REVIEWS
… The strengths of this textbook are its logical organization, straightforward explanations, relevant and copious biblical examples, useful charts and illustrations, and interesting exercises employing biblical texts aimed at recognition and translation skills. Hinneh: Biblical Hebrew the Practical Way deserves consideration as a possible adoption for class, and for some instructors it may well become the textbook of choice.
Michael Graves, Review of Biblical Literature, July 4, 2019
… This update of the original has improved upon the previous edition in some significant ways, not least of which is the addition of a color-coded e-book format that greatly increases the utility of the book’s third volume.
… As suggested in its title, Hinneh: Biblical Hebrew the Practical Way perhaps emphasizes practicality over theoretical completeness. As such, it is successful at providing tools to equip students to read and translate Biblical Hebrew almost immediately. Its simplified presentation will likely be easily digestible for beginning students. The tools provided in Volume 3 should be of great value to students as well, especially as color-coded in the e-Tool Box.
Timothy Hogue, Hebrew Higher Education, Volume 21 (2019)
Rachel Halabe’s work provides an able guide for early students of Hebrew…
… Teachers should be pretty well satisfied with these introductory lessons. They are not only informative, but they are also laid out in a clear and easy to read manner. Visual space allows for the assimilation of the data.
All in all, Halabé has made a significant contribution to introductory grammars.
John Engle, Review of Biblical Literature, September 17, 2013
… From the very outset, one is struck by the attention to the student’s learning experience and not to listing grammatical rules in a formulaic way. In Hinneh, Halabe is after the effective learning of, and appreciation for, Biblical Hebrew language and texts….
… she models a better pedagogical practice than the old standard grammars…
… Hinneh is a welcome addition to the existing Biblical Hebrew grammars and will no doubt prove its usefulness in the classroom and on the reference bookshelf alike.
Kurtis Peters, The Expository Times 124/11, August 2013
Hinneh: Biblical Hebrew the Practical Way by Rahel Halabe is a thorough and creative textbook for first-year students of biblical Hebrew…
…. this grammar is obviously written with both the teacher and student in mind. Halabe offers a number of tips and suggestions for the teacher, primarily located in the introductory materials in the first volume. Students will also find plenty of resources, including an abundance of paradigms in the Toolbox and complete answer keys in the textbooks for immediate feedback. In addition, the grammar presentations use a number of consciousness-raising techniques, such as bolding and italicizing, to help draw the students’ attention to important features. Halabe also incorporates some innovative ideas and study tips, such as a “timeline” to help students understand verbs, suggestions for color-coding as a learning aid, and cloze exercises as a means of incorporating biblical texts early. In Halabe’s cloze exercises, the student receives a partially translated verse from the Bible and must fill in a blank with the appropriate English word to complete the translation. Examples and exercises from the first lesson onward include scripture, which is a strong motivator for students and keeps the material relevant…
Overall, Halabe has added another solid introductory grammar for biblical Hebrew to the many options already available. In addition to its thorough treatment of grammar, her text incorporates some innovative teaching strategies and resources for students…
The teaching tips would be particularly helpful for newer instructors of the language, although seasoned veterans may also find some creative ideas to aid in their classrooms.
Jennifer Noonan A review published on H-Judaic (November, 2012)
… These volumes are made for use either in the classroom or as an independent study source. A prerequisite in using these texts is the ability to read Hebrew (at least well enough to sound out the letters). It rewards readers who learn broad concepts and vocabulary easily. The author does not attempt to teach all grammatical rules – her emphasis is on basic grammatical subjects and uses the qal stem in all the root groups in volume one. Volume two introduces the qal stem infinitives, imperative, and participle in addition to the remaining verb stems. The Toolbox volume contains parsing charts, frequently occurring adjectives, verb lists, etc. Each lesson is clearly presented with examples and plenty of exercises to reinforce learning.,
I think these volumes would be most successful in a classroom setting or as a text for an independent learner who has already had some Hebrew instruction. It appears to be aimed at an adult audience (the answers to the exercises are found at the end of the book, for example). Recommended for libraries that collect Hebrew instruction textbooks.
Suzanne Smailes, Head of Technical Services, Wittenberg University Library, Springfield, OH
Published in AJL Reviews May/June 2012 page 29
… הגישה להוראת העברית המקראית בספר דומה לכאורה לגישה המקובלת בהוראת שפה מודרנית. בחלק מהפרקים יש טקסט בסיס או משפטי בסיס שמהם מסתעפים הנושאים בפרק, אוצר המילים הכלול בו והנושאים הדקדוקיים העולים ממנו. ואכן, הדרך הנהוגה בהוראת עברית היא דרך ספירלית מתרחבת, כלומר טיפול בנושא ברמה בסיסית וחזרה אליו והרחבתו ברמות הבאות או בשלבים מתקדמים יותר. נדמה לי שכך ביקשה לנהוג חלּבֶה בספרה. זהו אפוא ספר ללימוד שפה ברוח ספרי לימוד לשפות מודרניות. דרך טיפול כזאת היא חדשה לגמרי כשמדובר בספרי לימוד לעברית המקראית. היתרון בה הוא כמובן העיגון בטקסט או בפסוקים שמובאים כאן, עובדה שמקנה ללימוד רלוונטיות. הדוגמות אינן מומצאות אלא לקוחות מהטקסט המקראי עצמו…
… ניכר שחלבה מבינה את הקשיים העלולים להתעורר אצל התלמיד בעמתו את שפת האם שלו עם השפה הנלמדת, וכן היא מודעת לקשיים שבעברית עצמה… בהוראת שפה מודרנית כשפה זרה, מגלים רגישות לבעיות העלולות להתעורר עקב המבנה המיוחד של שפת האם, וחלבה מיישמת דרך זו בספרה לאורכו…
… בניגוד למקובל בספרי לימוד לעברית החדשה, מטרת הלימוד בספר הזה, כפי שהמחברת מצהירה עליה, היא פסיווית בעיקרה, אף שדרכי הוראה רבות שהיא מציעה הן אקטיוויות לחלוטין. המטרה היא הבנת הטקסט ולא יצירתו, ניתוח צורות הפועל ולא יצירתן, ולכן חלבה מציעה לתרגם רק מעברית לאנגלית ולא להיפך. דרכי הלימוד האקטיוויות שהיא מציעה (דיאלוגים בכיתה) נועדו אם כן להשריש את הידע ולא להפעיל את הלומד באופן אקטיווי מובהק. לבסוף היא מפנה לאתר האינטרנט המלווה את הספר.
בספר הדגמות ותרגילים רבים ובכללם תרגילי תרגום רבים, בלוויית פתרונות בסוף כל כרך. הדוגמות והתרגילים, המוצלחים ברובם, נלקחו פעמים רבות מהטקסט המקראי עצמו ונועדו להטמיע את הנלמד. נראה שחלבה כללה נושאים רבים בספר זה ובהם, כאמור, נקודות שעלולות להיות בעייתיות ללומד העברית המִקראית ושהיא הייתה רגישה להן.
…כרך ג הוא ארגז הכלים של התלמיד. כרך ג מאורגן היטב, והוא מכשיר יעיל שללא ספק עשוי לסייע רבות לתלמיד. …
… הספר נוקט גישה לא מקובלת בהוראת עברית מקראית, כזו המקרבת אותו לאופיים של ספרי לימוד לשפות מודרניות. יש בו מגוון רחב של נושאים ודיון מתוך נקודת מבט של ניתוח מעמת בנקודות בעייתיות ללומד העברית המקראית ששפת האם שלו אנגלית.
ריקי בליבוים ‘הד האולפן’ גליון 100
TEACHERS’ & STUDENTS’ FEEDBACK
אני מאד אוהב את סדרת ספרי הלימוד שלך “הנה”! השתמשתי רבות בסדרת ספרי הלימוד “הנה”, ואוכל רק להמליץ על הספרים ברמה מאד גבוהה! 31 באוקטובר 2021
Andrey Teterevov, Biblical and Modern Hebrew instructor. Poland
Thanks for Teacher Rahel Halabe and her great book of of Hinneh: Biblical Hebrew the Practical Way. I had learned biblical Hebrew through the years by various means and materials but had not been successful until I joined Teacher Rahel’s course. She has been teaching us in a very systematic manner with love and patience. Her book covers many details of grammar but in a logical way so that students can fully grasp the building blocks of learning the biblical Hebrew. It also has many examples from the bible that demonstrate the concepts of the grammar a student has learned. I would strongly recommend her and her book to anyone who loves to learn this beautiful and godly language. July 14, 2021
多謝Rahel Halabe 老師以及她的希伯來文教材“Biblical Hebrew the Practical Way”。我以前也曾經用不同方法學習希伯來文，但卻不甚成功，直到我參加Rachel 老師的課程。老師的教導很有系統，而且充滿耐性及愛心。這教材也包含學習聖經希伯來文的各種重點，而且有很多的聖經經文作為解釋，學員很容易掌握其中學習的秘訣。我極力推薦有意學習這美麗及神聖的語言的學生。July 7, 2021
Roger Chang, a Biblical Hebrew course student at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, BC
跟着 Rahel 老师学习了一年的圣经希伯来文，深有得着， Rahel 老师人很 nice, 教学水很高，希伯来发音准确. 她自己编制的教材循序渐进，逐步加深，相比我学习的其它课本，这本教材内容更加详细，适合学习者逐步进深到高级水准，除了上下册外，另外单独配送一本工具书，以各种表格总结，帮助人有效记忆。 本人特别推荐Rahel 老师使用的希伯来语言学习的进路。July14, 2021
James, a Biblical Hebrew course student at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, BC.
I have been diligently reviewing the first 9 chapters of your book, which is much more comprehensive than the one I was using at Regent: Introducing Biblical Hebrew by Allan P Ross. Sep. 3, 2015
Your book is much more comprehensive than the course I took at Regent; thus, I have already encountered concepts which I never studied there. Sep. 29, 2015
Judith Gordon, a student at the Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, BC
Thanks for connecting with me! Your book is on my shelf. Last year, when I entered a Biblical Hebrew PhD with only modern Hebrew, I found it to be the best book forward (much better than Brettler)…. I like the article you posted on the SBL website and would be interested in learning more.
Sophia Avants, PhD student American Jewish University
Dec. 15, 2013
קראתי את הספרים בסדרת “הנה.” ממש נהנתי מהספרים האלה.. בסופו של דבר אני באמת חושב ש -“הנה” הוא ספר מצוין – הספר הטוב ביותר שקראתי בנושא דקדוק מקראית. אני במיוחד אהבתי את הפרקים על המקור המוחלט והמקור הנטוי. אני כבר קורא עברית מודרני ומקראית במשך הרבה שנים (8-9) ובכלל לא הבנתי את הנושא הזה עד עכשיו. גם אהבתי את פורמטו של הספר והדוגמאות אמיתיות – מהתנ”ך… May 8, 2015
(Translation of the above message: I read the books in the Hinneh Series. I enjoyed very much these books… I think that Hinneh is an excellent book – the best book I have read in dealing with Biblical Hebrew. I especially liked the chapters about the Infinitive Absolute and the Infinitive Construct. I have already been reading Modern and Biblical Hebrew for many years ((8-9) and have never understood this subject till now. I also liked the format of the book and the real examples from the Tanakh… May 8, 2015
Brandon Stern – an independent student, Springfield, N.J
… This past spring, I taught using your Hinneh I volume–I never taught the next level (using volume II) so my feedback is based solely on the students and my experience using volume I.
Overall, my experience was very positive. Hinneh is a great book to use in class together with students. As you suggest, I would give my students highlighters and together we highlighted different prefixes/suffixes etc. I did this not only in the toolbox but in the text as well. I felt that the students became more involved in the lesson, and it encouraged them to use the text during the semester, and not just cram from the toolbox for the exam. (I did not allow them to use the toolbox on exams or quizzes as this contradicts YU’s goals.) The toolbox was a savior for most of the students as it is easy to use and a great reference tool for them. The examples throughout Hinneh were often what interested my students in the material, and we would talk about the background of the quote or phrase and the student realized how essential this course was for them to continue their biblical studies. It was usually around these discussion (or other extra-biblical material I brought in relating to grammatical issues, mostly exegetical material) that my students showed the most interest. I had a small class (8 students) and most of them excelled in the course and it is no doubt thanks to the clarity and breadth covered in Hinneh volume I and the toolbox…
Hannah Kleinman, Yeshivah University College
July 2012
I use Hineh, Biblical Hebrew the Practical Way at the University of North Texas. I think it is the best book for beginning students in universities and seminaries.
The book is organized logically and written clearly. The author wisely decided to start the book with nominal sentences, and then introduce the verb system and the tenses in a new and refreshing way.
It does not spend time teaching reading, and in the first lesson it already introduces how to use a Biblical dictionary. Hineh equips students with skills to interpret a Biblical text from the first stages by using the dictionary and charts, which are organized neatly in a separate book called Tool Box.
The vocabulary choice is based on frequency lists. The examples and the exercises in the book are segments of Biblical verses from the first lesson. The abundance of exercises helps the students to internalize the material taught in class. The book can be self-taught and it has the answers in the back of the book of each volume.
At the end of each semester my students received for their final exam a few verses of a Biblical story according to the material which was taught during the semester. They had to translate the segment, using their dictionary and the Tool Box. I was amazed by their performance. After four semesters, the students could translate a Biblical narrative that included all the tenses and the main verbs stems. That is the best testimonial to Rahel Halabe’s fine work.
Ruth Precker, University of North Texas
February 2012
… It is a must for people who want to deepen their Hebrew…
Rabbi Ilan Acoca, Congregation Beth Hamidrash, Vancouver
July 2013
… Halabe’s contributions are using linguistic and pedagogical research to sequence grammar for optimum learning; and considering the linguistic concept “meaningful input” for biblical text selection.
… Drawing on the research surveyed above, Halabe develops her approach and materials, with the following features:
- relaxed and friendly atmosphere
- mediated learning experience that helps students learn independently
- grammar sequenced pedagogically by considering frequency, learnability, teachability, and dependence of one grammatical system on others
- stress on reading Hebrew Bible text with comprehension
Halabe offers an attractive approach that shows considerable awareness of the factors that hinder or enhance student learning. It gains credibility because of the combination of engagement with linguistic/pedagogical research and her experience as a language teacher.
Garry Jost discusses among others, Rahel Halabe’s teaching method in his (2007) PHD dissertation HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH: AN AUTHENTIC ENCOUNTER WITH THE BIBLE IN ITS ORIGINAL LANGUAGES. pp. 95-105
Cynthia Ramsay: Unique Way of Teaching Hebrew