Jewish people and Christian people alike want to know how to learn Hebrew. There are so many different reasons why people are interested. But both have a common goal: to know how to learn Hebrew! But the ‘how’ is merely a means to an end. In this blog, I will tell you how to learn Hebrew. But it is the ‘why’ that grabs my interest. Why do people want to know how to learn Hebrew?
Why do people want to know how to learn Hebrew?
To explore this topic, I want to divide the Christian people and Jewish people into two separate groups. More often than not, their reasons for wanting to learn Hebrew are entirely different. Let’s start with the Christian people. People who are devout Christians want to learn how to read the Torah (often referred to as the Old Testament), the Jewish bible, in the original text.
The majority of Christians read the Jewish holy books in English, or maybe they read the texts in Greek. However, very few can read the Hebrew, the original text. Considering that Christians believe the Jewish Bible is the word of God, the prospect of being able to read the Torah in the original text motivates many people.
I want to add a note. There may be other reasons why Christians want to know how to learn Hebrew, such as living or visiting Israel. However, these reasons will not be discussed in this blog. The same applies to the reasons why Jewish people want to learn Hebrew. I can only cover a few reasons (as discussed below) in this blog, but that is not to say there are more than three reasons!
Why do Jewish people want to learn Hebrew?
Jewish people want to read Hebrew for a variety of reasons. Similarly to Christian people, Jewish people might want to learn Hebrew before they visit Israel or move to Israel permanently. It is very satisfying to move to a country or visit a country with a basic knowledge of the local language already in place.
Another reason Jewish people want to know how to learn Hebrew is that they may want to reconnect with Judaism, and Hebrew is an integral part of the Jewish religion. I will never forget receiving a phone call from a Jewish man who was about 28 years old. He said to me that he used to know Hebrew, but he needed to refresh his skills so he won’t feel quite so lost in Synagogue.
A third reason some Jewish people need to know Hebrew is that they are studying for the Jewish rite of passage, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Usually, this cohort is 11 or 12 years old, but sometimes adults also participate in this ceremony. It is crucial that people know how to read the Hebrew text, as they are required to read or chant from the Torah and Jewish prayer book, the siddur.
How to learn Hebrew freely, easily and quickly now!
I have written about why people want to know how to learn Hebrew. Let us explore how they can learn Hebrew freely, quickly and easily. I use the word ‘freely’ as I want to point out that learning Hebrew does not need to feel like a burden, the people can mentally feel free to learn the language. We need to explore if you want to learn Hebrew face-to-face or online.
There are pros and cons to both styles of learning: online or face-to-face. It depends on the student’s learning style and their personality.
Learning Hebrew online
Learning Hebrew online is becoming increasingly popular. Let us be honest: There are so many online alternatives available. Online learning is popular for a variety of reasons. The student can learn at home, during lunch breaks, or on the bus to work or school. Online learning eliminates the need to travel long distances in traffic to attend face-to-face classes.
Also, some people might feel self-conscious reading out loud in front of other students. Adults, especially, can feel very shy when starting to learn a new language for the first time in a long time. It allows the student to work at their own pace without feeling they are falling behind or, in some cases, well ahead of the rest of the class!
There are a variety of online Hebrew programs available. One such option for people who want to start learning Hebrew online is a website called www.easylearnhebrew.com. Easy Learn Hebrew teaches people how to read Hebrew. Learning how to read a language (any language, not just Hebrew) is the first step to knowing how to read, write, and converse.
Learning Hebrew face-to-face
Having just written about learning Hebrew online, I can imagine that certain groups of people would find that online learning is not suitable. It might not suit their learning style or personality. Some people prefer the ‘traditional’ style of learning: in a classroom with a teacher and other students.
Some people are more than happy to drive in traffic in all kinds of weather and sit in a classroom with a teacher to help them learn Hebrew. There are certainly merits to both ways of learning, online or face-to-face. You just need to find the way that suits you. It is also possible to do both! As the saying goes, “There are many ways to skin a cat”!
Some people like to attend face-to-face classes but also supplement their classroom learning with online resources, such as Easy Learn Hebrew. These resources can help them reinforce what they have learnt in the classroom. They also give them a sense of independence and empowerment, knowing they can progress their learning independently.
