HEBREW LANGUAGE PORTAL

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Welcome to the Hebrew Language Portal !

Hebrew (/ˈhbr/) (עִבְרִית, Ivrit, (About this sound [ʔivˈʁit]  or (About this sound [ʕivˈɾit] ) is a West Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, it is considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, although other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language was also used by non-Jewish groups, such as the ethnically related Samaritans.

Modern Hebrew is one of the two official languages of Israel, while Classical Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world. The language is attested from the 10th century BCE to the late Second Temple period, after which the language developed into Mishnaic Hebrew. Modern Hebrew is one of the official languages of Israel, along with Arabic.

Ancient Hebrew is also the liturgical tongue of the Samaritans, while modern Hebrew or Arabic is their vernacular, though today only about 700 Samaritans remain. As a foreign language it is studied mostly by Jews and students of Judaism and Israel, archaeologists and linguists specializing in the Middle East and its civilizations, by theologians, and in Christian seminaries.

The core of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), and most of the rest of the Hebrew Bible, is written in Classical Hebrew, and much of its present form is specifically the dialect of Biblical Hebrew that scholars believe flourished around the 6th century BCE.

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda at his desk in Jerusalem
Shlomo Narinsky, Eliezer_Ben-Yehuda, Jerusalem, 1912
More about... Israel, its history and inhabitants
Getting Started

The Hebrew Language Division coordinates and focuses studies on the Hebrew language. The division is composed of various sub-divisions and departments that each offer free and open-source courses. These courses are created and taught by volunteer teachers. Everyone is permitted and encouraged to teach and learn at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. We hope this can be a place for many people to explore and appreciate the ancient and vibrant Hebrew language.

Still need help? If you still need help or have any questions, comments, ideas, or concerns, please visit the Hebrew Colloquium and start a discussion. The Center for Middle Eastern Studies is full of members who are more than eager to help you!

Nahlat Rambam
Sambach, Nahalat Binyamin Street, Tel Aviv, 2007
Departments

The Hebrew Language Division is organizational and bureaucratic and the Hebrew Language Department is educational. In addition to the Hebrew division and department, we offer a few other departments related to the Hebrew language.

If you believe an additional department of the Hebrew language should be added to the division, discuss it first at the Department Talk Page.

Hebrew signs on an Israeli highway
Beivushtang, Afternoon Traffic Jams near 'Halacha' Interchange at the Ayalon Highway
News & Updates (Archive)

July 5th, 2012

  • Hebrew Language Division undergoes major renovation.

April 10, 2012

April 9, 2012

  • Courses are being created and organized.

April 8, 2012

Staff Members

The following are staff members at the Hebrew Language Division. Staff members actively contribute and maintain the division, departments, and courses. They are fluent or proficient in Hebrew, and available to help students in the division.

Hebrew Wikipedia
There is a Hebrew version of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
External Links
Things you can do
Wikiversity: Hebrew Related Tasks
    You can help!
    Here are some Hebrew related tasks you can do
    :
    • Organize Category:Hebrew by making sure all pages are properly categorized and structured accordingly.
    • We need someone to be an administrator of the Biblical Hebrew Department.
    • We need someone to be an administrator of the Hebrew Philology Department.
    • Create a page teaching users how to type in Hebrew.
    • Develop the welcome page.
    • Create a tutorial teaching users how to begin at the division.
    • Develop the help page which should be a comprehensive overview of the entire division.
    • Make sure no red links exist on this page.

Have an idea for a page? Why not create it!



Other Wikimedia and Wikiportals

Hebrew on Wikinews     Hebrew on Wikiquote     Hebrew on Wikibooks     Hebrew on Wikisource     Hebrew on Wiktionary     Hebrew on Wikimedia Commons
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Parent portals: Israel | Judaism | Middle East