In this course, you will learn what the different Hebrew conventions are and how they are used. Plus, you can apply past knowledge to this course. Likewise, the knowledge and skills you learn from this course can be used in future studies.
You will look at the different groups of vowels: digraphs, long vowels, short vowels, and reduced vowels and review illustrative instances for each of them.
With “Become a Hebrew reader” course you will read Hebrew, and have the best foundation available for your future deep learning of the Bible.
It is because it combines elements of the best of both worlds.
For many years I taught thousands of students at the Israel Institute of biblical studies under the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The methods that were practiced were the best available methods based on Modern scholarship.
However, something was missing. I felt that students, especially if they were busy people, did not reach the level of Hebrew reading that they could. I felt that these students were not able to retain their Hebrew reading skills. Something foundational was missing.
Being that I am a traditional Jew, I knew there was a solution.
After the destruction of the temple by the Romans, and even more so in the aftermath following revolts, The Jewish people was dispersed around the world, and was no longer using Hebrew as its everyday language.
Amazingly though, despite the fact that they were not native Hebrew speakers anymore the Jewish people was able to to retain almost 100% literacy in all Jewish Communities around the world.
That meant, the Jewish system by which Jews learn Hebrew from about 200 CE all the way to 1900 CE, was geared for non-native Hebrew speakers.
Fortunately, based on the findings from the Cairo Genizah, a collection of old Hebrew documents found in Egypt, dated to Medieval Times, we can revive these old super efficient traditions.
This is how “Become a Hebrew reader” is the newest and the oldest Hebrew course. It combines the wisdom of the ages with the technology of the 21st Century to achieve the best of both worlds and the surest way to Hebrew literacy.
Here is an example of the essence of this course.
On the right hand side you can see a fragment from the Cairo Genizah containing sentences that were copied again and again. The uniqueness of these sentences is that they correspond with Biblical text and themes, and contain all of the Hebrew alphabet letters, so they were ideal as writing practices to make sure you cover all of the letters. On the left hand side you can see how I organized it and added an English translation so you get not only the writing practice but also the moral lesson of these ancient sentences.
All of the consonants, vowels, syllables, words and verses are pre-recorded by myself – a native Hebrew speaker – and are available for you to watch (you can also change the speed if the reading is too slow or too fast for you).
I will personally provide you with feedback. You may record yourself reading and send it to me (the most convenient way is via WhatsApp). I will give you feedback, what you are reading well and how you can improve.
The more abilities one incorporates into language study the better. This course contains watching, reading, listening, reading aloud and writing.
You are not alone in this journey. Once you complete registration, a link to join an instant messaging groups (WhatsApp and Telegram) will be sent to you. This way you’ll be able to join a group of people who are going through the same amazing journey. The group will also serve you as a source of feedback. I will hear your reading and correct you until you read Hebrew accurately and confidently!
Your progression will be actively monitored. Emails will be proactively sent to you as you complete different parts of the course, making sure you’re on track.
Upon completing the registration for this course, you will receive an email with all of the details for the 12 live Q&A meetings that accompany this course. You are invited to attend these meetings in order to ask your questions and practice your reading with me and with other friends taking the course.
Recordings of these live meetings will be sent to you directly to your email.
The course material will be open for you for life, including participation in the WhatsApp group! This will make you a member of an online community of people who decided to read the Bible in its original language!
I’m Netanel Barak, Hebrew teacher since 2006.
I’m a husband and a father of six, a Major (Res.) in a Special Forces reserves division of the IDF, an amateur football player and a Bible collector.
I hold a master’s degree (magna cum laude) in Hebrew Bible Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar Ilan University, as well as a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in Hebrew Bible Studies and Jewish Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a teaching certificate from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and from the Israeli ministry of education. I graduated from “Revivim – an Excellence Training Program for Teachers of Jewish Studies” at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
You want to take this course, but you still have a few more questions?
Be my guest, I’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.
Please click here to schedule an online meeting of just the two of us (Via Zoom)