Well guessed, Joe. It's Semitic languages. Had to do Arabic, Ge'ez (old Ethiopic), Amarinya (Modern Ethiopic), Epigraphic South Arabic, and Biblical Hebrew. Learned a little bit Ivrit also by the way.
I wouldn't call Harry a semitist - and never infamous -, but a wonderful singer. I haven't heard him sing in Hebrew or Yiddish, but I'm afraid there is always an American accent sounding through, especially with the vowels.

Oh, I had forgotten to wish you a happy new year, and thanks for all the important work you do for the MC.

Wilfried