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עִם מַבָּט קָדִימָה

While the close of a year is a time to look back, the start of a new one is a time to look ahead.
The Hebrew expression for looking ahead is לִהְיוֹת עִם מַבָּט קָדִימָה  listen – literally, to be with a gaze forward – though the to be part is rarely used.
Instead we have examples such as:
מַבָּט קָדִימָה זֹאת הִסְתַּכְּלוּת בְּרִיאָה.
Looking forward is a healthy outlook.
עִם מַבָּט קָדִימָה לַשָּׁנָה הַחֲדָשָׁה, מְחַכִּים לָנוּ דְּבָרִים טוֹבִים.
Looking ahead at (with a forward look to) the new year, good things are awaiting us.
 
מבט  listen and repeat comes from the causative verb לְהַבִּיט  listen and repeat – to gaze – of the root נ.ב.ט (n.b.t), which has to do with shining – when we gaze at something, it’s as if we’re shining our eyes upon it.
קדימה  listen and repeat means forward – it’s the name of one of Israel’s political parties.
 
עם מבט קדימה is not the expression for I’m looking forward to something or I can’t wait (see other entry).

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Ami Steinberger is founder and director of Ulpan La-Inyan.