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MEDIA ALERT Contact:
Yitzchak Rosenbaum You Can't Keep a Good Language Down New York, NY, September, 2002 – In June 2002, Time Magazine ran a brief article called "Tongues That Go Out of Style." The article highlighted the fact that with increased globalization, many native tongues are falling to the wayside and will soon be extinct. It is highly probable that Hebrew would have been included on that list of endangered languages if not for its startling revitalization in the last few decades. Without a doubt, the creation of the State of Israel sparked this revitalization, but the passion to learn Hebrew has been ignited in Jewish communities around the world. This fall, more than ten thousand Jews are expected to register for the 5th annual Read Hebrew America/Canada (RHA/C) campaign. Throughout the months of October and November, more than 1,550 Hebrew Reading Crash Courses, Level II classes, and One Day Reviews will be offered at more than 735 locations throughout North America. Organized by the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP), Read Hebrew America/Canada is the only continent-wide program designed to introduce a generation of Jews to the Hebrew language - a skill that will enable them to participate in Jewish services and rituals in the language of their families and ancestors, and to read the Bible in its original text. Until the beginning of the 20th Century, Western civilization considered Hebrew a classical language on par with Latin and Greek. In fact, a proper education at universities such as Harvard and Yale required the study all three classical languages. The last century, however, saw a significant drop off in the study of Hebrew until 1948 - when Israel became a state. While Hebrew was revived and modernized as the language of Israel, it is more than a national native tongue. Hebrew is the language of the Jewish people around the world. With the vast rates of assimilation that are plaguing the North American Jewish community, it is astounding to say that, in the last five years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Hebrew. From young to old, North American Jews are reclaiming their ancestral language: "Thank you for your work...[it] helps me to do the mitzvah of teaching my grandson how to read Hebrew," Ellie Goldman wrote to NJOP. "I am 11 years old...I wanted to learn how to read Hebrew. One of your teachers...had the patience and kindness to teach me to read...five lessons, and now, when I go to Temple on Saturday, I can follow!" Michael Marks informed us of his success. "I think my personal history is reflective of many Generation X Jews. Raised in a non-observant environment...I enjoyed learning the basics of Hebrew as part of NJOP's [Hebrew Reading Crash Course]" said Jericho Knight. Across North America Jews are getting into the Hebrew language, and this year, in the wake of the increase in terrorism in the Holy Land, even more are expected to sign up for the classes. "The question for many North American Jews right now," pointed out Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald, NJOP's Founder and Director, "is what they can do to take a firmer hold on their heritage. We tried diversity, blending in with all the cultures around us, and still we are separated out. Jews now want to know why. Why is Israel singled out by the UN? Why are French synagogues being attacked? Why does my religion make a difference to others? And when they get to that question, they inevitably arrive at the question of ‘why is being Jewish important to me?' So they take the first step in learning about themselves. They come to us to learn their aleph-bet. Rabbi Buchwald further pointed out that the Hebrew education provided by NJOP was so important that just last year (2001) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a gathering of community leaders that a strong Jewish identity has always had a central role in Diaspora Jewry's commitment to Israel. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, the best thing the Jews outside of Israel can do to support the State of Israel is to remain Jewish and become more Jewishly committed. That is the goal of the Read Hebrew America/Canada campaign. The Hebrew Reading Crash Course provides a gateway for spiritual seekers who want to discover deeper meanings in their lives and their Judaism, as well. As the primary language in which virtually all Jewish prayer books and significant religious texts are written and read, the Hebrew language has an innate spirituality. Since an estimated 80 percent of North American Jews are not yet Hebrew literate, NJOP hopes that learning to read Hebrew will serve as a point of entry through which many unaffiliated or marginally affiliated Jews will develop an interest in their Jewish faith. The Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level I is the first step. Since 1987, the Hebrew Reading Crash Course, upon which Read Hebrew America/Canada is based, has taught more than 165,000 North American Jews to read the Hebrew language. Designed for Jews with little or no background in Hebrew, the program concentrates on teaching the Hebrew alphabet and basic reading sills. NJOP provides all participants with its acclaimed Reishith Binah Hebrew primers, free of charge, while instructors receive free teaching manuals, flash cards and wall charts. The second step is for synagogues, Jewish centers, and other Jewish organizations to continue building a relationship with their students, often through further classes. In fact, NJOP also offers a Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level II and a One Day Review for those who want are interested in advancing their Hebrew reading and comprehension skills. Fresh off the press, NJOP is also introducing a Hebrew Writing Crash Course. National Jewish Outreach Program was established in 1987 by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald and has become one of the largest and most successful Jewish outreach organizations in the world, offering free "Crash Courses" in Hebrew Reading and Basic Judaism, Turn Friday Night Into Shabbat programs, Beginners Services, and Shabbat Across America/Canada and Read Hebrew America/Canada campaigns at more than 3,500* locations across North America, and in 29 countries worldwide. Through these innovative programs and the acclaimed Jewish consciousness raising advertising campaigns, NJOP has successfully reached more than 650,000* North American Jews and engaged them in Jewish life. * figures as of 8/02
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