Your first step to a better understanding of the scriptures, that brings you closer to the Hebrew Bible
Join the course
"First Step to the Hebrew Bible"
and start reading the Hebrew alphabet within a month!
Although many like me have a deep passion for the Hebrew Bible, and are eager to explore its depths further, a lot of them encounter a problem: They feel far from the Bible because they know it only through intermediaries. The access is locked because the original language, Hebrew, is a serious entry barrier for those who want to access the source themselves.
If you are excited about the Hebrew language, if you are curious to discover the depth of the Hebrew Bible in its original language, this course is for you.
At the end of the course, you will receive the key to the Hebrew Bible, and you can start reading the alphabet yourself. This is the first step on the way to a true understanding of biblical Hebrew.
Who am I?
Shalom, My name is Or Liber, and I am a PhD student in biblical studies in Israel. I am from Eliav, a nice and small place in Israel where religious and non-religious people Live in a diverse and liberal community. I have the privilege of raising my two children there, together with my wife Tal.
After years of learning and teaching in schools and at the Hebrew University in Israel, I believe that I can help many fulfill they dream: Find new treasures of the Bible by learning biblical Hebrew.
My certificates and degrees:
- B.A with honors in Biblical Studies and Hebrew Language at the Hebrew University
- M.A in biblical studies at the Hebrew University
- Currently PhD student in biblical studies at Bar-Ilan University
- Teaching certificate from “The Kerem Institute for Humanistic Jewish Education" in Jerusalem.
The course in general:
- Learning in small groups with personal attention through WhatsApp.
- Online learning from Israel to anywhere in the world.
- Practical approach and content enrichment.
- Studying by using the 'flipped classroom' method.
Now let's dive into the details
How the course works?
After payment, you will receive an email with a link to our first class, which will be held on Sundays at [time], starting between the dates [dates]; this is the regular time for all other classes.
In the same email, you will also receive additional items:
1. An explanatory video for the first lesson + the course booklet
2. A playlist of songs from the course that will accompany us throughout.
3. A link to the WhatsApp group of the course (don't forget to say "Shalom" you join the group).
Additionally, you'll gain access to the members' website of the course, where we will upload all the course contents. Access to the website will continue even after the course ends.
That's it! After that, we'll just meet in the first class on [date], at [time].
What are the goals of the course?
The purpose of the course is to give you the key to the gate of the great palace: the Hebrew Bible. The key, of course, is the most basic thing needed to access the Hebrew Bible: the knowledge of reading. In the course, you will get to know all the letters and vowels, and through this, you will start to build a basic vocabulary: shalom, thank you, I, you, etc. Studying biblical Hebrew is a long journey, but I believe it should be started with a short sprint: a month of good work and continuing from there.
Another goal, equally important, is to delve into the Bible while learning the Hebrew alphabet. For instance, we can incorporate the word "לֵב" [lev = heart], which we will encounter in the second lesson, into a verse as follows: "The לֵב of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Prov. 16:9). Once we have encountered the word in the verse, it serves as an excellent prompt for discussion. This verse reveals that according to the Bible, the heart encompasses not only feelings, as commonly believed in the modern world, but also encompasses planning and rationality. The separation we make between feelings and rational thoughts, between the heart and the mind , is not so sharp in the Bible.
This is just one example, providing a glimpse of the wealth of insights that can be gained from studying the Bible alongside learning Hebrew.
So how do we actually learn?
The course lasts a month and a week - four lessons plus a bonus lesson. We will learn via Zoom on a predetermined day and time. Each lesson will last an hour, and the recordings of the lessons will be sent to the participants after the lesson. Even if you could not make it to the class, you will receive the recording.
The method:
We will learn in a practical and live method. Emphasis is placed on correct reading and correct pronunciation of the words. I always demonstrate, and you follow me. Songs are a wonderful way to enjoy the Bible and on the way to learn the words - we will introduce songs that include verses from the Hebrew Bible through the playlist that will be sent to you with the first email.
In addition, we will learn using a unique method known as the "reverse class": first, the students will learn the basic information of the lesson at home using my explanatory video, and then in class, we will repeat the material a second time, practice together, and broaden our horizons.
Another educational tool we will use is the WhatsApp group. In the WhatsApp group, you can help each other for practice, and there you will also upload recordings of yourself reading Hebrew, and I will correct as needed.
Hebrew Bible First steps with Or Liber -
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Lifting the neck
Topic: - Consonants: ב, בּ, ט, ל, ם, ק, ר, שׁ, א, ח, נ. silent ו, ה - Vowels : אֶ, אָ, אוֹ, אֹ, אִ, אִי, אֵ, אֲ
- Adjective follows noun
Description: We will begin the process of becoming familiar with the Hebrew alphabet by learning simple phrases such as 'good morning' (בֹּקֶר טוֹב) and 'peace' (שָׁלוֹם) in Hebrew, along with the consonants and vowels that comprise them. We will further lay the groundwork for reading Hebrew fluently by introducing additional exercises and teaching the pronoun 'I' for self-expression.
A song to be learned: The alphabet song.
Lesson 2: Rolling over on the back
Topic: - Consonants: ה, כ, מ, ת, צ, ו, י, שׂ silent א, - Vowels: אוּ, אַ, אְ silent, אְ vocal. - Singular Subject Pronouns - Gender - ו Conjunctive
Description: Additional consonants and vowels invite us to get to know new common expressions such as 'Shabbat Shalom' (שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם) and key words in the Hebrew Bible like 'bread' (לֶחֶם), 'Torah' (תּוֹרָה), and more.
Song to be learned: The Angel which redeemed me (הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל אוֹתִי, Gen. 48:16)
Our WhatsApp group:
You will be able to help each other with homework, upload recordings of yourself reading for corrections and improvement, and receive professional guidance from me in everything related to the course.
After the course, the group members who wish will join the WhatsApp group of our community.
The launching price of the course is $130 until [date].
Afterward, the course will be priced at $150.
Cancellation of a transaction in accordance with the Consumer Protection Regulations (Transaction Cancellation), 2010-771, and the Consumer Protection Law, 1981-5771.
I manage a WhatsApp group of 300 people, where I write content about the Hebrew Bible and Biblical Hebrew. Here is some of what people have written to me:
I am grateful for the sharings that you take care to send us! And the last one is so strong, and Hashem made me read it in a moment when it was exactly hitting in my fallen conscience.
(Sara, Bulgaria)
I wanted to let you know that the experience of discussing scripture with you was very impressive and meaningful for me!
(Lisa, Taiwan)
I so appreciate your insights, revelations and discourse on Torah.
(Larissa, USA)
Hi Or, enjoyed the thoughts on Psalm 23, recognizing that God is leading David as a shepherd, is very comforting, especially as myself and my family try to navigate life, I can always know that we have the shepherd who is willing to lead us as well.
(Patrick Kinne, USA)
Oh is that right! He makes me lie down in green pastures… because He wants to talk to me! Ah it’s so very lovely 😊 thank you Or!
(Pam Jones, UK)
Also I would like to thank you the videos and explanations about the letters - they are being very useful 😊... I was having difficulties to understand the vowels but I get it with the videos 😊 Thank you a lot 😊
(anonymous)
For me, it is a channel to bring back my soul to my other home, Israel.
(Sara, Bulgaria)
I am really enjoying our Hebrew bible chat group…Thank you for hosting this group. It is wonderful!
(Lyn. USA)
Thank you for the beautiful inspirational thoughts and teaching, the story of Jacob is one of my favorite , there so much to learn from it .
(Anonymous, USA)
It's cool brother, I must commend your expositions of the word of God. They are great.
(Anonymous, Nigeria)
I am really enjoying this study I want to thank you so much.
(Lori, USA)
Maybe you wanted to ask...
How can you learn Hebrew through an online course? Don't you need to study face-to-face?
While studying face-to-face is undoubtedly beneficial, there are also advantages to studying online. For me, the ability to sit at home and meet people from all over the world, to be exposed to a variety of opinions, cultures, and views, is a blessing.
From a practical point of view, studying online is no less good than studying face-to-face.
Will I be able to read and understand biblical Hebrew within a month?
I wish it were possible! Learning a new language is a fascinating and exciting journey, but it takes time. I can guarantee that within a month, we will learn all the letters, the vowels and all the knowledge needed to read them properly. With this knowledge, you've already taken the first step on the journey to mastering biblical Hebrew.
Those who finish the course and move on to the follow-up course will definitely move towards this goal.
If I can't join all the classes is there a way to complete?
For sure! All lessons will be recorded and uploaded to our course website.
Do I need prior knowledge for the course?
No prior knowledge is required. Starting from scratch, and moving forward.
Will there be homework?
Certainly, exercises will be assigned to be completed at home. However, since we utilize the 'flipped classroom' method, the majority of the homework will involve learning the material for the upcoming class.
How much time should I dedicate to the course?
The lesson itself will last for an hour, and the preparation for each lesson will require approximately the same amount of time: one hour at home.
I heard that biblical Hebrew can be read in various ways. Which method do we follow?
Indeed, there are several ways to pronounce the consonants and vowels of this wonderful language. As long as a pronunciation tradition is well-established, it is considered legitimate. We will read the Hebrew Bible according to the common reading tradition in Israel today (though it's not the only one). So, if you come to Israel to study the Hebrew Bible, you will feel at home.
Do you sell your religion? Will you try to convince me to be Jewish?
Let's start with a personal definition: I am an observant Jew. Nevertheless, I endeavor to read the Hebrew Bible regardless of my identity. My aim is to understand what is said in it, not what is said about it. That's why I don't advocate for any particular religion but instead seek to engage with the text alongside individuals who are often different from me. On the contrary, I find it stimulating to read the texts with people of diverse religious backgrounds (and non-religious ones, of course). Therefore I have no interest in changing anyone, only enriching him with the Hebrew Bible.
How many participants are there in the course?
Since this is the first cycles, I guarantee that the course will have up to 4 participants, and then the group may be larger.
Is there a continuation course?
I'm working on it! Anyone who is interested should write to me on this WhatsApp: +972-506-998605.
Are you listening to the students read, or are you solely focused on teaching?
One of the exercises I enjoyed conducting as a Tanach (That is, Hebrew Bible) teacher in Israel involved asking the students (even Israelis, who sometimes struggle with reading the Hebrew Bible) to record themselves reading a passage accurately on WhatsApp. Then, I would provide corrections. This exercise is an example of the activities we do in the course to enhance reading skills.
Which translation will we use in the lesson?
There are indeed many translations, and each carries its own conceptual framework that influences the translation process. Therefore, in both this course and advanced courses, we won't rely on one specific translation. Each case will be evaluated individually, and we'll select the translation that best aligns with the text as we interpret it.
There are time differences between Israel and the rest of the world. How soon will I receive a response?
I promise to reply to everyone within 48 hours.
Will we be able to read modern Hebrew by the end of the course?
The course is not suitable for those interested in learning modern Hebrew. While Biblical Hebrew is indeed similar to modern Hebrew, it also has many differences. This course will primarily assist those interested in modern Hebrew by teaching them the letters and vowels. Although modern Hebrew is written without the punctuation marks, so the gap is still large.
How do you pronounce God's name?
The pronunciation of God's explicit name is a contentious issue among many Hebrew Bible enthusiasts. Firstly, I want to clarify that each student is free to pronounce the name of God as they see, and any pronunciation they choose is acceptable to me. Secondly, personally, I adhere to the tradition of the Masoretes (those who added vowel marks and other notations to the written Hebrew text) and pronounce God's name as ADONAY. Just as I read all the words of the Hebrew Bible according to the Masoretic markings, I do the same with the name of God.
Address: Haatad 7, Eliav, Israel. Postal code: 7938300
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