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Hebrew Program

Hebrew language is a central part of the Jewish Studies Program.

Through your period of Hebrew study at the University of Maryland, you will gain knowledge and skills to function communicatively in a wide variety of linguistic situations.

In the skill sets of reading, writing, listening, and speaking, you will be exposed to meaningful, authentic texts, exercises, and linguistic tasks that will prepare you for real-life participation in informal and academic or professional settings. In addition, the program places a strong emphasis on the relationship between Hebrew and Israeli culture. You will be exposed to a variety of literary texts, films, advertisements, posters, art, music, journalism and websites that reflect multicultural Israeli society.

The Hebrew program is coordinated through the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in the College of Arts and Humanities.

Hebrew Placement

Any student who is not continuing from a previous Hebrew level is required to take the Foreign Language Proficiency Evaluation; in addition, an instructor may require testing of any student whose level is undetermined. 

You may contact Avital Karpman at akarpman@umd.edu

Program Requirements

Core Hebrew Course Sequence

  • HEBR106: “Intensive Elementary Hebrew I” (4 credits)
  • HEBR107: “Intensive Elementary Hebrew II” (4 credits)
  • HEBR206: “Review of Oral and Written Hebrew I” (4 credits)
  • HEBR207: “Review of Oral and Written Hebrew II” (4 credits)
  • HEBR313: “Conversation & Composition I” (3 credits)
  • HEBR314: “Conversation & Composition II” (3 credits)
  • HEBR381 & HEBR382: Courses in modern Hebrew culture and literature (3 credits)
  • Jewish studies majors are expected to complete JWST313, plus an additional 6 credits in advanced Hebrew. These may be fulfilled with courses in the core Hebrew sequence or other Hebrew or Jewish studies text courses.

Hebrew Faculty

Bernard Cooperman

Associate Professor, History
Louis L. Kaplan Professor of Jewish History, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies

2130 Taliaferro Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-4271

Maxine Grossman

Director and Associate Professor, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies
Classics

0124C Taliaferro Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-4980

Avital Karpman

Associate Clinical Professor, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies
School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Director, Hebrew Language Program, Hebrew
Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies

Hayim Lapin

Professor, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies
Professor, Classics
Professor, History

2101B Francis Scott Key Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-4734

Rachel Manekin

Professor Emerita, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies

Charles Manekin

Professor Emeritus, Philosophy
Professor Emeritus, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies

Matthew Suriano

Associate Professor, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies
Classics

1126A Taliaferro Hall
College Park MD, 20742

Eric Zakim

Associate Professor, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies
Associate Professor, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Cinema and Media Studies
Associate Professor, Hebrew

4109 Jiménez Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-4250