In Hebrew: 'Focus'

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May 20, 2013, 11 AM ET

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לְהִתְרַכֵּז

I learned today from a LinkedIn article that it's important for a business leader to focus in order to succeed. The truth is, focusing - putting our energy into something - is what makes things move in the world. The Hebrew word for to focus or to concentrate is לְהִתְרַכֵּז

. The root of this reflexive-intensive הִתְפַּעֵל verb is ר.כ.ז (r.k.z). It's the same root as the word for center - מֶרְכָּז

. An example:

הִיא מִתְרַכֶּזֶת כְּשֶׁהִיא עוֹבֶדֶת. She focuses when she works.

Concentration or focus is רִכּוּז

, while focused is מְרֻכָּז

in the masculine and מְרֻכֶּזֶת

in the feminine. For example:

בְּרֶגַע זֶה אֲנִי לֹא מְרֻכָּז, אָבָל אֲנִי בְּאֶמֶת רוֹצֶה לְהַקְשִׁיב לָךְ. At this moment I'm not focused, but I really do want to listen to you (a female).

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