Hebrew Flashcards, test questions and answers
Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Hebrew and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Hebrew and get quick solutions for your test.
What is Hebrew?
Hebrew is a West Semitic language and one of the world’s oldest living languages, spoken primarily in Israel. It is the official language of the State of Israel and one of the 22 official languages recognized by the European Union. Hebrew has been spoken for more than 3000 years and is considered to be a sacred language among Jews around the world.Hebrew has an interesting history, stemming from ancient Canaanite dialects. In its early development, Hebrew had two distinct written forms Biblical Hebrew used in religious texts such as the Tanakh or Old Testament, and Mishnaic or rabbinic Hebrew which was used in religious commentaries such as Talmudic literature. During its long history, various other dialects were also developed including Modern Israeli Hebrew which is spoken today.As a result of political events such as World War II, Jewish people living throughout Europe began to look for a new home country that would be safe for them to live in. This led to many Jewish communities immigrating to Palestine (which would later become Israel), bringing with them their culture and language namely Hebrew. As more people moved there from around the world, Israeli Hebrew evolved from being only a liturgical language into becoming an everyday colloquial vernacular that was understood by all residents regardless of origin or background.