Biblical Hebrew is the language of the Hebrew Bible. Written and composed over centuries during the 1st millennium B.C., the Hebrew Bible is widely considered the greatest literary achievement of the ancient Near East. Written mostly in Hebrew, it covers a vast range of literary genres and historical accounts. Covering a time span of centuries, a set of beliefs and practices, and unforgettable human figures.
All courses are taught using The Polis Method which immerses students in the target language from the very first class which allows learning in a more natural way. The Polis Method focuses on total immersion and speech fluency and we believe helps students acquire the language quicker than the traditional grammar translation method.
In this course students will be fully immersed into the language from the very first lesson in all four major linguistic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The only language to be used in the classroom from the first moment will be Biblical Hebrew: verses from the Bible will be introduced from the beginning stages of the course, analyzed and discussed in Hebrew. Students will command each other in biblical Hebrew, as if they were King Solomon himself!
No prior knowledge is expected from the students, as the alphabet, grammar and vocabulary will be gradually taught and assimilated.
The Bible opens up to us a world deeply rooted in human history, sometimes very different from ours, often difficult to understand. It is one of the aims of this course, to get the students acquainted not only with this ancient language, but also with biblical civilization: the geography of ancient Israel and the ancient Near East, basic concepts, beliefs and practices of the ancient Israelites, their social structures, their kings, prophets, judges and priests, their genealogies, as well as their enemies.
As the Hebrew Bible is considered by Jews and Christians to be inspired by God, these texts will be studied with the utmost respect to the faith of each one.
By the end of the 5th semester (a total of 300 academic hours) students are expected to be able to handle a text of classical prose without an excessive use of a dictionary.
The textbook used in this course was written especially for these purposes by Eyal Nahum.
Open
Oct 11, 2023 – Feb 7, 2024
4 Months
Jerusalem
100 Academic Hours
Tuesday/Thursday 14:00-16:45 will start on 10/10
ILS 2,550
Students will study the basic morphology and vocabulary of the language using The Polis Method. They will gain the ability to hold a very simple conversation in Biblical Hebrew and to understand directly, without relying on translation, a selection of very simple excerpts from the Bible. Special focus will be put on (gradually) learning the alphabet and on the correct reading of the texts and exercises in the textbook. The final grade will be comprised of a homework, attendance and class participation quizzes, and an oral assignment.
60 Academic Hours
Tuesday/Thursday 11:15-12:45 will start on 10/10
ILS 1,950
Registration is based on a placement test or completion of Level III.
15 Academic Hours
Wednesday 13:00 - 13:45
ILS 600
15 Academic Hours
Thursday 9:00 - 10:35
ILS 650
For language courses: To book a seat in the course, the student needs to pay the full tuition or the registration fee.
For academic programs: Students who have been accepted to a program will be asked to confirm their attendance by paying the registration fee which is part of the total tuition fee for the academic year when they begin their studies.
Discount is available for students who register and pay in full by September 27, 2023.The early registration discount applies only to courses that cost more than 1300 shekels.
| Biblical Hebrew I | Biblical Hebrew IV | Lunches I | Qumran Hebrew Readings |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILS 2550 | ILS 1950 | ILS 600 | ILS 650 |
Ancient Greek
Biblical Hebrew
Classical Syriac
Coptic
Latin
Modern Hebrew
Modern Standard Arabic
Spanish
Spoken Arabic