People searching the phrase Learning Hebrew for beginners online do so for multiple reasons. It is not straightforward to list the reasons. I realise their are many reasons why a person searches Learning Hebrew for beginners. Often the reasons have multiple layers of history and emotion. I realise that it might be a generalisation, but that has been my experience when I talk to people about it.
For now, I want to focus on why Jewish people search the keywords Learning Hebrew for beginners. The history of the Jewish people is laden with emotion. There is a strong desire in the Jewish community to maintain continuity. I often wonder why this is the case. Would it not be easier just to abandon religion and culture and assimilate into mainstream society?
I think people need to maintain the connection to the religion and the Hebrew language. is because the Jewish people have been persecuted for thousands of years. I was chatting to a friend, and he said, “Too many people have been murdered because they are Jewish to give it up”. He said (not my words) that he has a responsibility to keep Judaism alive for them.
A connection to the past
There is a link between Hebrew and history. Ancient Hebrew is one of the oldest languages in the world. It is remarkable that people still write, read and speak this language. There is something quite magical about reading or speaking a language that has been around for thousands of years. The Alef Bet people learn today is the same alphabet that from thousands of years ago!
Some Jewish people decide later in life to search for the term “Learning Hebrew for beginners.” They either did not have the opportunity to learn the language when they were younger or have forgotten it. Regardless of their reason, it is clear to me that they want to maintain the link with the ancient religion.
Having a Jewish Coming of Age ceremony and learning Hebrew for beginners
Another reason Jewish people look for resources to help them learn Hebrew is to prepare for the Jewish Coming of Age ceremony, which is for a twelve-year-old girl or a thirteen-year-old boy. The Hebrew name for this is Bar Mitzvah (used for a boy) or Bat Mitzvah (used for a girl). But I would like to clarify: It is usually the parents who do the searching!
I have yet to come across a child who takes the initiative to find the resources. To be fair, most kids want to play with their friends. They do not think about the preparation required for this eight-hundred-year-old ceremony. What I find interesting is that some Jewish parents do not practice Judaism at home but place an enormous amount of importance on their child having a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Different types of families
After teaching children to learn Hebrew from scratch to prepare for their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah, I have found that there are primarily two groups of families. The one group are the families that are actively involved in their local Synagogue. They have been taking their children to services at the Synagogue for festivals and Jewish activities since they were babies.
These families regularly celebrate Shabbat every week at home and their children have been hearing the Hebrew language when the parents read or chant the special prayers for the Jewish Sabbath at home. The early and regular exposure to Hebrew makes it very easy for their child (or children) to learn to read Hebrew. When they need to start to learn to read, it comes very easily to the child.
However, the other group of families I have come across, do not practice Judaism at home, nor do they attend Synagogue. Or if they do come to the Synagogue, they come twice a year for the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement. But it is so ingrained in their psyche that their Jewish child/children need to have a Coming-of-Age ceremony, and they start exploring ways for their offspring to learn Hebrew.
At this point, they contact me, asking how I can help them. I recommend that they complete the Easy Learn Hebrew program, and once once their child completes the program, they will be able to read Hebrew slowly and can commence Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah lessons. I explained that the resources include video, audio, printables, and an Alphabet Chart.
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I have spent a lot of time talking about Jewish people who want to learn Hebrew. There are other people as well. Another group of people are people who want to convert to Judaism. People want to convert to Judaism for a variety of reasons. Regardless of their reason, they all need to learn to read Hebrew. Many want to learn quickly, easily, and for free! However, it is not always possible!
The majority of people who want to convert to Judaism also have not had any exposure to the Hebrew language, grammar or words. Also, 98% of people who want to convert are adults. Sometimes, families with young children undergo the conversion process, but they are few and far between.
Adults who want to learn Hebrew often find it more challenging and can often take longer. Adults are different from children. They might overthink pronunciation or be scared of making mistakes, so it might take longer. I always remind the adult students who I teach that it is difficult to learn a brand-new skill, especially if they are experts in their chosen field.
Adult students often think they can pick up Hebrew quickly and rush through the reading. I need to remind adult students that they are learning a new skill and must slow down. It is almost like they want to prove something to themselves! I have to remind them to be kind to themselves.
