Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew University’s Online Biblical Hebrew Program provides a unique opportunity to learn the Bible in its original language, thereby enhancing your understanding and appreciation of scriptural texts and their contemporaneous culture.
Our online courses are not designated for regular Hebrew University students. Anyone of any scholastic background is free to enrol, provided they are over 18 years of age.
Our courses place an emphasis on reading from the Hebrew Bible. In the process, students vastly improve their knowledge of the grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and other facets of this ancient tongue.
The courses in the Online Biblical Hebrew Program are given by seasoned teachers and scholars, all of whom are certified instructors and experts in the field. The program is directed by Dr. Ohad Cohen, an accomplished and highly-experienced Biblical Hebrew teacher as well as a talented linguist and researcher of Second Temple Hebrew.
Our Biblical Hebrew Program offers five different courses, which together cover the full spectrum of aptitudes: from beginners with no prior experience to highly-advanced students. The introductory level class focuses on mastering the Hebrew alphabet, learning basic grammar, reading conventional Biblical genres, and acquiring a rudimentary vocabulary.
In the more advanced courses, our students encounter various textual and diachronic perspectives and a wider range of scriptural texts, including examples of poetry, prophecy, and wisdom literature. They are also exposed to different historical and comparative aspects of Biblical Hebrew. Request information
Biblical Aramaic
Along with Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic is the language of the Books of Daniel and Ezra. Proficiency in Second Temple Aramaic—the lingua franca of the period—endows those interested in ancient languages, especially prophecies, with an erudite perspective on the linguistic and cultural backdrop of the Biblical era. The main focus of the Hebrew University’s Online Biblical Aramaic Program is on reading Aramaic texts from the Old Testament.
Over the years, the Hebrew University has earned a distinguished reputation in Aramaic studies, be it research or language instruction. This unparalleled knowledge, in conjunction with eTeacher’s state-of-the-art technological platforms, is bound to enhance our students’ comprehension of Biblical languages.
The Aramaic program consists of two levels:
Level A revolves around a vocabulary of 100 common Aramaic words, basic nominal and verbal paradigms, the language’s elementary syntactical features, and the original Aramaic meanings of the pertinent Biblical stories.
Level B expands our students’ Aramaic vocabulary and enhances their understanding of the language’s morphology and syntactical constructions. Furthermore, graduates of this course will have vastly improved their ability to read Aramaic Biblical texts on their own. Request Information
Yiddish
Yiddish has been the language of Ashkenazic Jewry since the tenth century CE. As a result, learning the mame loshn (‘mother tongue’) opens a window to a rich culture and literature.
Today, Yiddish is going through a revival of sorts, as various cultural organizations across the globe have undertaken to preserve this beautiful language through lectures, the establishment of Yiddish theater companies, concerts, and much more.
The Hebrew University’s Online Yiddish Program places an emphasis on developing conversational skills as well as reading and understanding Yiddish texts. Over the course of the semester, you will assimilate over 200 common Yiddish words and phrases and familiarize yourself with the basic paradigms of Yiddish nouns and verbs. Our dedicated teachers pass on the wonders of the language and culture by means of classical Yiddish stories, poems, aphorisms, and of course Yiddish humor, all of which makes for a productive and enjoyable learning experience.
Our Yiddish faculty is made up of highly-seasoned and certified teachers, who also hold advanced degrees in other relevant fields of Jewish studies. All the teachers live and work in Israel. Furthermore, the entire staff has undergone special training for online instruction and benefit from weekly evaluations and feedback from the students.
The Yiddish program is comprised of two levels:
The beginners’ course, Level A, imparts basic comprehension and conversational skills, along with a working knowledge of the rules of Yiddish grammar. Upon completing the semester, pupils will be able to formulate sentences that will enable them to communicate basic needs, such as asking native speakers for directions or exchanging niceties (‘schmoozing’) with them. Moreover, students will acquire a vocabulary of about 200 words, including key verbs, numbers, and the members of the family.
Level B enhances the students’ command of the language. By exposing the class to Yiddish literature and humor, graduates not only expand their vocabulary and improve their conversational skills, but grasp the language’s grammatical structures. Request information