The Jewish Theological Seminary
Academics
Hebrew Language
Professors
Edna Nahshon
Joel Roth
Assistant Professor, Director of Hebrew Language Curriculum
Nitza Krohn
Lecturer
Sarah Pelee
Adjunct Instructors
Tamar Ben-Vered
Nina Nesher
Adjunct Lecturers
Cila Allon
Miriam Meir
Tsipi Rubin
Nadav Sabar
The Hebrew Language program serves the varied needs of the entire JTS student body. The overall goal of the program is to develop Hebrew language literacy in students whose native language is English. Through this program, students acquire linguistic knowledge and competency in the use of Hebrew for academic, professional, and social purposes.
While the study of Hebrew is at the core of the program and classes are primarily conducted in Hebrew, biblical and rabbinic texts are also read and linguistically analyzed. The use of the Hebrew Language Lab and other online resources for linguistic and cultural enrichment is an integral part of the program.
The program offers semester-long courses at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Some of the regular courses are also offered during the summer.
In addition to required courses, the Hebrew Department offers a number of electives designed to meet particular needs and interests.
A free tutorial service (the Hebrew Help Desk) is offered four hours weekly by Hebrew language faculty; affordable short-term individual tutoring is available as well.
Each school of JTS determines the level of courses its students must complete in order to fulfill its Hebrew language requirements.
In order to be placed in the appropriate level Hebrew course, incoming students must take a written Hebrew Language placement examination prior to the beginning of the new academic year. Complete beginners are expected to study the Hebrew alphabet on their own prior to the beginning of classes. It is highly recommended that students learn to type in Hebrew.
Advancement to the next Hebrew level depends upon satisfactory achievement and is based on multiple assessment measures. In addition, students are required to demonstrate proficiency in reading aloud voweled and unvoweled texts.
Below is a sample list of the courses in the Hebrew Language Department:
HEB 1001: Foundations of Hebrew
HEB 1101: Intensive Elementary Hebrew I
HEB 2103: Intensive Elementary Hebrew II
HEB 2201: Intermediate Hebrew I
HEB 5203: Intermediate Hebrew II (this course has to be complemented with an elective)
Heb 5204: Intermediate Hebrew II (in conjunction with Bible 6070)
HEB 5301: Advanced Hebrew I
HEB 5303: Advanced Hebrew II
HEB 5009: Hebrew Grammar
HEB LAB1: Oral/Aural Lab
HEB LAB2: Advanced Comprehension and Communication
HEB 5105: Liturgical Hebrew I
HEB 5106: Liturgical Hebrew II
HEB 5117: Workshop in Hebrew Fluency
HEB 5999: Reading Academic Hebrew