Hebrew Language

Welcome

The Department of Hebrew Language is pleased to welcome Dr. Shlomit Shrayborn-Shivtiel as an adjunct assistant professor for the Spring 2009 semester. Dr. Shrayborn-Shivtiel is a newly retired member of the Arabic Department at Bar-Ilan University and received her PhD from Tel Aviv University in 1993. She has recently published, in Hebrew, a book entitled The Renaissance of the Arabic Language and the Idea of Nationalism in Egypt. She will be teaching an intensive Hebrew grammar course and, offered for the first time ever at JTS, a course entitled "Arabic for Hebrew Speakers." Dr. Shrayborn-Shivtiel also spent the academic year 2007–2008 at JTS, both teaching a course in the revival of the Hebrew language, and as a visiting scholar, doing research.

We are pleased that Dr. Edna Nahshon, longtime member of the Hebrew Department and former chair, will be teaching an elective course in the spring semester (Hebrew 5570y) entitled "Israeli Theatre and Drama," which will discuss major trends in Israel's theatrical history by focusing on canonical plays and their performance history. We look forward to many more electives by Dr. Nahshon, both in the Hebrew Language Department and under the aegis of other departments, whose research interest and publications are in the area of the performing arts. We also congratulate Dr. Nahshon on the forthcoming publication of her new book, Jews and Shoes, which can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.

The department welcomes Miriam Meir to its teaching faculty. Ms. Meir taught during the 2008 Summer Intensive Hebrew Program, and will be teaching during the 2008–2009 academic year. She is a PhD candidate in JTS's Department of Jewish Literature and has studied in the Hebrew Teachers' Training Program of the Rothberg School of the Hebrew University. She has also worked as a translator for the Magnes, Yediot Aharonot, and Resling presses of Israel.

Dr. Leonard Levin of the Department of Jewish Thought and Dr. David Marcus of the Department of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages have each graciously agreed to teach one of the Hebrew Language Department's Intensive Hebrew Grammar sections this year, and we are grateful to them. They will surely serve as a wonderful model of cross-departmental interests and competencies.