More than 4.6 million people worldwide speak Hebrew, the language of the Bible, of Judaism and now the official language of the state of Israel. "Hebrew for Dummies" explains the fundamental grammar and usage rules that readers need to know in order to gain a basic proficiency with the language, including parts of speech, sentence structure, verb tenses, case rules, numbers and punctuation. This easy-to-use guide covers vocabulary and phrases for formal and informal greetings, introductions and everyday conversational topics such as family, work, the weather, food, shopping, entertainment and recreation. It also serves as a companion to reciting prayers during synagogue services as well as reading the Torah. An audio CD allows readers to listen to actual conversations, illustrating correct pronunciation.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Part I: Getting Started. Chapter 1: You Already Know Some Hebrew. Chapter 2: The Nitty Gritty: Basic Hebrew Grammar. Chapter 3: Shalom, Shalom! Meeting and Greeting. Part II: Hebrew in Action. Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk. Chapter 5: Eat! Eat! You're So Thin! Chapter 6: Going Shopping. Chapter 7: Having Fun Hebrew Style. Chapter 8: Enjoying Your Free Time: Hobbies, Sports, and Other Fun Activities. Chapter 9: Talking on the Phone. Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House. Part III: Hebrew on the Go. Chapter 11: Planning a Trip. Chapter 12: Getting Around: Flying, Driving, and Riding. Chapter 13: Checking into a Hotel. Chapter 14: Money, Money, Money. Chapter 15: Where Is the Western Wall? Asking Directions. Chapter 16: Handling Emergencies. Part IV: Sacred Hebrew. Chapter 17: Let's Get Biblical. Chapter 18: Like a Prayer. Chapter 19: Sacred Time, Sacred Space. Part V: The Part of Tens. Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Pick Up Hebrew Quickly. Chapter 21: Ten Books on Hebrew You Just Gotta Have. Chapter 22: Ten Favorite Hebrew Expressions. Chapter 23: Ten Great Israeli Phrases. Chapter 24: The Ten Commandments in Hebrew. Appendix A: Verb Tables. Appendix B: Mini--Dictionary. Appendix C: Answer Key. Appendix D: On the CD. Index.

About the Author

Jill Suzanne Jacobs is a Jewish educator and writer. She holds a master of arts degree in Jewish education from Hebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion, a bachelor of arts degree in history from UCLA, and has studied at a variety of institutions in Israel, including the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She teaches and writes in the Boston area, and is part of the editorial team of MyJewishLearning.com, a comprehensive online resource exploring Jewish religion, history, and culture produced by Hebrew College and Jewish Family & Life! Media.