“What it’s all about”: Hebrew, the Hokey Pokey, and Rabbi Hillel
The Hebrew version of the popular children's song evokes the famous words of Rabbi Hillel, illustrating the deep resonances of the Hebrew language.
Six weeks in Israel taught me why it’s so important to learn another language
Opportunity Grant winner Alex Peterson explains why living in another country changed his mind about the value of foreign language learning.
“This one facing the other”: Learning Hebrew through translation
Adriana Jacobs learned Hebrew by translating poems — including the works of Rachel, the "founding mother" of Hebrew poetry.
“Where is the house and where is the street?” Finding Hebrew in the big city
Wendy Zierler shares the story of how she learned Hebrew at day school — after her parents traded small-town success for the Jewish community of a big city.
How to revive an ancient language, according to 19th-century Hebrew and Persian revivalists
Graduate Fellow Sara Molaie explains how two language activists approached the unlikely task of bringing ancient Hebrew and pre-Islamic Persian back into use.
The apology is in the mail: Hebrew, bureaucracy and gender
The Israel Postal Company is sorry for your inconvenience, in English. In Hebrew, it's more apathetic, both to postal "mishaps" and readers' possible non-maleness.
Reading Agnon in Indiana
How scholar Adam Rovner's move from Israel to Indiana deepened his appreciation of Hebrew, thanks to one of Israel's most classic authors.
Learning Hebrew, mother and child
How does language connect children to their parents? Hannah Pressman reflects on learning Hebrew as a child and discovering her mother's ulpan notebook.