Resources for practicing Hebrew

Hey everyone! Yesterday was our first pre-trip ulpan and it was great. There were lots of great people, interesting questions, practice conversations, pizza, and laughs. We're really looking forward to the next one! Please email Danny if you're interested in details.

The word ulpan means "studio," and is an interesting word-choice for a setting that is dedicated to language learning, namely Hebrew language learning. Generally speaking, in Hebrew, like in English, "studio" refers to the place in which artists or news teams work. But when the first ulpan opened not long after the formation of the State of Israel, the idea was to bring together olim (immigrants) from all over and teach them Hebrew. This was part of the "melting-pot" vision of David Ben-Gurion, a project of national, spiritual, and cosmological significance. He wrote in his essay Israel and the Diaspora:"[The Zionist revolution] was not a revolution involving a change in regime or a seizure of power by the 'forces of tomorrow'--but the personal revolution of every Jewish individual, a revolution in their way of life, vocation, language...in everything comprised in the Hebrew term to which there is no parallel in any other language: Geulah."

As we said, traditionally speaking, ulpanim (plural) are geared towards new immigrants (olim hadashim) in order to help them acquire Hebrew as quickly as possible and therefore integrate into Israeli society. There are ulpanim all over the country--in kibbutzim, towns, universities, the army--and they have served people from all over the world. In recent years a number of new ulpanim have opened across Israel. One of the more eccentric ones is This Is Not An Ulpan, something of an anti-ulpan. Their goal isn't "to learn grammar or spelling; it's to acquire the tools necessary to understand and engage with our surroundings and positively impact Israeli society. Language is a priority, but not the only one." This is done "actively and critically [while engaging] with [the tough local] realities in Hebrew and Arabic."

So as we prepare for our flight in a few weeks, please continue to practice your Hebrew where- and whenever you can and join us for our upcoming sessions. You can take a look through our worksheet from yesterday which includes some key terms in Hebrew, their transliteration, and translation.

You may also want to take a look at some of the apps that are available for mobile devices:
Duolingo - a great language learning app that some of our staff and students have already begun using and practicing with.
Reverso-context - This is a website with an app for both iPhone and Android. Reverso-context is a great dictionary that translates words based on the various contexts in which they are found. Sentences will appear in order to show how the word might be used in different settings. For instance, you might want to learn how to properly use the word "to know" in Hebrew, as there are different words for different contexts. In English, we'd say "I know them" or "She knows the time" but in Hebrew these two sentences require two different words--מכיר in the first context; יודע in the second.
Morfix - a straightforward and accurate English-Hebrew dictionary both online and with apps for iPhone and Android.

Happy studies!

להתראות--See you soon!

Pre-Trip Profiles - The Haredi/Ultra-Orthodox Community in Israel

In the first half of the year, Danny's Israel Seminar class learned about a number of different communities in Israel. One of those communities was the Ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi (Hebrew for "those who fear") community. This group is composed of Jews who largely reject many modern social norms and trends. Their adherence to Jewish law is exceedingly strict and is largely based on the Shulhan Arukh with day-to-day life governed by rabbis within each sect of the community. The community is divided along various lines: Ashkenazic (generally speaking, from what was once known as Christian Europe in the Middle Ages), Sephardic (from North Africa, and various parts of the Muslim world), and many other inter- and intra-communal divides.

The role and place of the Haredi community in Israel is currently undergoing a serious change. Whereas the community would once avoid work and army service, current research indicates a shift in that trend. Since the inception of the State, this sector of Israeli society has largely isolated itself from the less-religious communities, opting to go to their own schools, vote for Haredi political parties, abstain from army and national service, and live in Haredi neighborhoods. Although this remains true overall, many parts of the community are beginning to connect to their fellow Israelis and the larger society in ways never seen before. Recently, the D.C.-born former member of Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), Rabbi Dov Lipman wrote an insightful article for the Times of Israel called "The Haredi Spring," wherein he talks about a shift that is occurring in this community. This piece highlights a gradual shift in the attitudes that many Haredim have towards Israel, in particular as it relates to Israel's Memorial and Independence days. It also contains some really remarkable video clips featuring different goings-on in the community (with English subtitles). I highly recommend it if you'd like to learn more.

If you'd like to get a bigger-picture report on the community and its changing trends, please take a look at the following 2016 report from the Israel Democracy Institute, titled "Statistical Report on Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel." This is one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on the Haredi community in Israel and provides invaluable information and insights.

Enjoy!

Hello, Welcome, and Review

Hello everyone and welcome to the official blog for Adas Israel's 10th Grade Israel trip! This will be the prime source for regular updates on what's happening while we travel. After receiving some feedback from the group, we have decided to shift away from facebook and opt for a regular blog format. Our overall plan remains the same--to post important reminders, documents, students' thoughts on the trip, pictures, and other similar items. This blog is private and closed to public so if you have friends or family members who would like to follow and read our posts, please send their email address to Danny.

We'd like to take this opportunity to briefly review our meeting from Tuesday. First and foremost, on Thursday morning, June 14th we will be meeting at Adas at 7:00am for the bus to Newark. Our flight departs Newark at 4:45 PM and we need to be there on time so please arrive at Adas promptly (alternative travel plans must be coordinated with our team by Tuesday May 2). We recommend that you pack according to the packing advice Marcy reviewed during the meeting. Also, please remember to pack a siddur and talis & tefilin if you have (if you don't have either, please be in touch with us). We encourage you to review the general itinerary if you'd like to get an idea of where we will be and when. We also encourage you to review the expectations of the trip found in the code of conduct. The group bus will be returning to Adas at around 10:30am on Thursday morning, June 28th but we will be in touch once we're on our way.

On the logistical end, along with Marcy, Sarah, Kerrith, and Danny, we will be joined by our tour guide, madricha (local counselor), driver and medic/guard, when we land in Israel. We will be in regular contact with Adas Israel's administrative team in Washington, DC and once we have received our Israeli phone numbers we will update everyone accordingly. We will be available 24/7 but ask that you contact us only in case of emergency. Students will likely have access to WiFi at various points during the trip but we ask that they minimize using devices during the trip.

Lastly, we'd like to remind everyone that confirmation photos will be in the Smith Sanctuary on Tuesday May 15, at 6:30 PM sharp. Please arrive promptly and dressed nicely as we will be taking pictures at the allotted time. Following pictures all students will head to a Ma'alot BBQ. Families are invited to join us at 7:30 PM, when we will have Nesiyah Tovah and Ma'alot awards in the Gewirz Beit Am.

As always please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Shabbat shalom!