thinking about learning Hebrew this summer? our classes start Sunday!

Ulpan La-Inyan  Midsummer Courses…   …start this Sunday, July 25. The course lasts for six weeks; class meets 4-5 times a week for an hour or an hour and a quarter, depending on the level.   We’ve got all the levels (1-5) offered in Jerusalem, and Levels 1, 3 and 5 offered in Tel Aviv – both at the local…

how to say “foundation” in Hebrew

תשתית If you’d prefer a larger font…  Perhaps you know the word for basis or foundation, in the more abstract sense: יְסוֹד (yeh-SOHD).   There’s another word, however, for the foundation or infrastructure of a house, a city, a state, etc: תַּשְׁתִּית (tahsh-TEET), such that Israel’s Ministry of Infrastructure(s) is מִשְׂרַד הַתַּשְׁתִּיוֹת (mees-RAHD hah-tahsh-tee-YOHT).   Over…

how to say “to mourn” in Hebrew

להתאבל   If you’re familiar with Rabbinic law and literature, you probably know the word for mourner – אָבֵל/אָבֵלָה (ah-VEHL – m; ah-veh-LAH – f), as well as the word for mourning: אָבֵלוּת (ah-veh-LOOT).   Here’s how to say to mourn: לְהִתְאַבֵּל (le-heet-ah-BEHL).   Why this word today?    I wish אבלות on no one….

how to say “to unite” in Hebrew

להתאחד   If you live in Israel, surely you’ve heard of the health care provider, מְאוּחֶדֶת (meh-oo-KHEH-deht). In English, it would be called United – like the airline. The word is feminine since it refers to קוּפַּת חוֹלִים (koo-PAHT khoh-LEEM) – health care provider (literally, “sick people’s register” – we could also use some health care…

how to say “to internalize” in Hebrew

להפנים   With some basic Hebrew you’d know how to say inside, as in I’d rather sit inside – בִּפְנִים (beef-NEEM).   Here’s how to say to internalize: לְהַפְנִים (le-hahf-NEEM). For example, הִפְנַמְנוּ אֶת הַמֶּסֶר (heef-NAHM-noo et hah-MEH-sehr) – we’ve internalized the message.     Today’s “three-weeks” call to action   This Shabbat, I’m going to…

how to say “to lack” in Hebrew

לחסור   If you know some Hebrew (about Level 3 in Ulpan La-Inyan), you probably know the word for it’s missing – חָסִר (khah-SEHR).   Here’s how to say to lack: לַחֲסוֹר (lah-khah-SOHR) or לַחְסוֹר (lahkh-SOHR). This word appears conjugated in Psalms 23: הַשֵּׁם רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר (hah-SHEM roh-EE loh ekh-SAHR) – the Name (God) is my…

how to say “penetrating” in Hebrew

חודר   A room of a house or a building can be thought of as a part of the structure that has been penetrated. It is called, in Hebrew, a חֶדֶר (KHEH-dehr).   To penetrate is לַחֲדוֹר (lah-khah-DOHR) or לַחְדּוֹר (lahkh-DOHR). That which is penetrating is חוֹדֵר (khoh-DEHR).     Today’s “three-weeks” call to action   I’ve had…

how to say “to experience” in Hebrew

לחוות   For those who have attended the Mayanot Birthright trip, you may recall the name of the tour operator – הַחֲוָיָה הַיִּשְׂרָאֵלִית (hah-hah-vah-YAH hah-yees-rah-eh-LEET) – the Israel (more accurately, “the Israeli”) Experience.   To experience is לַחֲווֹת (lah-hah-VOHT).   What happens to us happens to us. But how we respond to what happens to us…

Get speaking Hebrew… starting July 25 with Ulpan La-Inyan

    Ulpan La-Inyan midsummer classes   We’ve got a midsummer session of our fun, relaxed and highly-effective conversational Hebrew classes, starting on July 25 and running through September 2.       We’re offering a variety of levels at the AACI in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.    I hope to see you in class! …

Israeli music radio show… in English – “three weeks” special

Special show for the Three Weeks   As many of you know, I deliver a radio show once a week of Hebrew/Israeli music with some English explanation. The show is broadcast live at RustyMike Radio on Mondays from 3-4pm Israel time, and is rebroadcast the following Sunday early morning from 2-3am.   In observance of…