Although Hebrew is not taught as a foreign language at Ohio University, students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of the language with Rabbi Danielle Leshaw, director of Hillel, over a seven-week period.
Starting Jan. 25 and continuing every Wednesday until Feb. 29, Leshaw will be covering the Hebrew alphabet and teaching students to read the Hebrew language.
“It is important to say that this is a crash course,” Leshaw said, “Students will understand the language minimally after the course, but they will have the tools to take their studies further.”
Leshaw said she has taught Hebrew in the past and recently reinstated the course when students became interested in learning more about the language.
Lincoln Sklar, a sophomore studying journalism, is one of the students interested in this course.
“I am hoping to go to Israel to do a Hebrew language study program,” Sklar said. “I am also hoping to be bar mitzvahed. I love the Jewish culture and want to learn the language and become proficient.”
Danielle Fultz, a sophomore studying French and European history, said she has been around Hebrew since she was a child but never learned to read the language because she always read the translated text.
“My mother's side of the family is Jewish and my dad's side of the family is Christian,” she said. “I grew up following both the Jewish and Christian holidays, so I was exposed to Hebrew from a young age.”
Fultz said learning Hebrew could help her lessen her reliance on the transliterated versions during services, and the crash course would also help her apply for an opportunity to study Hebrew in Israel.
“I am applying for a nationally competitive award to study Hebrew in Israel for a year,” she said. “I am hoping to begin learning the basics of the language, especially reading and writing the Hebrew alphabet. The crash course offers me an opportunity to get a head start.”
Leshaw said many opportunities could arise for students who learn more than one language.
“I think learning any language opens up opportunities for many students,” Leshaw said. “And for students interested in traveling to Israel, this is an excellent way for them to have some proficiency in the language.”
ao007510@ohiou.edu
What: Hebrew Crash Course
When: 12 p.m., Every Wednesday from Jan. 25 to Feb. 29
Where: Baker Center Room 233
Admission: Free
