Hebrew Language Studies

Costal view of Tel Aviv

Hebrew Program Overview

Your entryway into the world of Hebrew begins here at Princeton! The Near Eastern Studies Department offers three levels of Hebrew language, which are taught Dr. Philip Hollander.

Why study Hebrew?

  • Because it's the only spoken language revived after nearly 2,000 years of dormancy.
  • Because it's the language of Israel—a key player in the modern Middle East.
  • Because it’s a language that unites the rich literary tradition of the past with the vibrant discourse of the present—from the Bible, to Rashi and Maimonides, to the modern Hebrew novels of Shai Agnon and Amos Oz, to the Hebrew of Facebook and Instagram.
  • Because it will enable you to connect with the locals of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as well as the many Hebrew speakers in New York, Los Angeles, and the cities of the world.

Hebrew Courses

Hebrew courses include the following:

  • Beginners (HEB101/102), intermediate (HEB105/107), advanced (HEB300 series). 
  • Courses at the 300 level may be taken in any order.
  • Upper advanced (400 series) and graduate Hebrew courses, taught by Dr. Lital Levy, are also offered by the Comparative Literature Department.
  • Completing two years of Hebrew language study fulfills the university foreign language requirement.

Language Placement

Students seeking to test out of the language requirement, or to place into a level higher than HEB101, are encouraged to take the placement test, which is offered every year during orientation week, and by appointment.

While students may take Hebrew to fulfill the foreign language requirement, they also have the opportunity to study Hebrew while pursuing a concentration or a certificate in Near Eastern Studies. 

For more information, please contact Philip Hollander.

Study Abroad

Students wishing to develop their knowledge of the language further are able to benefit from various programs in Israel.

These programs take place during summer vacations or during a semester (or year) of foreign study in one of the Israeli universities, such as Hebrew University or Tel Aviv University. 

For more information, please contact Philip Hollander.

Contact

Please contact Dr. Philip Hollander with any questions.

Language Table

The Program in Near Eastern Studies offers a Hebrew Language Table to build conversational skills.

  • Date: Monday @ 6:30pm Intermediate/ Advanced with Tair and Wednesdays @ 6:00pm  All levels with Philip
  • Location: Center for Jewish Life
  • Contact[email protected]  

Free swipes available for grad students and upperclassmen!

Hebrew Placement Test FAQ