Hebrew is an integral part of the rabbinic and education curricula on the graduate level and an important part of the undergraduate Jewish studies major. We are committed to teaching Hebrew not only for the training of future rabbis and educators, but also for its significance as the national language of the Jewish people. Hebrew is the glue which binds the Jewish people in Jewish communities dispersed throughout the world and from the past to the present to the future. Language is the key to a nation’s heart and soul.
To address the various needs of our students, we have developed a proficiency-based holistic approach to teaching the Hebrew language. This approach results in producing rabbis, Jewish educators and educated Jews who have acquired not only "real world" listening, speaking, writing and reading comprehension skills in Hebrew, but also the ability to use Hebrew in the study of contemporary Hebrew literature and classical Jewish texts.
All students that will take Hebrew as a language requirement shall sit for at least one placement test on their arrival or prior to their arrival and one oral placement exam on their arrival. They are expected to do their best and they will be placed in a level which is relevant to their Hebrew language skills. Students will not be allowed to take any Hebrew course other then the relevant Hebrew course until the requirement of each level is fulfilled.
A student who has passed a required Hebrew course at another institution must nonetheless take and pass the placement test at American Jewish university.
Students who are native speakers of the Hebrew language may petition to be exempt from Hebrew courses. Only students who have been given prior approval by the dean of their programs will be exempt from Hebrew courses.
Hebrew Placement Test (PDF)
HEBREW LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS:
Undergraduate Jewish Studies majors in the Modern Jewish Studies concentration must take HEB 105, 106, 107, and 108.
Undergraduate Jewish Studies majors with concentrations in Classical Judaism must take HEB 105, 106, 107, 108, 201, 202.
Graduate students in the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.), the Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Studies (MAJCS), and the Bachelor of Literature in Hebrew Letters (B.Lit.) programs must have completed at least one year of college level Hebrew for acceptance into the programs. If students have not completed this, they will have to complete an intensive Ulpan in the summer prior to entrance. M.A.E.d. students must complete HEB 421, 422, 431, 432 to receive their degree. Students who have completed this sequence must continue to take 2 courses (6 units) in Hebrew Literature to fulfill the Hebrew language requirements.
COURSES FOR LOWER DIVISION UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
HEB 100 — INTENSIVE BEGINNING HEBREW - 8 CREDITS
This is a year-long course. An intensive introduction to written and spoken Hebrew, usually offered during the Summer Session. The course covers the material normally presented in HEB 105 and 106.
HEB 105A CONVERSATION — HEBREW - 2 CREDITS
This first course in Hebrew stresses reading of vocalized texts, basic vocabulary, use of verb constructs, nouns, pronouns, and prepositions. The use of cardinal and ordinal numbers and adjectives is also emphasized. Offered in the fall semester.
HEB 105B GRAMMAR — HEBREW - 2 CREDITS
All seven patterns of the verb, the “regulars” (Sh’lemim) are being introduced in all tenses. Offered in the fall semester.
HEB 106A CONVERSATION — HEBREW - 2 CREDITS
Second course in Hebrew. Continuation of Hebrew I05A. Offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 105A.
HEB 106B GRAMMAR — HEBREW - 2 CREDITS
Second course in Hebrew. Continuation of Hebrew I05B. Offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 105B.
HEB 107A — HEBREW IIA - 2 CREDITS
This second-year conversation course in Hebrew stresses intermediate vocabulary, reading comprehension, oral expression and essay writing Offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 106.
HEB 107B — HEBREW IIB - 2 CREDITS
This course offers the entire Torat Hanikud with mastering all seven Binyamin Ha-Sh’lemim and their proper vowels. Offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 105/106
HEB 108A — HEBREW IIA - 2 CREDITS
This conversation class is a direct continuation of the course offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 107A.
HEB 108B — HEBREW IIB - 2 CREDITS
Continuing the fall semester, this grammar class offers skills in all the irregular verbs (G’zarot) in all tenses.
Prerequisite: HEB 107B
COURSES FOR UPPER DIVISION UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
For the 2007-2008 school year, Hebrew III is a year-long course with each semester divided between Conversation and Grammar. This third full year of Hebrew earns 8 credits.
HEB 201 — HEBREW CONVERSATION IIIA - 2 CREDITS
This one-semester course, following Hebrew II, is designed to sharpen students’ Hebrew conversational skills. Special attention is given to enrich the vocabulary, both in the written and spoken word. Short pieces of Hebrew Literature will be introduced. Offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 108
HEB 202 — HEBREW CONVERSATION IIIB - 2 CREDITS
This sixth course in Hebrew immerses students in all phases of Hebrew expression and comprehension through essay writing and literature reading. Continuation of HEB IIIA. Offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 201
HEB 203 — HEBREW GRAMMAR IIIA - 2 CREDITS
Taught entirely in Hebrew, this advanced grammar course focuses on the elements of Hebrew grammar: Nikud and Binyamin. Offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 108
HEB 204 — HEBREW GRAMMAR IIIB - 2 CREDIT
Continuation of Heb 203 plus G’zarot. Offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: HEB 203
HEB 216 — ADVANCED HEBREW EXPRESSION - 3 CREDITS
This course is designed to use extended language to discuss and write about practical, social, political, professional, religious and abstract topics. The emphasis is on expressive and productive Hebrew with the intent of further developing advanced language skills. A collection of Hebrew literature in its non-modified, original text will be taught. Creative writing will be practiced.
Prerequisite: HEB 202 and 204.
HEB 217 — ADVANCED HEBREW EXPRESSION II - 3 CREDITS
Along with the emphasis on expressive and productive Hebrew, students will read original literature and Biblical text in class. Continuation of HEB 216
Prerequisite: HEB 216
HEB 220 — THE MODERN HEBREW SHORT STORY - 3 CREDITS
This course will focus on the development of structures, styles, and concepts of the modern Hebrew short story. Topics may vary from year to year. Typical authors include Agnon, Oz, Yehoshua, Megged, BenNer, Shachar, Shofman, Y. H. Brenner, Devora Baron, and Amalia Kahana Carmon. Prerequisite: HEB 202 and 204 and approval of instructor.
HEB 221 — MODERN HEBREW ESSAY - 3 CREDITS
This course covers essays by modern Jewish thinkers in various subject areas including social issues, religious conflicts, Zionism of the pre- and post-state periods, and the political, moral, and social problems of Israel. Readings from authors such as Ahad Ha’am, Bialik, Martin Buber, Yeshayahu Leibovitz, Moshe Greenberg, A. B. Yehoshua, and Amos Oz will be studied and discussed.
Prerequisite: HEB 202 and 204 and approval of the Hebrew coordinator and instructor.
HEB 230 — TWENTIETH CENTURY HEBREW POETRY - 3 CREDITS
This course focuses on reading and analysis of 20th century Hebrew poets including: Bialik, Alterman, Goldberg, Shlonsky, Pagis, Amichai, Zach, Horovitz, Ravikovitch, Uri Zvi Greenber, and Yona Wallach.
Prerequisite: HEB 202 and 204 and approval of the Hebrew coordinator and instructor.
HEB 245 — HEBREW LITERATURE BY ISRAELI WOMEN WRITERS - 3 CREDITS
Taught in Hebrew, this course will focus on major Hebrew literature written by women in the 20th century. We will concentrate on a close reading and analysis of texts. We will consider the context of the texts in the historical development on Modern Hebrew Literature. In the process of our reading and study, we will use literary terms and concepts from literary criticism.
Prerequisite: HEB 202 and 204 and approval of instructor.
HEB 291 — HOLOCAUST IN MODERN HEBREW LITERATURE - 3 CREDITS
The course will focus on Hebrew Holocaust Literature. We will concentrate on prose and poetry of various literary genres. We will study, among others, the prose of Aharon Applelfeld, Uri OrLev, Nava Semel, Gila Almagor, and the poetry of Uri Zvi Greenbeerg and Dan Pagis.
Prerequisite: HEB 202 and 204 and approval of instructor.
COURSES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
HEB 100 — INTENSIVE BEGINNING HEBREW - 8 CREDITS
An intensive introduction to written and spoken Hebrew, usually offered during the Summer Session. The course is the equivalent of first year Hebrew.
HEB 421 — HEBREW IIA - 4 CREDITS
This third course in Hebrew stresses intermediate vocabulary, reading, and vocalization of unvocalized texts, use of all verb constructs, parsing of vocalized and unvocalized texts, plural and segalite nouns, and prepositional constructs.
Prerequisite: HEB 100.
HEB 422 — HEBREW IIB - 4 CREDITS
Fourth course in Hebrew. Continuation of Hebrew IIA.
Prerequisite: HEB 421.
HEB 423 — HEBREW GRAMMAR IIIA - 4 CREDITS
Taught entirely in Hebrew, this advanced grammar course will focus on the elements of Hebrew grammar.
Prerequisite: HEB 422
HEB 424 — HEBREW GRAMMAR IIIB - 4 CREDITS
Continuation of 423
Prerequisite: HEB 423
HEB 431 — HEBREW CONVERSATION IIIA - 4 CREDITS
This course is designed to sharpen students’ Hebrew conversational skills. Special attention is given to spoken, colloquial grammar and vocabulary.
Prerequisite: HEB 422
HEB 432 — HEBREW TEXT AND CONVERSATION IIIB - 4 CREDITS
Sixth course in Hebrew. Continuation of HEB IIIA.
Prerequisite: HEB 431
HEB 436 — ADVANCED HEBREW EXPRESSION - 3 CREDITS
This course is designed to use extended language to discuss and write about practical, social, political, professional, religious and abstract topics. The emphasis is on expressive and productive Hebrew with the intent of further developing advanced language skills.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432
HEB 437 — ADVANCED HEBREW EXPRESSION II - 3 CREDITS
Continuation of HEB 436
Prerequisite: HEB 436
HEB 440 — THE MODERN HEBREW SHORT STORY - 3 CREDITS
This course will focus on the development of structures, styles, and concepts of the modern Hebrew short story. Topics may vary from year to year. Typical authors include Agnon, Oz, Yehoshua, Megged, BenNer, Shachar, Shofman, Y. H. Brenner, Devora Baron, and Amalia Kahana Carmon.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432 and approval of instructor
HEB 441 — MODERN HEBREW ESSAY 3 CREDITS
This course will cover essays by modern Jewish thinkers in various subject areas, including social issues, religious conflicts, Zionism of the pre- and post-state periods, and the political, moral, and social problems of Israel. Readings from authors such as Ahad Ha’am, Bialik, Martin Buber, Yeshayahu Leibovitz, Moshe Greenberg, A. B. Yehoshua, and Amos Oz will be studied and discussed.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432 and approvalof instructor.
HEB 442 — TWENTIETH CENTURY HEBREW POETRY - 3 CREDITS
This course will focus on reading and analysis of 20th century Hebrew poets including: Bialik, Alterman, Goldberg, Shlonsky, Pagis, Amichai, Zach, Horovitz, Ravikovitch, Uri Zvi Greenber, and Yona Wallach.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432 and approval of instructor.
HEB 444 — THE HEBREW MEDIA IN ISRAEL - 3 CREDITS
Taught in Hebrew, this course will expose students to a variety of Hebrew media from Israel. They will study various articles from Israeli newspapers and magazines, listen to the news and other programs from Israeli radio, and watch news and documentary programs from Israeli television.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432 and approval of instructor.
HEB 445 — HEBREW LITERATURE BY ISRAELI WOMEN WRITERS - 3 CREDITS
Taught in Hebrew, this course will focus on major Hebrew literature written by women in the 20th century. We will concentrate on a close reading and analysis of texts. We will consider the context of the texts in the historical development on modern Hebrew Literature. In the process of our reading and study, we will use literary terms and concepts from literary criticism.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432 and approval of instructor.
HEB 490 — HOLOCAUST IN MODERN HEBREW LITERATURE - 3 CREDITS
The course will focus on Hebrew Holocaust Literature. We will concentrate on prose and poetry of various literary genres. We will study, among others, the prose of Aharon Applelfeld, Uri OrLev, Nava Semel, Gila Almagor, and the poetry of Uri Zvi Greenbeerg and Dan Pagis.
Prerequisite: HEB 424 and 432 and approval of instructor.
Hebrew Placement Test (PDF)