Dr. Ludwig Zamenhof
Eliezer Ludwig Zemanhof (Polish: Ludwik Łazarz Zamenhof, Yiddish: Leizer Levi Zamenhof, Esperanto: Ludovico Lazaro Zamenhofo "Ludovico Lazaro Zamenhofo"; December 15 1859 – April 14 1917) was a Jewish-Polish doctor, creator of the language of Esperanto, The purpose of Esperanto is to bring hearts together between people who speak different languages, using a neutral language. Esperanto became the most talked planned language in the world.
His life story
Dr. Ludwig Lejzer Zamenhof ("Ludovico Lazaro Zamenhof"). Born December 15, 1859 in Bialystok on Zielona street in a wooden house on the second floor . The name of the street was changed in 1919 to Ludwig Zamenhof street. Zamenhof died in Warsaw April 14, 1917). He was a firstborn among nine children. His father was a teacher of languages.
Zamenhof spoke Russian with his father (in those years Bialystok belonged to A Russian Empire), Yiddish with his mother. He also learned Polish, which was actually spoken in Bialystok. The majority of the population in Bialystok was Jewish (68%). There was a large population of many other nationalities and that influenced Zamenhoff’s decision that “a bridge language” should be created, purpose of which was to serve as a tool to form a community of people from different cultures and countries and to enable the communication between them and at the same time may solve the conflicts among different groups of people speaking different languages.
In 1873, the family left Bialystok and settled in Warsaw where Zamenhoff tried to create an international language (Lingwe uniwersala).
In 1878 he began studying medicine, became an Ophthalmologist, and continued his work on the international language project.
With the financial help of his father in law he published a book "Lingvo internacia. Anőtparolo kaj plena lernolibro" ("International Language, Introduction and Complete Textbook") under the name of Doctoro Esperanto ("The Hopeful Doctor"), and that became a name of the new language: Esperanto.
For Zamenhof, the new language served not only as a tool communication, but also as a tool to spread the idea of Peace Coexistence among people from different cultures.
In 1888 he published two books on Esperanto: Dua libro de lingvo internaci ( The second book on the international language), and Aldono al la Dua libro (The supplements to the second book). A year later, he published Esperanto-Russian and Esperanto-German dictionaries. He began editing the monthly magazine La Esperantisto published in Nuremberg.
In 1898, Zamenhof returned to Warsaw and opened a private clinic.
Dr. Zamenhof died in Warsaw in April 14 1917, and was buried in The Jewish cemetery in Warsaw. Every year, Esperanto speakers and enthusiasts come to his grave.
In light of Zamenhof’s achievements and his support of intercultural dialogue, UNESCO selected him as one of its eminent personalities of 2017, on the 100th anniversary of his death.