Take your Hebrew language skills to the next level! JTS offers a high-quality, intensive Hebrew language program during the summer. Several courses are offered both on Zoom and in person on the JTS campus.
All incoming students take the Hebrew Placement Exam to be placed in one of the seven levels offered. Please contact hebrew@jtsa.edu for the test.
Hebrew Courses are offered during Session II and Session III of JTS’s Summer Sessions. They can also be integrated in our JTS Beit Midrash Summer Program . The enrollment deadline for all courses is two weeks before the course start date, unless otherwise noted.
Who It’s For
Summer Hebrew courses are for everyone interested in improving their Hebrew language skills. The program is particularly useful for undergraduate and graduate students working toward fulfillment of their language requirement, as well as for prospective Rabbinical and Cantorial School students working toward achieving the prerequisite Hebrew language proficiency level for their program.
What It Is
The summer Hebrew courses are the same courses those offered at JTS during the academic year. The goal of the JTS Hebrew program is for students to attain proficiency in all aspects of the language—reading, writing, and conversation—and to develop the ability to independently read and comprehend Hebrew texts of all periods and genres, from Biblical to modern times.
Since ancient Hebrew is the foundation of modern Hebrew, and since the Hebrew language has continued to evolve throughout the generations and textual traditions, we teach modern Hebrew with the goal of giving students the language tools they need to become independent readers of texts from all periods of Hebrew. Pre-modern and ancient texts are incorporated into all levels, gradually increasing in length, complexity and difficulty level.
Course materials include textbooks published by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, supplemented with classical grammar materials and a diverse selection of readings from a variety of Hebrew texts.
Courses
HEB 5001Z: Alef 1 (6 credits)
Instructor: TBD
May 26—July 31, 2026 (10 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–4:00 p.m. ET on Zoom
The course covers the seven Introductory Units and Lessons 1–8 of Hebrew from Scratch, Vol. 1 (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala alef). It takes students from learning the mechanics of reading and writing unpointed Hebrew to active mastery of 500 words; knowledge of the present tense and infinitive verb forms; reading and enactment of dialogues relating to everyday life; and reading comprehension of short descriptive, narrative, and informative texts. Additional course materials, daily assignments, and unit tests will be delivered and submitted via Canvas.
Please Note:
- Enrollment Deadline for Alef 1: Thursday, May 12, 2026
- Mandatory Online Reading Assessment: A prerequisite for enrolling is basic knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet, reading printed text with and without vowels, and writing in script. A mandatory online reading test that assesses these skills should be taken by each student by May 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- If Needed: Prerequisite Basic Reading Course May 19-21: Students who do not pass the reading test by May 17 will be enrolled in the online Basic Reading course, which will be offered Tuesday May 19 through Thursday May 21, at 2:00–4:00 p.m. ET, on Zoom. At the completion of this course, participants will retake the online reading assessment (deadline for submission May 22, 2025, at noon ET). Only students who pass the reading test will be able to participate in HEB 5001Z.
HEB 5101: Alef 2 (6 credits)
Instructor: TBD
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–4:30 p.m. ET in person on the JTS campus
This course, a direct continuation of Alef 1, brings students near the end of the first volume of Hebrew from Scratch A (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala alef) with the same emphasis on reading comprehension, as well as the development of communication skills. Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and learn–among other basic language forms–the past tense. Additional readings will be assigned from the folktale anthology Sipur ve-od sipur.
HEB 5101Z: Alef 2 (6 credits)
Instructor: TBD
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–4:30 p.m. ET on Zoom
This course, a direct continuation of Alef 1, brings students near the end of the first volume of Hebrew from Scratch A (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala alef) with the same emphasis on reading comprehension, as well as the development of communication skills. Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and learn–among other basic language forms–the past tense. Additional readings will be assigned from the folktale anthology Sipur ve-od sipur.
HEB 5103: Alef 3 (6 credits)
Instructor: TBD
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–4:30 p.m. ET in person on the JTS campus
This course is designed to seamlessly follow Heb 1101 by building on comprehension and oral-aural skills previously acquired, and continue to develop vocabulary and grammar skills (including the future tense of verbs). During this course, students advance from an advanced beginners’ level to the low intermediate level. The two volumes of Hebrew From Scratch (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala) are used as textbooks, supplemented by additional readings from a diversity of sources.
HEB 5103Z: Alef 3 (6 credits)
Instructor: TBD
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–4:30 p.m. ET on Zoom
This course is designed to seamlessly follow Heb 1101 by building on comprehension and oral-aural skills previously acquired, and continue to develop vocabulary and grammar skills (including the future tense of verbs). During this course, students advance from an advanced beginners’ level to the low intermediate level. The two volumes of Hebrew From Scratch (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala) are used as textbooks, supplemented by additional readings from a diversity of sources.
HEB 5201Z: Bet 1 (3 credits)
Instructor: TBD
May 26—June 25, 2026 (5 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–5:00 p.m. ET on Zoom
This course continues with the second volume of Hebrew from Scratch (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala bet). Students will continue to expand their vocabulary and advance their reading, writing, and conversational skills through reading and discussing additional texts of a variety of periods and genres (e.g., adapted stories, poems, selections from parashat hashavua, midrash, and biblical commentary). In grammar, the study of the future tense and major prepositions begun in the previous semester will be concluded, and new topics in syntax and the verb system will be introduced.
HEB 5203: Bet 2 (3 credits)
Instructor: TBD
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET in person on the JTS campus
This intermediate-level course will bring students to the end of Hebrew from Scratch II (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala bet), supplementing the textbook with materials from level gimel books and other readings in Hebrew from various periods (e.g., adapted stories, poems, selections from parashat hashavua, mishnah, midrash, tefillah, and biblical commentary). Students will complete the study of verbs in all binyanim, develop strategies for reading comprehension and word recognition, and practice conveying ideas and opinions in both speaking and writing.
HEB 5203Z: Bet 2 (3 credits)
Instructor: TBD
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET on Zoom
This intermediate-level course will bring students to the end of Hebrew from Scratch II (Ivrit min ha-hatḥala bet), supplementing the textbook with materials from level gimel books and other readings in Hebrew from various periods (e.g., adapted stories, poems, selections from parashat hashavua, mishnah, midrash, tefillah, and biblical commentary). Students will complete the study of verbs in all binyanim, develop strategies for reading comprehension and word recognition, and practice conveying ideas and opinions in both speaking and writing.
HEB 5299Z: ADV. HEBREW SKILLS: SHIMSHON IN HEBREW LITERATURE THROUGH THE AGES (3 credits)
Instructor: Miriam Meir
May 26—June 25, 2026 (5 weeks)
MTWR 2:00–5:00 p.m. ET on Zoom
This advanced-level Hebrew language course aims to further develop Hebrew comprehension, conversation, reading and writing skills. Readings include Hebrew texts of diverse genres, registers and periods, including classical texts, around the Biblical stories of David and Jonathan. Grammatical topics include a systematic integrated study of the binyanim system and a variety of advanced topics in syntax.
SS3 HEB 5300Z ADV. HEBREW SKILLS: BIBLICAL THEMES IN HEBREW LITERATURE THROUGH THE AGES (3 credits)
Instructor: Miriam Meir
June 29—August 13, 2026 (7 weeks)
MTWR 2:00pm–4:00 p.m. ET on Zoom
This advanced-level Hebrew language course aims to further develop Hebrew comprehension, conversation, reading and writing skills. Readings include Hebrew texts of diverse genres, registers and periods, including classical texts. Each week will be devoted to a biblical story and its transformations in Hebrew literature throughout the ages. Grammatical topics include a systematic integrated study of the binyanim system and a variety of advanced topics in syntax.
Non-Credit Learning
The Summer Learners program offers access to our summer intensive Hebrew courses. Through the JTS Summer Learners program, you can enroll in any Hebrew courses on a non-credit basis. Students enrolled in Hebrew language courses through the Summer Learners program must meet all the course requirements (attendance, assignments, quizzes, etc.), regardless of whether they take the course for credit.
Registration and Fees
For JTS Students
- Current JTS students may register online by going to MyJTS.
- The application fee must be submitted in full before your application form can be processed.
For All Other Students
- If you intend to take the course for academic credit, submit an official copy of a transcript indicating either a degree and the year earned or your current educational status.
- The application fee must be submitted in full before your application form can be processed.
Tuition Charges
Summer 2026 tuition charges and registration fees will be available soon.
Contact Us
For more information and any questions about the summer Hebrew program, and to request to take the Hebrew Placement Exam, please contact us at hebrew@jtsa.edu.
