיֵּק (to file) was derived from תיק.


Soldiers' bags are called שק חפצים (קיטבג) and ציודן (צ'ימדן). The term 'שק חפצים' has been in use since the first half of the 20th century, while the word 'ציודן' was coined by the Academy of the Hebrew Language's Committee for General Use Words in 2013.


There is no specific verb for putting a תיק on the back or shoulder, but there's no problem using the general verb שָׂם (to put). Similar usages of this verb are found in the sources, for example: "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder" (Genesis 21:14), "Let us put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our heads" (1 Kings 20:31), "Go and buy yourself a linen girdle, and put it upon your loins" (Jeremiah 13:1). If the bag is heavy, one can also use the verb עָמַס (to load) to describe placing it on the back or shoulder.


When putting the תיק on the shoulder, one can use the verb תָּלָה (to hang, as in 'hung it on his shoulder') or the Talmudic verb כִּתֵּף, which means 'to load a burden onto the shoulder.' Such usage is found in the writings of Mendele Mocher Sefarim: "And on the way, he would turn this way and that, looking cautiously like a thief, shouldering his full pack, sometimes on this shoulder, sometimes on that" (The Book of Beggars, 1909). A similar verb in modern Hebrew is הִכְתִּיף, but this verb is specific to weapons – attaching a rifle to the shoulder ("Shoulder arms!").


After placing the תיק on the back, shoulder, or shoulder blade – one simply carries it. Let's wish everyone a smooth carrying experience, and to all students and parents, a successful and peaceful school year.

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