Spring & Summer 2026

Designed for students who can read Hebrew at a basic level and want to deepen their skills, this class combines modern Hebrew vocabulary and liturgical Hebrew understanding, with a primary emphasis on engaging with the prayers.

After a brief review of reading fundamentals, students will broaden their vocabularies, acquire basic grammar and learn sentence structure using selected prayers and texts from the Siddur. Along the way, they will gain confidence in reading, translating and appreciating the richness of the language of prayer.

By the end of the course, participants will recognize essential Hebrew roots, have expanded vocabularies in both modern and Prayer Book Hebrew and feel more confident and comfortable participating in the prayers.

Email us at info@emanuelstreickernyc.org with any questions.

The books for the class are Hineni: Prayerbook Hebrew for Adults, available HERE, Ivrit Alfon: A Hebrew Primer for Adults (Hebrew Edition), is available HERE.

• July 7 – We continue with Hineni: Prayer Book for Adults, page 54. Amidah and the second blessing Gevurot. Then we read from the Prayer Book the morning blessings. From Ivrit Alfon (Modern Hebrew) we review Units 1 and 2 and start Unit 3.
• July 14 – We read the Kedusha in Hineni and learn related vocabulary. We also read the end of the Amidah – Birkat Shalom and learn their vocabulary.
• July 21 – We read in Hineni ‘A Personal Prayer’ and Ein Kamocha, as well as Av Ha’rachamim. The teacher will provide from the Siddur the ‘Prayer for Healing.’ From Alfon we cover Unit 4.
• July 28 – From Hineni we cover ‘Ki Me’zion’ and ‘Lecha Adonai’ and learn related vocabulary. From the Prayer Book we learn the Israeli National Anthem Hatikvah as well as Jerusalem of Gold. From Alfon we review and summarize Lessons 1-4.