Hebrew Learning in Yachad

Jewish Life Vocabulary (K-2nd Grade)

We aim to expose learners to the Hebrew that will enable them to participate in Jewish life, ie phrases like mazel tov (congratulations!), bikur cholim (visiting the sick), and b’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God); as well as words like t’shuvah (repentance), tanach (the Jewish bible), and mezuzah. Familiarity with these words not only lays the groundwork for successful Hebrew decoding, it also transmits important Jewish values and cultural elements.

Hebrew Decoding (3rd Grade and up)

Students begin with Shalom Learning’s Hebrew Step-By-Step program, which focuses on decoding quickly and accurately. The program incorporates key cultural words (shalom, mitzvah, mezuzah, tzedakah), read-aloud activities, and writing practice to give students a range of modalities. Our most advanced Hebrew learners use the Behrman House Mitkadem Curriculum which teaches Hebrew through prayers that they will see during Tefilah.

Our goals for Hebrew decoding are centered on the students’ abilities to identify letters and vowels, correctly match their sounds, and as they gain more of the Hebrew alphabet, get started on being able to read whole words and sentences. As they get more advanced, we begin focusing on grammar rules and intuitive word recognition, ensuring they easily flow through Tefilah and eventually, their Torah portion.