Learning Hebrew is beneficial for many reasons. A fun and meaningful way to begin is by learning Torah Hebrew online. Let’s look at how you need Hebrew and then how specifically learning Torah online is a great way to start. If you are coming to Israel, you will need to speak Hebrew. Reading and writing in Hebrew is an added advantage and certainly will make your life easier.
If you are Jewish, becoming fluent in Hebrew is a must! You will need Hebrew for prayer, reciting Tehillim (Psalms) and learning how to live as a Jew. It is true that many books and texts are now available in English, but you will progress far more if you take the time to learn Hebrew.
There are “two kinds” of Hebrew. Hebrew is known as Lashon HaKodesh which translates as “the holy language.” The world was created through the letters of the Hebrew language. Hebrew is the language in which the Torah was given. There are two parts to the Torah – namely the Written and Oral Torah. Obviously, the written text is all in Hebrew. Although there are many translations available today, much is lost in the translation. Further, when you begin to understand Hebrew grammar “Dikduk,” you will find how much more you begin to learn out of the same text. The potential for learning is really endless.
Then we have the spoken Hebrew. Some of modern Hebrew, which is the language used in Israel, comes from the Hebrew found in the Torah i.e. the Chumash – the Five Books of Moses. The progression of the language is fascinating. Aside from gaining knowledge in many areas related to language, being able to converse in Hebrew will make your life so much easier if you visit or live in Israel.
One of the best starting places for learning Hebrew, is by learning Torah in the original language. That means to learn from the text itself. If you are eager to grow in your knowledge of how to live as a Jew then you need to learn Hebrew. If you are eager to improve your grasp of Hebrew, we have the perfect solution for you. You can learn from the comfort of your own home. You can even learn in a park (provided you are in a country where sitting in a park is safe). Simply sign up to learn with us online.
We have two options for online learning. You can learn via Skype with webcam, or join us on Zoom. You can learn individually, that means in a one-on-one lesson, or get a group of friends together and join us in our online classroom.
Rabbi Eliyahu Shear is a superb and dynamic teacher. He will help you to learn to read in Hebrew or to gain skills and start to translate too. If your Hebrew is good enough, you can take your learning further either by dissecting the text or learning completely in Hebrew. This means your discussion will be in Hebrew too.
Learning Torah Hebrew online is an excellent starting place for preparing for an effective Aliyah. It might sound like a given that you will need Hebrew in Israel, but lots of new immigrants do not put in the time and effort to do so. There are all kinds of reasons as to why Olim might miss out on the opportunity to learn Hebrew. Without looking at what might prevent you from learning the language of your new country, let us look at why it is imperative to gain a good level of Hebrew.
You will need Hebrew:
- in municipal offices
- to manage with your banking
- to be able to pay your bills correctly and on time.
- to be able to follow up in the event that a statement did not arrive on time, as sometimes happens for utility bills.
- in talking to bus drivers
- in keeping up to date with the latest changes in all kinds of day to day details such as how to pay for using public transport
- in seeking an apartment
- in finalizing a rental contract
- in talking to your neighbours or Vaad Bayit
- in going to the post office
- in going to the pharmacy or supermarket
- in navigating the health system
These are just some examples. There are many more that will arise as you go about your daily life and settle into your new country. For those who find learning Hebrew a struggle, your chance of making Aliyah or having a successful integration into life in Israel is not over, We do have a range of services to help you.
However, for those who would like to be as independent as possible, you can begin even from outside of Israel. Of course there are many ways to improve your Hebrew skills. You can check out this post for another fun idea.
Looking to add meaning to your life? Looking to improve your Hebrew? Sign up today to begin learning Torah Hebrew online.
