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Differences in Biblical and Modern Hebrew

What are the differences and similarities between Biblical and Modern Hebrew? The best comparison is Shakespeare or King James English to modern English. They are very similar, but yet different! If someone called you on your cell phone and said … Continue reading

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Differences between Biblical and Modern Hebrew

The best comparison is Shakespeare or King James English to modern English. It’s very similar, but yet different! Subject/verb agreement is the same, noun/adjective agreement is the same, direct-object pointer is the same. Biblical Hebrew has a few extra things … Continue reading

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How “At Home with Hebrew” was created

I first began to learn Hebrew in 1994 before the internet was really popular. Even then Borders and Barnes and Noble stores were just starting, so it was hard to find good tutorials. Most courses simply jumped into Hebrew sentences, … Continue reading

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Sages of Various Time Periods

CHAZAL – an acronym for these word “Chachameinu Zichronam Livracha” (our saves of blessed memory). “Chacham” means wise – so “Chachameinu” could literally be translated as “our wise ones”. “ZACHAR” is the verb to remember, thus the root of “Zichronam” … Continue reading

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Misc Hebrew Words

Sh’visa – rest, termination of a creative process, refraining from activities. Apparently with a “TAV” so could be Sh’vita – and probably related to the root verb SHABAT Sh’vus (or Shvus)- (a) A Shvus is an action prohibited by the … Continue reading

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The Shema, and How the Sabbath Begins and Ends

Shema Yisrael (often called simply “The Shema”), the Biblical passage from Deuteronomy 6:4, is certainly the best known of all Jewish prayers. It is part of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. The phrase of course menas “Hear Israel”, … Continue reading

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Hebrew Vocabulary Words Related to Rabbinical Decision Making (Halacha)

The Hebrew words below define some common words and Hebrew vocabulary related to Rabbinical Decision Making: Halacha (or Halaka) – Jewish law, from the verb Halach, which means “go” or “walk”. The implication is that this is the way you … Continue reading

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The Gift of Hebrew

It’s Chanukah Time! Have you figured out what youre going to give during each night of Chanukah? Maybe, youre just going to give a gift on the First and Eighth day of the Holiday, but even then, what are you … Continue reading

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Do You Know These Yiddish Words?

The Yiddish language is the language of the Ashkenazi Jews that developed from about the 10th century in the Rhineland and then spread to central and eastern Europe and eventually to other continents. Besides German, Yiddish also borrows words from … Continue reading

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My Path to Learning Hebrew

In 1990, I was planning a trip to Israel, but it got postponed due to Desert Storm and the Gulf War. I finally go on a tour trip of Israel in 1996. But in the late 80s, in Oklahoma, before … Continue reading

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