L'Shon Ha-Kodesh Adult Hebrew Primer

ISBN 1-891662-40-6 Copyright © 2004 Torah Aura Productions All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Lesson 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Lesson 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Lesson 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Lesson 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Lesson 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Lesson 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Lesson 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Lesson 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Lesson 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Lesson 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

iii

Introduction Welcome to the wonderful, exciting and challenging world of Hebrew! You are about to take your first steps in learning the L’shon ha-Kodesh—the Holy Tongue of the Jewish people. May your journey be rich and rewarding!

This textbook has been designed to ease your way into Hebrew by rooting your work in words you may already know from the context of Jewish life.

Similarities and Differences Between Hebrew and English Similarities • Both languages create syllables from a single consonant plus a single vowel (an “open syllable”) or from a consonant-vowel-consonant “closed syllable.”

• Both languages can be written by hand in either “print” or “cursive” forms.

• Both languages have a virtually unlimited number of fonts for typesetting and computer work.

Differences • Hebrew is read right-to-left, the opposite of English.

• Hebrew has 22 consonant letters; vowels appear as lines and dots below, above or next to the consonants. The English alphabet has 26 letters, including both consonants and vowels.

• Hebrew has no capital consonants. However, five consonants change their shape when they appear at the end of the word.

Lesson 4

Elements Found in Each Lesson

1

Overview of New Consonants and Vowels: Each lesson begins with an overview of the consonants and vowels introduced throughout that lesson. Each consonant is printed in a large size; its name appears next to it in Hebrew and English. Each vowel is presented in a small shaded box. Vowels appear below, above and next to consonants. A small black square acts as a place holder for a Hebrew consonant in these vowel presentations.

2

“Progress Report”: At the bottom of the first page of each lesson is a row of all the Hebrew consonants in alphabetical order and a row of all the Hebrew vowels. Those presented in the iv

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson In some settings the character  is called by the name  vet. In fact, this character is a  without a dagesh and it sounds like a “v”.

 

Introduction of consonants

and

(Bet)







is called  (segol).



is called  .

(Resh)



is called  (tzeireh).

Introduction of vowels

(hataf segol)

                  28

Lesson 4

Progress Report

current lesson are colored red, those already learned are Jewish colored black, and those yet-to-be-learned are colored a pale blue. You can Life Vocabulary track your progress through the Hebrew AlefBet by following these lines of consonants and vowels at the beginning of each lesson.  = 



3

Teaching a New Consonant: We begin a new page to present each new consonant.

In a vertical box at the side of the Practice page you will find icons or pictures of Hebrew words from Jewish life that begin with the new consonant. This initial sound is highlighted in red. In addition, below the pictures, you will find other possibly familiar words that also begin with the new consonant.

Some of these may be words from the  prayerbook, some may be concepts that can’t be captured in pictures. They are translated for you.

Your teacher will help you read these words.

Practice these  words and sounds.



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

.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



.7



.8



.9





 Here are some otHer words tHat start witH .



Hanukkah ................ kindness...................... month ........................  sin ............................... 

Lesson 7

55

4

Practice: After the presentation of each new element, whether consonant or vowel, there are lines of Hebrew for you to practice. An arrow points you in the proper direction to read Hebrew right to left. In some cases, these lines contain syllables that drill the new elements; sometimes they contain real words. (By the end of the first lesson, you will be saying 2 real Hebrew words!) At the end of Lesson 2, there is a small section of words Practice@Home/ Practice @Home Website Practice these sounds. from the siddur that you can now say          aloud. These sections will grow longer         in each lesson. In addition, there are sections to practice at home. Work at         home with the help of the website is Circle all the sounds that match the sound in the colored box. essential for the growth and Exercises       development of your ability to       sound out each new Hebrew       element.

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

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.2

.3

.4

.5

.6













.7













.8













.9













.10

5

Exercises: Many lessons contain some kind of visual discrimination exercise. Sometimes you will circle similar sounding elements. Sometimes

Lesson 1

v

7

you will note elements that manifest a particular sound. Sometimes you will match elements that sound the same.

6

Writing Practice: In each lesson you will have the opportunity to write consonants, Writing Practice vowels and words. Your practice is guided in numbered steps to create printed or cursive forms of the Hebrew elements.

Your teacher will help direct your choice.

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a . print

1

4

5

3

2 4

script

3

2 1

Practice printing or writing a .

1

4

2

3 1

7

4

2

Roots: In every lesson you will learn one or two Practice printing or writing a . “roots.” Hebrew words are usually built from a three-consonant foundation called a shoresh or “root.” We present each shoresh and list several words with which you may be Now print or write your first two words.

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? familiar that grow from that honor = shoresh. Your teacher may need heavy = to help you with some of these liver = words. You won’t be able to  recognize all the elements of Roots these words in the beginning lessons of the book. A brief essay explains deeper meanings and levels of understanding of each root and its related words.

Siddur Here are some words and phrases from the .

Practice By the end of the book, you        r will have learned 19 shorashim Siddu s       Word (roots) that form the basis of       many important ideas of Jewish       living.

3

1

3

1

3

5



print

2

4

5

6

script

2

4

  Lesson 1

The shoresh means “heavy” in one context; it forms the base of “honor” or “respect” in another context.

 “liver”—the largest organ in the human body—weighing about 3 pounds  “heavy” in weight, also “difficult”

 “respect” or “honor”

Moses responds to God’s call for him to speak to Pharaoh and lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt with the words - “Heavy of mouth and heavytongued am I.” Pharaoh was not ready to let the Children of Israel go.  “Pharaoh’s heart was heavy” (with stubbornness).

And from the Ten Commandments: -- “Honor your father and your mother.”

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.2

.3

.4

48

Lesson 6

The Website This entire textbook is replicated on an interactive website, which you can find at www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. You will need a user name and password code (found on the Practice@Home pages) to access the site. Click with your curser to hear a word or a line of Hebrew or to hear any other element on the page. On a page where you find a “pencil exercise,” an “Answer” button appears on the website. Clicking it will reveal the exercise with the answers appropriately marked. We recommend regular practice using the website between class sessions! vi

Lesson 1

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson

(Bet)



  

(Shin)



and



this represents any Hebrew consonant

is called  (kamatz). sounds like sha



(Tav)



this represents any Hebrew consonant

is called  (patah).

sounds like sha

                 

1 Lesson 1



 =  Hebrew reads from right to left.

The arrow will point the way.

          .1

          .2

          .3

 





       .4

Circle the sounds in each line that say “sha.”











.5









.6

 

 

 

 

Here are some other words that start with .



.7

year...............................  listen!.......................... 

.8

name...............................  Divine Presence.....

2 Lesson 1



 =  Now read and read again.

          .1

         .2

      

.3





         .4        

.5

       .6

       

.7

 Here are some other words that start with .



blessed...................... 

Can you guess what this word says?



blessing...................  Children...... of Israel son/.....





daughter of commandment

Lesson 1

3



=

Practice these sounds with .

Now you can read…

        .1

       .2

       







.5







.6







 



.3

       .4

Circle the words that say Shabbat.



 

 

.7

.8

Hebrew consonants sometimes have a dot in them.

This dot is called a dagesh. In most cases the dagesh does not change the sound of the consonant.

Here are some other words that start with .



thanks.......................  Talmud..................  prayer......................  repentance...........

4 Lesson 1

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? sabbatical = 

Shabbat = 

labor strike = 

he rested =  and he rested = 





The shoresh means “cease,” “desist” or “rest.” We first encounter this shoresh in the Torah at the end of the account of God’s creation of the world. (Your teacher will help with the Hebrew; our shoresh has been highlighted for you in English and Hebrew.)

And God finished on the seventh day The work that was made; God ceased/rested on the seventh day From all the work that was done.

God blessed the seventh day And made it holy For on it God ceased/rested from all the work Which God in creating had made. Genesis 2.2–3

    



    





The Jewish notion of Shabbat/Sabbath and the various laws regarding its observance come directly from these verses. We learn (among other things) that we stop doing what we do every day and make one day distinctive and different to imitate God’s actions during Creation. Traditional observance of  directs our attention away from daily ordinariness toward the holy. Our Torah adds to that notion later in Exodus: And on the seventh day God ceased/rested, and was refreshed/re-souled. exodus 31.17



We learn that there is a purpose to the stopping: we become refreshed—from the word nefesh (soul)—as did God. That which we cease to do and that with which we busy ourselves on Shabbat point to the re-creation of ourselves that only such restful cessation can bring. Our tradition teaches that it is as though we receive an extra soul on Shabbat.

How we make the most of that gift is up to us.

Lesson 1

5

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a . print

1

4

5

3

2 4

script

3

2 1

Practice printing or writing a .

1

4

2

3 1 4

2

3

Practice printing or writing a .

1 3

5

print

2

4 1 3

5

script

2

4

Now print or write your first two words.

 

6 Lesson 1

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Practice these sounds.





  







 



 

 



  



 

  .1  .2   .3

Circle all the sounds that match the sound in the colored box.











 .4











































 .8





 



 .9







 .10

Lesson 1





7

.5

 .6 

.7

Lesson 2

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson

(Dalet)

  



(Lamed)



and

  (Mem Sofit)



this represents any Hebrew consonant

is called  (holam).





(Mem)



this represents any Hebrew consonant

is called  (hirik).

this represents any Hebrew consonant

is called  (sh’va).

                 

8 Lesson 2



 = 



Practice these sounds and words with .

        .1

       .2

      

      .4

     

      .6

      



.3

.5

 Here are some other words that start with

.7

     .8

.

language...................... night..........................  to life!................... ! latkes.................. 

Lesson 2

9

 =  Practice these sounds and words.

       .1

       .2

     

      .4

Now read this!

      

.3

 =  =  .5

      .6      

.7

     .8

10 Lesson 2



=



Practice these sounds and words with  and .

 .1  .2

 .3 Now you can read…



  .4



 .5



  .6 



  .7

Here are some other words that start with .



ruler.............................  commandment........  family................. 

Lesson 2

11

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

peace = complete = pay =





The shoresh means “whole,” “complete” or “integral” and imparts a profound sense of connectiveness to the words derived from it.

When we consider the word  and translate it as “peace,” we often miss the appreciation that it goes far beyond the mere absence of war. True  denotes a wholeness or completeness that negates the possibility of war, but is not necessarily its opposite.

A simple greeting, “” asks more than “How are you?”—at least more than we usually mean when we ask in English! The question really speaks to the completeness and integrity of one’s being. Granted, when in Israel, the greeting may get no more than cursory attention from the greeter or the respondent, but the implications are certainly there.

The traditional way to wish someone well if he or she is ill is to wish, “” “complete healing.”

The capital city of Israel,  Jerusalem, derives from this shoresh, understood as “City of Peace.” What an irony: in times of tension and division, the city is far from complete or whole. Yet, such integrity is the ideal.

12 Lesson 2

Now we can learn the tiniest vowel. Here it is: It goes under its consonant like this:

  is called a  Sometimes it is followed

 = 

by the tiniest consonant, like this:

 = 



 = 

sounds like she.

 =   =  Make these "ee" sounds.

 .1

 .2



  .4

Lesson 2

 13

.3

.5

 = 





Practice these lines with  sounds on them.

 .1

 .2



 .3

 .4



.5

 .6 

.7

 .8

 Here are some other words that start with .



sermon.........................  path..............................  generation.....................  judge................................

14 Lesson 2



Here is the quietest sound in the whole world.

Draw lines to connect similar sounds.









 = 





 = 





 = 





 = 





 = 

Practice these words.

Three basic rules will help you pronounce words with a  sh’va.

  .1

 .2

• If the  appears under the first consonant of a word, it sounds like the “a” in the word “about” or the first “e” in the word “believe.”





 



While not technically a vowel, we will treat the  as a vowel in this book.

Lesson 2

15

.3

  .4

• If the  appears under the last consonant of a word, or in the middle of a word, it is silent.

• If two  symbols appear together in a word, the first is silent and the second sounds like it’s under the first consonant.

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? male student = 

to learn = 

female student = you taught = students =

to teach =

learning Torah =

Talmud =





The shoresh means “learn,” or “study.”

One structure of the verb means “teach.” We all know that in order to teach, one must first learn.

How appropriate that Hebrew points the way for us linguistically!

The , the authoritative compendium of Oral Law is derived from this shoresh and encompasses both notions of study and teach.

In our morning liturgy, we find a section from the  that lists commandments for which “one enjoys the fruit in this world while the principal remains for all eternity.” At the end of that list, we find:  “And the study of Torah is equal to them all.”

The assumption is that the study of Torah is equal to all the other commandments because study leads to them all.

Our tradition places profound significance on study and learning. In contemporary times, that emphasis has expanded beyond  to include all areas of academic endeavor.

16 Lesson 2

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

1

2

print

3 4

3

script

1

3

2

2

1

print

2

1

script

Practice printing or writing a  and a .

2

4

print 1 3 1

print

2 4 3

1

3

script

2

1

script

3

2

Practice printing or writing a .

1

print

2

1

script 2

3

Now print or write these words.

  Lesson 2

17

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Practice these words.





























 .1





 .2

  





r u d d i S s d r o W



 





.3

 .4 

.5

 .6

Practice these words from the .





 



.7

  .8

18 Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson

(Hey)



 

(Akef)



and

 

(Nun)



(Nun Sofit)



is called  .

(hataf patah)

                  Lesson 3

19

 =  Practice these words that have an  in them. Here’s a secret—Just say the vowel!







 .1

 .2





 = 













.3



 .4

This vowel   is called a .

We say it just like the , the .



.5

 .6



.7

   .8

1 

Here are some other words that start with .



God....................... true............................. you.............................. I....................................... 

20 Lesson 3



= 

Practice these lines with our new consonant .

 .1

  .2  

.3

  .4





.5

 Now practice these words from the .

dur d i S W ords

Lesson 3

 .6  

.7

  .8 21

Here are some other words that start with .



prophet.......................  miracle............................... breath......................  soul............................... 

Can you see the three consonants  in these words?

So be it! =



faith = faithful =

 

 

The shoresh has several different meanings. In Jewish worship we encounter it most often in the word (meaning “so be it”) recited as a response to a  blessing. When God’s four-letter name was spoken by the  priests in the Temple, the response was: Blessed is Adonai, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen. PSALMS 41.14

  .



Following the destruction of the Temple, the response was shortened to . This response may have developed from the people’s inability to repeat the prayers correctly. Since early prayer was oral (there were no written  prayerbooks), worshippers mostly repeated the words of the leader. Those who did not know the accepted texts could merely listen.

The leader marked each prayer’s conclusion with a pause. Worshippers could then insert their response, , in its proper place. By concentrating on the words of the leader, the response  fostered participation and manifested the worshipper’s agreement with the words of the text. Saying  gave them credit for saying the whole prayer.

Other words derived from the shoresh  include:

 nurse

 train or educate

 education  artist/craftsperson  pact or treaty

can also be an acronym for the words “God is a faithful Ruler.”

22 Lesson 3



At the end of the word,  is silent.

 But otherwise sounds like HA



Practice these sounds and words.

 .1

  .2

  .3

  .4

  .5

  .6

 .7

  .8



 Here are some other words that start with

.

Jewish law..............  parents....................  mountain.........................  hallelujah!........... 

Lesson 3

23

If two consonants appear together in a word and the first consonant has a  under it, such as in  (see line 11) or , the  is said and sounds like “e” in between.

Practice these words. How many do you recognize?





 















 



.3

 .4





 .1

 



 .2













 

 

.5

 .6 

.7

  .8

  .9   .10   .11 24 Lesson 3

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

red = earth = made red =



   means “red,” most probably deriving from the word  which

The shoresh means “blood.”

 is the color of the “stew” Jacob was cooking when his brother Esau returned from hunting hungry and tired. Because Esau wanted to eat of that “red, red stuff,” his name was changed to .

The Israeli equivalent of the American Red Cross is called  —“The Red Star of David.”

The same three Hebrew consonants form the word  meaning “human being.” In Genesis we learn that  was formed from the dust of the —the “soil” or “dust of the earth,” possibly also derived from the word .

Practice some words built from shorashim you’ve studied or will study soon.

 .1

  .2

  Lesson 3

25

.3

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing an . print

1

2

3

1 3

script

2

Practice printing or writing a  and a .

1

print

2

3

1

print

2

1

script

1

script

2

Practice printing or writing a .

1 2 3

1 3

2

print

script

Now print or write these words.

    26 Lesson 3

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Practice these words.





  





















 .1





 .2

  









.3

  .4 

.5

  .6



r u d d i S s d r o W 

Lesson 3







.7



.8

Practice these words from the .

 





27









  .9

Lesson 4

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson In some settings the character  is called by the name  vet. In fact, this character is a  without a dagesh and it sounds like a “v”.

  and

(Bet)







is called  (segol).



(Resh)



is called  (tzeireh).

is called  .

(hataf segol)

                  28 Lesson 4



Practice these words with a .



 .1

 = 

 .2 

 .3

  .4

  .5



  .6

r u d d i S s d r o W

Here are some words from the .

 .7

 .8

  .9

 .10 Lesson 4

29

 Here are some other words that start with .



New Year... 



mercy....................  heal...........................  pomegranates...... Torah crowns

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

Sometimes the  changes into a .

taught = Torah = teacher = parents =

 

 

The shoresh means “pour,” “teach” or “instruct”. One can easily find connections among the Hebrew words above and the notions of teaching.

 God’s ultimate teaching. We are told in our tradition  “The more Torah, the more life.” Avot 2:7

 “Teacher.” A teacher is, perhaps, best equipped to “pour” instruction into the heads of his or her students.

 “Parents.” A person’s earliest teachers are one’s parents.

Practice these words.

 .1

 .2

 .3

30 Lesson 4

Practice these sounds and words.

 .1

 .2

 .3

 .4

 .5

 .6

 .7

  



 .8

 .9

 .10

  =  Lesson 4

Some people pronounce these two vowels differently.

In Israel, they are pronounced virtually the same— somewhere between the “e” in bed and the “ay” in day. It’s a hard sound to pronounce correctly.

Now practice these sounds and words with a  .

 .11 31

.

To Dot or Not to Dot

The is very important.

It’s called a dagesh.

When it’s in , we say BA. When it’s not there, as in , we say VA.



This is one of those times when the dagesh changes the sound of the consonant.

Practice these sounds and words.

 .1

  .2  

  .4

 

r u d d i S s d r o W

.3

.5

Here are some words from the .

  .6  .7

  .8

  .9 32 Lesson 4

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? love = You have loved us = and you shall love =

The shoresh





means “love” or “affection.”

 “Eternal Love”—The prayer that follows the  in the evening service.

It speaks of the loving relationship between God and the people of Israel, and the mitzvot from God that manifest that love.  “Much Love”—The prayer that follows the  in the morning service. It, too, speaks of the loving relationship between God and Israel with Torah as the ketubah, the marriage contract between them.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19.8

A little grammar workout.

…

…

Lesson 4















 33

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

1

print

2

1

script

Practice printing or writing a .

1

print

2

3 1 2

script

3

Now print or write these words.

      

34 Lesson 4

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Practice these words.

  .1

  .2

  .3

 .4

 .5

 .6

  .7

  .8

r u d d i S Words

Practice these words from the .

 .9   .10

 .11 Lesson 4

35

Lesson 5

Meet the Consonants for this Lesson

(Tet)



  

(Vav)



and

(Ayin)



                 

36 Lesson 5



=

Practice these new sounds and words.

  .1



  .2

  .3

  .4

  .5

  .6



     .7

 Here are some other words that start with .



and you shall.......  love and you shall........  speak

In these words the  makes no sound.

 .8 Lesson 5

37

and you shall......  teach them and you shall..........  guard



= 

Practice these  sounds and words.

 .1

 .2

 .3

  .4

  .5

 .6

 .7

 .8

 .9

  ”

 Here are some other words that start with .



dew.................................. pure...........................  non-kosher............. 

38 Lesson 5

ei =  =  “ei” as in “neighbor”

r u d d i S & s d r o W s e s a r Ph

Lesson 5

Here are some words and phrases from the  you can read!

 .1   .2



.3

  .4 

.5

  .6 

.7

  .8

39

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? Sometimes the  changes into a .

thanked = thanks = give thanks = to give thanks =

The shoresh  

means “thank.”

 “Thank you very much”



 

 “We thank You…” (a blessing of thanksgiving in the )   “Good to give thanks”

More Hebrew Roots Here are some more Hebrew roots you haven’t studied.

The root in the box is part of each word on that line.

Scan and practice each line. Can you find all the letters of the root?

Sometimes





.1





.2





.3





.4

final  the drops out.

40 Lesson 5



 = 

Try these words and sounds with  in them.

  .2

  .3



 .1



 .4 

.5

 =  say eye

iddur S rds & Wo ses ra Ph

Here are some words from the .

  .6   .7

    .8

 .9

Lesson 5

41

 Here are some other words that start with .



................ 

nation

.......... 

cosmos

...... 

standing prayer

......... 

going up called up to the Torah

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? evening =  mix =  make mixture/make evening/ =  evenings = 

The shoresh context.





means “mix” in one context; it forms the base of “evening” in another

- -  “There was evening, there was morning, a first day.”

Genesis 1.5

Circle the

two words on each line that are spelled differently but sound exactly alike.

  “Who makes evening the evenings/Who mixes the evenings”.   is the first prayer after  in the evening service.  “To mix one thing with another; to stir”  An “enclosed private area” within which the Torah permits carrying on Shabbat and Yom Kippur. Such an area enclosed and considered “private” may vary in size from a small home to an entire community.

        .1      

  .2

      .3       .4

42 Lesson 5

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

1 2

print

1

script

Practice printing or writing a .

2

print

1

4 3 2

script

1

Practice printing or writing an .

3

1

print

2 1 2

script

3

Now print or write these words.

       Lesson 5

43

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Here are some words from the .

r Siddu & ords s W e

s a r h P

 .1   .2

   .3

    .4

 .5

 .6

Practice these words.

 .7

 .8

 .9

 .10

44 Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson

  (Kaf)



  (Kaf Sofit)

and

(Yud)



In some settings the character  and the  are called by the name  khaf and  khaf sofit respectively. In fact, they are  consonants without a dagesh. They each sound like “kh”.

(Kaf)







is called  (kubbutz).

is called  (shuruk).

                  Lesson 6

45



 = 

Practice these  words and sounds.

 .1

  .2

 .3

  .4

  .5

 .6   .7  .8





 Here are some other words that start with .



honor........................  strength..........................  priest.............................  Jewish marriage ...  contract

46 Lesson 6





sounds like

sounds like

KA

KHA

 .1

  .2  .3

This is a final , which comes at the end of a word.

Unlike the final consonants  or , a  can have a vowel— and  or a dagesh— and .

Lesson 6



.4



.5



.6



.7



.8



.9

47

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

honor = heavy = liver =





The shoresh means “heavy” in one context; it forms the base of “honor” or “respect” in another context.

 “liver”—the largest organ in the human body—weighing about 3 pounds

 “heavy” in weight, also “difficult”

 “respect” or “honor”

Moses responds to God’s call for him to speak to Pharaoh and lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt with the words - “Heavy of mouth and heavytongued am I.” Pharaoh was not ready to let the Children of Israel go.  “Pharaoh’s heart was heavy” (with stubbornness).

And from the Ten Commandments: - - “Honor your father and your mother.”

Here are some words and phrases from the .

r u d d i S Words

      

.1

     

.2

     

.3

     

.4

48 Lesson 6

 =  Sound out these  words and sounds.

Lesson 6







.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



.7



.8

 

.9

49



 Here are some other words that start with .



wine..................................  Jew............................  create..........................  awe........................... 

   



They sound like Boo! Now you can sound out these beyooootiful sounds and words.



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



.7



.8



.9

50 Lesson 6

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? The root is found in every .



blessed =  bless (plural) =  the One Who is blessed = 

The shoresh shoresh.

   means “bless.” Many words and phrases are derived from this

 “Welcome”: The traditional greeting to the bride and groom that welcomes them under the hupah.

 “May the One who blessed…”: The first two words in the prayer said on behalf of those who are ill.

  “Knee”: We bend at the knee and bow from the waist when we say  at the beginning of a .

  “A blessing”: A sentence or paragraph of Hebrew prayer that begins with the word .

We find a wonderful collection of words derived from the shoresh  in the Torah when God calls to the patriarch Abraham for the first time.

Adonai said to Avram: “Go forth from your land and your birthplace and from your father’s house to the place that I will show you.

I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you And I will make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you And those who curse you will I curse And all the families of the land Will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:1-3 Lesson 6

51

            

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a  and , ,.

1 2

print

2

print

4 3 1

3 1

print

2

1

script

2

1

script

1

script

1 3 2

Practice printing or writing a .

1 2

print

1

script

Now print or write these words.

  

52 Lesson 6

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Here are some words and phrases from the .

r S iddu & ords s W hrase P

 stands for

God’s name.

It is pronounced “Adonai”.

  .1  .2

 .3

 .4

  .5

  .6

  .7

  .8

  .9

  .10



 .11

Lesson 6

53

Lesson 7

Meet the Consonants and Vowels for this Lesson

  and

(Samekh)





(Het)

is called   (holam haser).









is called   .

(hataf kammatz)

is called   (kamatz katan).

                 

54 Lesson 7



 = 

Practice these  words and sounds.



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



.7



.8



.9





 Here are some other words that start with .



Hanukkah................. kindness....................... month.........................  sin................................ 

Lesson 7

55

at the end of a word

 becomes 

r Sidduses Phra



.1



.2



.3

 stands for

Practice these phrases from the .

  .4



 

.5

 .6



God’s name.

It is pronounced “Adonai”.



.7

  .8

  .9 56 Lesson 7

Oh, Oh, Oh Sometimes the  vowel is written with the vav: .

And sometimes the  is written without the vav: .



.1



.2



.3



.4

 = 

Sometimes the same word is spelled in different ways.









 .5





 .6







 =  The 

=

 .8

sounds like .

Lesson 7

 .7

57



Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

Sometimes the final  drops out.



he was = he will be = to be =

  

The shoresh means “be.” In Hebrew, there is no form of “be” as participle (present tense). The verb is fully represented in the past and future tenses; however, the third consonant  often disappears, making this a very irregular verb!

In the hymn we find a full exposition of the verb and the theology it helps express. Many of us know  as a closing hymn of the morning service. It is also part of the traditional liturgy when one says  right before going to bed. Many people say that it helps them fall asleep faster and awake more refreshed in the morning.

After all has ceased to be,



God, the Awesome One, will reign alone.

It is God Who was, God Who is, and God Who shall be in splendor.

  

In the Torah account of Moses and God at the burning bush, Moses asks God to help him identify God when the Israelites ask Moses who sent him to free them. God responds with one of the most enigmatic and widely debated statements in Torah, using the verb . Here we are indebted to Everett Fox and his translation from The Five Books of Moses.

God said to Moses:  “I will be-there howsoever I will be-there/I am that I am”  [God] said: “Thus shall you say to the Children of Israel:  ‘Eh-yeh/I-Will-Be-There sends me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 

58 Lesson 7



 = 

Practice these  words and sounds.



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6









.7





Here are some other words that start with .



.8

book.............................  order............................ 

.9

forgiveness...........  Sinai.............................. 

Lesson 7

59

Practice these phrases from the .

 .1

r u d d i S ses Phra

  .2

 .3

  .4



 .6

 

.5

.7

  .8

  .9

   .10







   .11

60 Lesson 7

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

1 3

print

2

1

script

2

Practice printing or writing a .

1

print

2

1

script

Now print or write these words.

       Lesson 7

61

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Add the consonant or vowel in the box to the words to practice these words.

        



.1





.2

       



.3

   



.4

      



.5

r Siddu s Word

Here are some words from the .



.6



.7



.8



.9

62 Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Meet the Consonants for this Lesson

   In some settings the character  and the  are called by the name  feh and  feh sofit respectively. In fact, they are  consonants without a dagesh. They each sound like “f”.

(Sin)



and

(Peh)



(Peh)



  (Peh Sofit)

                  Lesson 8

63



 = 

Practice these lines filled with scintillating  sounds and words.



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



Ask your teacher why the  and  are big in this sentence.





.7





Here are some other words that start with .



.8

joy...............................  conversation............ 

.9

happy.......................... 

64 Lesson 8

Can you see the shoresh  in these words? Sometimes the  drops out.

makes = will make = your makings =

 



The shoresh means “do” or “make.” It is different than the root  that means “create.”

And God finished on the seventh day  The work that was made;  God ceased/rested on the seventh day  From all the work that was done.   God blessed the seventh day  And made it holy   For on it God ceased/rested from all the work    Which God in creating had made. Genesis 2.2–3 

Now practice this prayer that asks God to make peace.

r u d d i S ses Phra

  .1  .2



  .3

Lesson 8

65

Look how much you can sound out! It’s awesome!

 .1

 .2

 .3

” .4

 .5

 .6

 .7

 .8

 .9

 .10

 .11

66 Lesson 8



 = 

Practice these  words and sounds.

 .1

 .2

 .3



 .4

 .5

 .6

 .7

 .8

 Here are some other words that start with

.

fruit of...........................  face.............................  Torah portion.........  open.......................... 

Lesson 8

67

Sometimes the



turns into a

 .

Practice these sounds and words with a



.1

  

.2



.3



.4



.5



.6

The

.



has a final form



.



.7



.8



.9

68 Lesson 8

Practice these phrases from the .

  .1

r u d d i S ses Phra

  .2

 .3

  .4

 .5

 .6

    .7

 .8

 .9

  .10

   .11

 .12

Lesson 8











69

Can you see the shoresh in these words?

book = scribe = tell =

The shoresh

   means “count” in one context and “recount” or “tell” in another.

 Library

 Story

 Librarian

 Torah scroll

 Scribe

 “Holy Scriptures”—the Jewish Bible, including Torah, Prophets and Writings

 “Book of Life”—from our High Holiday liturgy—the book in which God inscribes the fate of each person for the coming year.

iddur s S e

Phras



Practice these phrases from a High Holy Day prayer.

  .1



  .2

 .3 70 Lesson 8

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

5 4 1

print

3

2 4

script

3

2

1

Practice printing or writing a  and , ,.

1 4

2

print

2

print

5

6

3 1 4 5 3 1 2

4

print

5

1

script

4 3 2 1

script

3 2 3 4

script

1 2

Now print or write these words.

   Lesson 8

71

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Practice, practice and more practice.

r Sidduses Phra

 .1  .2

  .3

 .4

 .5

  .6

   .7

 .8

     .9





  .10

72 Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Meet the Consonants for this Lesson

(Gimel)



  and

(Zayin)



                  Lesson 9

73



 =  Practice these  words and sounds.



.1



.2



.3

  

.4

   

.5



     

.6

  

.7

Here are some other words that start with .



 





time................................. 

.8

this....................................  feeds.................................... remembers..................

74 Lesson 9

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

remembers =  remember us = 



remembrance = 

The shoresh

 

means “remember.”

 Literally “He will remember”—the memorial service that is part of the liturgy on Yom Kippur and the three major festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot

 

 “May their memory be for blessing”

 “May the memory of the righteous be for blessing”

r u d d i S ses Phra

Practice these phrases from the  that have words built form the root .

 

.1



.2

 

.3



.4

Lesson 9

75



 = 

Practice these  words and sounds.





.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6

  .7 

.8





Here are some other words that start with .



vine.................................  .........   acts of loving kindness redemption..............  Garden of Eden..... 



76 Lesson 9

Practice these  phrases.

r Sidduses Phra



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6

Did you remember that sometimes dots If  is “oo” and  is “va,” what’s this: ?

Answer: =VA



 So if  already has a vowel—, are not pronounced?



don’t pronounce the other dot— .



Lesson 9

77

.7

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

redeemed =  our Reedemer =  redemption = 

The shoresh

 

 

means “redeem.”

We first encounter this shoresh at the end of the Book of Genesis, as Jacob blesses Joseph and his sons.

- the angel who delivers me from all evil.”

We see it again in Exodus as one of God’s four promises of deliverance from Egypt.

 “And I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.”

r Sidduses Phra

 “Redemption”  that follows the  in the evening and morning service, including the section that begins “.”

Practice these three phrases from the  that have words built from the root .

 .1

  .2

  .3



78 Lesson 9

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

1

print

2

1

script

2 3

Practice printing or writing a .

1

print

2 3

1

script

2 3

Now print or write these words.

       Lesson 9

79

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice @Home Practice, practice and more practice.

r u d d i S ses Phra

  .1   .2

  .3

 .4

  .5

  .6

   .7

  .8

   .9

80 Lesson 9

Lesson 10

Meet the Consonants for this Lesson

  (Kuf)



and

  (Tzadi Sofit)

(Tzadi)



                  Lesson 10

81



 = 

Practice these  words and sounds.



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6





Here are some other words that start with



 

.7

.

voice.............................. 

.8

congregation..........  fixed.............................  Kabbalah.................  kibbutz...................... 

82 Lesson 10

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

Holy = makes Holy = made us Holy =





The shoresh means “sanctify/make holy/set apart.” This root appears in the formula we use when we say a  for doing a . This helps us realize that the performance of that mitzvah is a way of elevating ourselves to a higher level of holiness.

 Holy, sacred

 Kaddish (memorial prayer)

 Kiddush (sanctification). Prayer said over wine sanctifying holidays

 Holiness/ sanctity

 Holiness/ sanctity

 Holy Ark where the Torah scrolls are kept

r u d d i S ses Phra

Practice these three phrases

from the  that have words built form the root .

Lesson 10



.1



.2



.3



.4

83





says TZA

Practice these  words and sounds.



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



.7



 Here are some other words that start with .



Sinai.............................. 



 is very sneaky word. In  the  is both the letter  (vav) and the vowel  (holam).



.8

righteousness.............. image..........................  righteous person......

84 Lesson 10

=  Practice these words and phrases that end in  .



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6

Lesson 10





85



.7

Here are lots of  phrases for you to practice.

See how many of these prayers you know!



.1



.2



.3



.4



.5



.6



.7



.8



.9



.10

r u d d i S es s a r h P



86 Lesson 10

Can you see the shoresh  in these words?

Sometimes the  drops out.

he commanded = commandment = and He commanded us = with God’s = commandments



 

The shoresh means “command” or “give instruction.” One of the most wellknown words derived from this shoresh is , which means “commandment.” It has become more popularly understood as “good deed.” If you think about it, all those ethical actions that have come to be labeled —good deeds—are also commandments from God.  encompass every aspect of our lives: how we wake up in the morning, what we eat, how we conduct business and social activities, how we engage in ritual observances, what we wear… everything!

In the Bible, we hear Rebekkah tell Jacob to bring meat to his father Isaac, in place of Esau so that Isaac will bless Jacob before he dies:

 “Now, my son, listen to my voice, to what I instruct you.”

In many of our  for ritual activities, we include this  twice in the formula we use: … Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy with commandments, and commands us to…

Lesson 10

87

Writing Practice Practice printing or writing a .

1 2

4

print

3

1

script

2

Practice printing or writing a  and a .

1 3

print 2

2

print

1

script

1 2

3 4

script

1

2

Now print or write these words.

     88 Lesson 10

To review this lesson go to www.lshonhakodesh.torahaura.com. Your user name is ivrit and your password is 121282.

Practice  .

Final Practice

  .1

 .2







    .3

  .4

   .5

  .6

 .7

. .8

    .9

  .10

  .11

  .12

  .13

Lesson 10

89

Here’s , the National Anthem of Israel. You can now sound it out, and perhaps you can even sing it!



 .1   .2    .3   .4  .5  .6



  .7   .8

90 Lesson 10

Hebrew consonant and vowel Chart Script Final

‫ם‬ ‫ן‬

‫ף‬ ‫ץ‬

‫ת‬

‫ל‬ ‫מ‬ ‫נ‬ ‫ס‬ ‫ע‬ ‫פּ‬ ‫פ‬ ‫צ‬ ‫ק‬ ‫ר‬ ‫שׁ‬ ‫שׂ‬ ‫תּ‬

Print Final

pronunciation

Name

Consonant Final



‫ל‬

l

Lamed

‫ם‬

‫מ‬

m

Mem

 

‫ן‬

‫נ‬

n

Nun



‫ס‬

d

Samekh



‫ע‬

silent

Ayin



‫פּ‬

p

‫ף‬

‫פ‬

f

‫ץ‬

‫צ‬

tz

Tzadi

‫ק‬

k/q

Kaf



‫ר‬

r

Resh



‫שׁ‬

sh

Shin



‫שׂ‬

s

Sin



‫תּ‬

t

Tav

 

‫ת‬

Sound

oh oo



Peh





   

Vowel



kammatz katan hataf kammatz

‫א‬ ‫בּ‬ ‫ב‬ ‫ג‬ ‫ד‬ ‫ה‬ ‫ו‬ ‫ז‬ ‫ח‬ ‫ט‬ ‫י‬ ‫כּ‬  ‫כ‬

Print Final



Pronunciation

b

‫ב‬

v

‫ג‬

g

Gimmel



‫ד‬

d

Dalet



‫ה‬

h

Hey



‫ו‬

v

Vav



‫ז‬

z

Zayin



‫ח‬

like clearning your throat

Het



‫ט‬

t

Tet



‫י‬

y

Yud



‫כּ‬

k

‫כ‬

like clearning your throat

Bet







hataf patah

patah

kammatz





hataf segol

segol

ah





eh



eh or ei

tzereh



ei

tzereh



i



ee

sh’va



patah yud

kammatz yud

ooey

shuruk yud

oy

holam yud

av

Kaf

Vowel

 shuruk



‫בּ‬

Alef

holam malei

kubbutz

Consonant FInal

silent

holam haser



Name

‫א‬

Sound

silent/short sound

ai



Script Final

   hirik



hirik yud

 

 

  

Lesson 1

92