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Ida Nasatir book review
Hebrew Self-Taught by Zevi and Ben-Ami Scharfstein
July 31, 1947—Hebrew Self-Taught by Zevi and Ben-Ami Scharfstein,
Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 6: The ignorance of Hebrew is among the greatest
spiritual defects of American Jews. Unless this is remedied, and speedily, the
Hebrew language is doomed to disappear from among our people in this country,
and a Judaism without Hebrew is impossible. A knowledge of Hebrew is imperative
for loyal Jews, since an ignorance of it precludes a decent appreciation or
regard for Jewish values. This statement may be denied, openly and even
emphatically, yet there resides in the subconscious mind of the Jew a sense of
guilt and shame at the neglect of the ancient tongue. Recently these feelings
have been strengthened by the remarkable growth of the Jewish community in
Palestine. The fortunate result there has been to create a desire for a
knowledge of Hebrew. This volume by two well known Jewish educators will answer
this want, and in splendid fashion. Anyone who applies himself or herself to Hebrew
Self-Taught can learn the language without the aid of a teacher. Knowing the
distaste for Hebrew many have acquired in their youth when they were trained in
mechanical reading, the authors issue this timely warning: "Anyone who is
willing to put in honest work can get to speak Hebrew, to read a Hebrew
newspaper, or a simple book, and to write a friendly note. To help you, who are
willing to help yourselves, we have left out everything that does not have a
direct practical bearing on learning to understand and to speak. We have chosen
a vocabulary mainly for the needs of everyday conversation whether here or in
Palestine..." Hebrew has a beautiful literature, ancient, medieval and
modern, sacred and secular, and it has become a living language with an exciting
future. The procedure is quite simple, and those who have studied foreign
languages will quickly recognize it. The forty lessons include vocabulary,
grammar and exercises, happily combined. The 36th lesson describes a scene at
the Wailing Wall; the 38th sets fort the beauties of Eretz Israel; the 39th
lesson describes a visit to Mount Carmel; the 32nd describes how Tel Aviv
prepares for the Sabbath, and the 39th tells of a visit to Petach Tikvah. After
completion, the student will have gained a knowledge of 150 Hebrew words, which
is quite adequate, since 1,000 words constitute about 80 percent of the everyday
Hebrew vocabulary. Actually this is an exciting book. Once this volume is
mastered, the study will of itself be continued. Try it, and see for yourself.