In the Jewish tradition, Hebrew, known simply as Lashon-Kodesh (“the Holy Tongue”) was often reserved for sacred study of the Torah and religious texts, synagogue prayers, and reading from the Sefer Torah on Shabbat and holidays. Often, Jews throughout the Diaspora created new Jewish languages (such as Ladino, Yiddish, Judeo-Arabic, and Judeo-Persian). However, from the Haskalah in the late 18th century, the Hebrew language renaissance from the 19th century on, and then Zionism and the establishment of Israel, Hebrew has once again become the lingua franca of many Jews in their daily life. This course will, over four sessions, trace this evolution of Hebrew, that Jews throughout the ages considered as an inseparable, essential part of what it has meant to be Jewish and live Jewishly.

This class will be taught by Andrew Stein and will take place Thursdays, August 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 6-7:00pm on Zoom. Please see your congregational email for the link.