Chabad of Fountain Hills hosts Hebrew literacy course

The Chabad Edelman Jewish Center is hosting a five-week Hebrew reading crash course called Read it in Hebrew, combining timeless learning methods with contemporary psychology.

Developed by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), the course begins Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 12 to 1 p.m., in person at the Chabad of Fountain Hills, 16830 E. Avenue of the Fountains.

Read it in Hebrew appeals to people at all levels of Jewish education, a press release read, including those without any prior experience in Jewish learning.

Read it in Hebrew features a dedicated app allowing students to practice and test Hebrew reading skills lesson by lesson along with flashcards depicting the letters alongside catchy mnemonics.

More than just a reading course, students get a glimpse of the profound depth of the Hebrew language, including brief Talmudic and Kabbalistic explanations of the letters.

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, only half of American Jews (52%) can read Hebrew. To fill this gap in Jewish education, JLI developed Read it in Hebrew, which is now being taught in over 750 locations across North America, enabling over 10,000 people to read Hebrew.

“The popularity of Read it in Hebrew suggests that it meets a deeply felt need,” explains Rabbi Shlomie Tenenbaum of JLI. “Many feel lost in synagogue simply because they don’t know how to read Hebrew. Learning to read Hebrew strengthens one’s connection to Judaism and the Jewish people in a powerful way.”

Enrollment is open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

Interested students may call 480-795-6292 or email rabbi@JewishFountainHills.com for registration and for other course-related information.