non jew learning hebrew (not fluently)

[tommo123]

... can you go into a synagogue and ask there if they do courses (paid for)? or is it a jew only deal? been in catholic churches and mosques but never anything jewish.

reason? i want to go to israel at some point and think that it's good practise to learn a little of the language of the land you're visiting. I don't plan to aim for fluency, but just be able to have a (very) basic converstion. i'd plan to listen to pimsleur courses and then hopefully find a 1-2-1 tutor for a few hours or something like that to force me to converse and put what i've learnt to use.

 

[Vic Vega]

You can go there and speak English.

I'd try the local CC first.

 

[techs]

Each synagogue makes it's own rules.
It would probably be a question of whether the Rabbi wanted to do it, had someone to do, and what sort of synagogue. Conservative, orthodox, etc.

From what my Israeli friends tell me a majority speak English as well as Hebrew. And those that don't speak English will speak another language, like French, so if you know another major language you will probably be able to talk to like 95 percent of the Jews. Arabs also tend to speak English also.

When you live in such a small country with a language spoken world wide by just a few million people you invariably learn to speak another major language.

 

[Crono]

I'd think about going to a school for a course or two. Yeshiva University for example comes to mind, I think they are open to non-Jews. Synagogues you would probably have to ask first, might be awkward if you just show up.

I want to learn biblical (written) Hebrew one of these days, I plan on registering for classes at a local seminary next fall and take it there along with Greek (which is a lot harder than Hebrew).

 

[amdhunter]

...or is it a jew only deal?

:biggrin:

 

[tommo123]

^ don't get the funny but ok

i google mapped "synagogue" and there's only 1 anywhere near me (liverpool, UK). i've walked by it a few times. might give them a call when i'm ready to start learning i guess.

@ vic vega - i'd like to learn a little of the language even if I could get by easily in just english. i just think it's polite. not to mention getting more of a "feel" of the country

 

[ThePresence]

Many Jewish people dont know spoken Hebrew, and most synagogues can't help you with this. Modern spoken Hebrew, while at it's root is the language of the Torah, is very different. I'm an Orthodox Jew and I lived in Israel for some years. Although I knew biblical Hebrew, when I arrived in Israel I couldn't understand a word. Didn't take me too long to pick it up, but will probably be a different experience for you. Treat it like learning any other language.

Also, you can get by just fine with English in Israel. 95% of the people will understand you.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

You probably shouldn't think of it as learning "Jew talk." It's a spoken language independent of religious affiliation. You might try Rosetta Stone; they offer Hebrew. Don't know how good they are, but it's a starting point.

 

[SandEagle]

say 'Salam ale kum' or 'Allah acbar!' to all the locals.

 

[tommo123]

said the 1st one in egypt

atomic playboy - dont think i can get rosetta stone from my library but i can get pimsleur for free and michel thomas doesn't do a hebrew course (afaik) so it's likely to be the pimsleur method i use

 

[ForumMaster]

as a Semitic language, Hebrew a bit difficult to grasp at first. meaning? just like English with all the irregulars, in Hebrew you have hundreds that you simply remember.

spelling is a whole different matter. but it's not difficult to learn.

besides, 99% of the people here speak English. maybe not fluently, but you'll get by.
example: last month i was on vacation in Germany, and it's more difficult there and it is here.

here everybody does...

 

[tommo123]

heh, i'm not going to try and read the language just aim for a basic grasp of the verbal.