Why Learn Modern Hebrew?
In most Jewish afternoon schools in the US, there is a discussion between those who believe that Hebrew should be taught through tefillah (prayer), and those who believe that Hebrew should be taught as modern spoken language. The norm in the Jewish afternoon schools in the U.S.A is teaching Hebrew through tefillah. Their claim is that there is not enough time at the Jewish afternoon schools to teach a language that the children can not immediately put into use. Instructing of Hebrew through prayers can be used right away at services in the synagogue. The children can get through Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and feel comfortable at services. The limited time spent with the students is prioritized to help them acquire strong prayer skills and to get them involved in the synagogue and the Jewish community, in the hope that this will lead to a strong Jewish identity. The other reason why Hebrew is not being instructed at the Hebrew schools as a Modern spoken language is that there are lack of professional Hebrew teachers to instruct Modern Hebrew. Moreover, most education directors of Hebrew schools in the U.S.A are not comfortable enough with the Modern Hebrew language.
As a director of education and a instructor at various Jewish supplementary scools of different denominations, my observation is that goals are not accomplished. Most children learning Hebrew trough tefillah at Jewish religious schools end up not knowing Hebrew, they know very little prayer, they do not feel comfortable when they go to services, they are not involved with the Jewish community, and their Jewish identity is problematic.
Those who claim that Modern Hebrew should be taught at the Hebrew schools claim that Modern Hebrew can help students understand tefillah and even help them read the Bible in its original language- it is basically the same language. They also say that by learning Modern Hebrew, the students learn a living language that they can use every day and not only at services, at which they usually do not participate. It connects them to Israel today with its rich culture. Students can access Israeli media through the internet, and they can always continue their Hebrew education outside the classroom and converse in Hebrew online by enrolling in one of the Hebrew classes offered on the internet. Moreover there are a lot of Hebrew speakers living in the United States and students can converse with them. They can use the language while visiting Israel, and connect to Israelis through Hebrew. Also Hebrew is very similar to Arabic, so if one day they think of learning Arabic, Hebrew will be a big help. They can also always add Hebrew language to their resume.
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