Hebrew Classes

Classes

The JCCSF offers three Hebrew terms per year. See below for course descriptions and more information. Registration for the Fall 2023 term closes September 4. For financial aid information, see the FAQ below.

Fall 2023: September 11 – December 14

Winter 2024: January 8 – March 25

Spring 2024: April 8 – July 3

Not Sure Which Class to Take? 

All those who are starting at the beginning can register for our introductory class, Modern Hebrew Kita Alef I.

New students entering beyond our basic class, or those with some Hebrew but unsure of which class to take, are asked to take this assessment test to ensure everyone starts at the appropriate level. Questions? Contact Yael Ronen at yronen@jccsf.org.  

Modern Hebrew Kita Alef I (In-Person and Online Options)

New to Hebrew? No problem. This course is designed for the absolute beginner.  

Start to develop your Hebrew reading, writing and speaking skills. We will focus on learning the alphabet and developing basic spoken and written communication. There are no prerequisites for this term. 

Modern Hebrew Kita Alef II (In-Person and Online Options)

Move forward strengthening your vocabulary and communication skills, learn to tell the time (learning numbers 1 through 12) and start a conversation about yourself and others.   

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita Alef I or an ability to read and write Hebrew (slowly) both in print (with and without vowels) and in cursive, and the ability to introduce yourself.   

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level.   

Modern Hebrew Kita Alef+: Discuss objects of daily life (In-Person and Online Options)

Keep improving your reading comprehension and vocabulary. Learn how to combine adjectives with nouns and numbers in the feminine and masculine form, discuss casual and engaging topics such as your home environment, shopping, traveling and more. 

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita Alef or good reading and writing skills (print and cursive), familiarity with basic Hebrew verb structure in the present tense, an ability to tell time and ask basic questions of others.  

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level.   

Modern Hebrew Kita Bet: Infinitives & introduction to the past tense (Online)

Keep up the momentum by learning more advanced vocabulary and grammar. Learn to use infinitives (such as “to do”) to build your conversation skills. 

Then get ready to navigate space and time! By adding the past tense to your Hebrew toolkit, you will be able to talk about things that already happened. This class will also include readings and conversations as you explore various aspects of Israeli culture and society.   

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Alef + or sound knowledge of previously studied Hebrew grammar such as verb conjugation, and adjective, noun agreement, and the use of infinitives.  

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level.  

Modern Hebrew Kita Bet+: Explore new patterns (Online)

Build and refine your Hebrew conversation skills by familiarizing yourself with new verb patterns. Learn how to express various kinds of actions such as causative, reflexive, or reciprocal, both in the present and the past. This class will continue to explore aspects of life in Israel.  

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita Bet or sound knowledge of previously studied Hebrew grammar such as verb conjugation in both the present and past tense, adjective and noun agreement, and the use of infinitives (such as “to do”)   

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level. 

Modern Hebrew Kita Gimel: Focus on fluency (Online)

Enjoy broadening your familiarity with the Hebrew language. Develop your ability to engage in in-depth conversations about Israeli culture and society, both in terms of modern and historic characteristics.   

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita Bet+ or sound knowledge of previously studied Hebrew grammar such as verb conjugation, adjective and noun agreement, the use of infinitives (such as “to do”) and familiarity with the four active “Binyanim” in both the present and past tense.  

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level.  

Modern Hebrew Kita Gimel+: Journey into the future (Online)

Got plans for the future? Let’s discuss. Add the use of the future tense to your conversational skills while continuing to build up vocabulary and knowledge of Israeli society and culture.   

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita gimel, or sound knowledge of previously studied Hebrew grammar such as verb conjugation, adjective and noun agreement, the use of infinitives (such as “to do”) and familiarity with the four active “Binyanim” in both the present and past tense.  

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level. 

Modern Hebrew Kita Dalet: Broaden your horizons (Online)

Develop deeper language familiarity with more specialized vocabulary, including the natural world and the printed word. You will have the opportunity to confidently develop your Hebrew fluency, while engaging with a broader range of original Hebrew content.   

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita gimel 3+ or high-level speaking and writing skills, including sound knowledge of Hebrew grammar like verb conjugation, adjective and noun agreement, the use of infinitives (such as “to do”), familiarity with the four active “Binyanim” in the present and past tenses, and comfort with basic future tense.  

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level.  

Modern Hebrew Kita Heh: Getting literary (Online)

Continue to refine and broaden your Hebrew grammar while adding more advanced vocabulary. This course will explore more complex future tense patterns and the passive voice. This course will explore texts reflecting the wide demographic aspects of Israeli society and the world.  

Prerequisites: Modern Hebrew Kita Dalet+ or high-level speaking and writing skills, including sound knowledge of Hebrew grammar like verb conjugation, adjective and noun agreement, the use of infinitives (such as “to do”), familiarity with the four active “Binyanim” in the present and past tenses, and comfort with the future tense.  

Please take this placement assessment prior to registering for this level. 

FAQs