Teaching Hebrew: Raising the Bar

Dr. Vardit Ringvald

The impact of the Hebrew language on our children’s sense of self is increasingly in the spotlight. What a different picture when they approach their Bar/Bat Mitzvah training with the organic connection to ancient texts and Israeli culture that Hebrew gives them! To maximize the level of our students’ Hebrew in Synagogue schools, we need to build a field of professionals who understand language acquisition and have the pedagogical skills to incorporate this understanding into their classroom activities. Hebrew at the Center (HATC). has worked with day schools, public schools, summer camps, afterschool programs, and regional groups of schools throughout North America, serving a wide range of Jewish expression and practice. Founding Senior Academic Advisor Dr. Vardit Ringvald will describe how HATC prepares educators to make informed decisions that foster their learners’ abilities to internalize the Hebrew language, transforming it into a powerful tool for shaping and strenthening Jewish identity in religious school settings.