Ratings and Reviews
Philip Lanning
This course was excellent. It was organized very well and the classes were immersive and engaging. The teachers were knowledgable and interactive and they made learning Biblical Hebrew fun. From the very first class we began speaking the language and reading the Biblical text. The online format was great and I made new friends from around the world. I highly recommend this course!
Paul Campbell
This course was a phenomenal experience and the method of learning was very helpful. The teachers were all excellent and accessible. The course material was all relevant, though the process of completing and uploading the homework was unclear for a little while. One change that would be helpful would be for the Vocabulary file to be aleph-betical or alphabetical instead of organized by class.
Timothy Shaw
The class was an immersive experience. The instructors were knowledgeable and enjoyable to work with. I had very little experience in Hebrew before the class, but now I have a workable foundation to continue learning. The learning experience was varied. It used technology and relationship as a powerful combination. It far exceeded the model of learning that was used when I learned Koine Greek.
Biblical Hebrew as a Living Language (Level 1)
Speaking, Reading and Writing
SH BHLL 101 4 Credits*
Using the unique and cutting edge immersion method for Biblical Hebrew instruction, this course will sharpen and greatly expand the student’s ability to engage with the original Hebrew texts of the Bible. Taught by native Hebrew speaking Israelis that have graduated from Jerusalem Seminary’s School of Hebrew: Hebrew for the Nations teacher’s course, students will receive an holistic method, exposing them to language and culture simultaneously. These methods dramatically improve flow in the reading and translation of Biblical Hebrew.
Course Instructors: Two certified JS School of Hebrew: Hebrew for the Nations Israeli teachers.
Class Times: The course meets live for two one and a half hour sessions each week (on Mondays and Wednesdays) for 15 weeks, starting October 18th 2021 through January 26th 2022. The sessions will be recorded and made available in the days following the classes for those who cannot make the live sessions.
• Mondays & Wednesdays: 9:00-10:30 AM Eastern Time (4:00-5:30 PM Jerusalem Time)
Course description: This Beginner’s Biblical Hebrew class is immersive and contextual: serious about learning the language but in an enjoyable way. Learn to speak, read and write Biblical Hebrew! Key verses and phrases from the Hebrew Bible will be our guide.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Recognize and use the most common vocabulary in the Hebrew Bible in various contexts and forms.
• Identify basic linguistic structures, including noun and adjective endings, verb roots, conjugations, and parts of speech.
• Communicate simple thoughts and ideas, describe scenes, and ask comprehension questions, all in basic spoken Biblical Hebrew.
• Recite several verses from the Hebrew Bible from memory (e.g. Psalm 117) and know a few common Hebrew blessings.
• Know Hebrew songs based on Biblical Hebrew.
• Know (in Hebrew!) basic regions, cities, and land features of the Hebrew Bible that provide crucial tacit information for the reader of the Tanakh.
Requirements: Attendance of the course sessions and timely completion of assignments and quizzes.
Please Note: The Topics below may be presented in a different order, or changed according to the discretion of the course staff.
*Jerusalem Seminary (JS) courses are engagingly academic and taught by experts in their field living in Israel. While JS’ courses are not externally accredited, they can be taken for internal JS credit. Any internal JS credit will accrue and at a later time would hopefully, through articulation agreements and accreditation bodies, receive official accreditation; a process that JS is beginning.
This is a great immersive course and introduction into understanding Hebrew. All the teachers demonstrated patience and complete knowledge of the material. I’m very thankful for this course and the team that put it together!