Hebrew Today

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Welcome to HebrewToday
HebrewToday offers easy-to-read Hebrew newspapers by subscription. Our publications are perfect for beginners or advanced readers, who wish to learn Hebrew in a fun, effective and engaging way, while staying connected to Israel and Jewish culture. Each issue is available with audio narration in clear, correct Hebrew pronunciation, as well as Hebrew-English dictionaries and E

nglish explanations for each article. Whether you choose the printed edition or online edition of our Hebrew newspapers, you will receive a fresh copy, hot off the press, every two weeks. Modern Hebrew is an evolving language, and we believe that the best way to learn Hebrew is through current events, both global and Israeli, and everyday interesting stories. So while you’re learning and improving your Hebrew, you are also strengthening your connection to Israel and learning lots of fascinating things through sports, cultures, movies, science, computers, travel, crosswords, activities, and more.

02/07/2025

WHERE TO?
Biblical Directions Explained
➡️⬅️⬆️⬇️
Let’s explore the deeper meanings behind the four cardinal directions in the Bible.

צָפוֹן
tzafon - north
דָרוֹם
darom - south
מִזְרָח
mizrach - east
מַעֲרָב
ma’arav - west
➖
These directions appear in the Bible as well, but they are called by slightly different names.
▪️
North - צָפוֹן
Here the name is the same. The word is connected to the word צָפוּן (tzafoon) which means hidden or concealed.
The sun does not appear in the north side; it is as if the sun is hidden in that direction.
▪️
South - נֶגֶב
In the southern part of Israel we can find the desert area known as the Negev. That is why the Bible uses the term negev to indicate the southern direction.
▪️
East - קֶדֶם
The word קֶדֶם (kedem) is connected to the word מוּקְדָם (mukdam) which means early. The sun shines during the earliest part of the day on the east.
▪️
West - יָם
If you look at the map, you can see that the Mediterranean Sea is to the west of Israel. This is why the Bible often refers to the west side by using the word יָם (yam) which means sea.

Today, after nearly two weeks of escalating attacks, Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, in a deal brokered by the U....
24/06/2025

Today, after nearly two weeks of escalating attacks, Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, in a deal brokered by the U.S.
If you’ve been following the news, in Hebrew or English, you probably came across the term:

הֲפְסָקַת אֵשׁ (hafsakat esh) – ceasefire

Let’s break it down:

הֲפְסָקָה = pause
אֵשׁ = fire (as in gunfire or military fire)

So literally: a pause in fire.
You’ll often hear this phrase during times of conflict, in news reports, press releases, and official statements.
May this be more than a moment of silence. May it be the beginning of something better, for all of us.

🟢 Read in Hebrew 🟢Practice Hebrew with a real article from the Beresh*t newspaper.Here’s a short article- fully vocalize...
23/06/2025

🟢 Read in Hebrew 🟢
Practice Hebrew with a real article from the Beresh*t newspaper.
Here’s a short article- fully vocalized and with glossary attached.
Places in the Bible - עֵמֶק הָאֵלָה - Valley of Elah

What does a sunflower seed have in common with a nuclear reactor?In Hebrew, quite a lot.The word גַּרְעִין (gar'in) mean...
22/06/2025

What does a sunflower seed have in common with a nuclear reactor?

In Hebrew, quite a lot.

The word גַּרְעִין (gar'in) means seed, like the kind you'd find in a watermelon or sunflower. But it's also the root of גַּרְעִינִי (gar'ini) — nuclear.
Why the connection?

Because both a seed and a nucleus are central cores- small, powerful, and full of potential.
In fact, the Hebrew word גַּרְעִין can mean core, kernel, or even nucleus, depending on context.
It’s used in science (the atomic nucleus), agriculture (a fruit seed), and even society (a “core group” of people: גרעין חברתי).
So next time you eat a seedless grape, or read about nuclear energy, you’ll know- it’s all from the same amazing root.

Shalom to all of our subscribers, The new issue of Beresh*t and Yanshuf is out today, and it’s the last one before our s...
17/06/2025

Shalom to all of our subscribers,
The new issue of Beresh*t and Yanshuf is out today, and it’s the last one before our summer break.

Like all our issues, this one was written here in Israel, in the midst of the reality we’re living. As the news unfolds around us, we keep writing, teaching, and sharing Hebrew, because language connects, and because so many of you care deeply about what’s happening here.

A note for our print subscribers: due to the current situation, mail service has been disrupted, and you’ve received now the digital edition by email instead.

We hope this issue brings you not just language practice, but also a sense of closeness, and we join you in hoping for calmer, better days ahead.
תודה 🙏

Lost in Translation:🟢 חֲבָל עַל הַזְמַןLiteral meaning: “Shame about the time.”Actual meaning: Depends who's saying it.....
11/06/2025

Lost in Translation:
🟢 חֲבָל עַל הַזְמַן
Literal meaning: “Shame about the time.”
Actual meaning: Depends who's saying it...and how.

You might think it’s negative.
But in Israeli slang, חבל על הזמן usually means the opposite:
It’s amazing. So good, it’s not even worth wasting time trying to explain.

—

Example 1:
"How was the concert?"
"חבל על הזמן."
= "It was insane. So good."

—

Example 2:
"How was traffic?"
"חבל על הזמן."
= "Don’t ask. Nightmare."

One phrase, two opposite meanings.
It’s all in the tone.
Which means... yes, you can totally mess this up.

—

Want to try it out?
Use the phrase חבל על הזמן with your best Israeli confidence,
but maybe start with something actually good. Just in case.
Good luck!

Practice Hebrew with a real article from the Beresh*t newspaper.Here’s a short article — fully vocalized (with נִיקּוּד)...
09/06/2025

Practice Hebrew with a real article from the Beresh*t newspaper.
Here’s a short article — fully vocalized (with נִיקּוּד) about a recent bird count in Israel:

סְפִירַת הַצִּיפּוֹרִים הַשְּׁנָתִית הִסְתַּיְּימָה לְאַחֲרוֹנָה.
מִסְפַּר הַצִּיפּוֹרִים שֶׁנִּרְאוּ בַּשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת גָּבֹהַּ בַּעֲשָׂרָה אָחוּזִים מֵהַשָּׁנָה שֶׁעָבְרָה.
הַמִּתְנַדְּבִים סָפְרוּ 144 מִינֵי צִּיפּוֹרִים!

🎯Bonus Challenge:

Read it out loud once, slowly.
Highlight (or write down) 3 words you didn’t know.
Write a sentence using one of them!

What was the first Hebrew word you ever learned?
06/06/2025

What was the first Hebrew word you ever learned?

The new newspapers are here!Go to your user on the site, and dive into reading ✨
03/06/2025

The new newspapers are here!
Go to your user on the site, and dive into reading ✨

🟦 Tip בַּקְּטַנָּה 🟦A small tip, a big step in your Hebrew journey.Today’s Tip:Want to improve your Hebrew without openi...
27/05/2025

🟦 Tip בַּקְּטַנָּה 🟦
A small tip, a big step in your Hebrew journey.

Today’s Tip:
Want to improve your Hebrew without opening a textbook?
Start listening even if you don’t understand everything.
Put on an Israeli podcast, radio station, or TV show in the background while you cook, walk, or commute.
Let your brain soak in the rhythm, the sounds, the flow of real Hebrew.

Fluency starts when Hebrew becomes a sound you're familiar with, not just a puzzle to solve.

Start with one episode this week. No pressure to "get it all." Just listen.

Got a favorite Israeli podcast, song, or show?
Share it in the comments — your recommendation might be just what someone else needs to fall in love with Hebrew.

Influences and Slopes➖לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ(le’hashpi’a) to influence.The root of this word is ש-פ-ע.This root has two different...
25/05/2025

Influences and Slopes
➖
לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ
(le’hashpi’a) to influence.
The root of this word is ש-פ-ע.
This root has two different meanings (these type of roots are called homonym roots).
One meaning is something that there is a lot of.
For instance, the word שֶׁפַע (shehfa) abundance, can refer to an abundance of space, food, possibilities, etc.
Western society is referred to as חֶבְרַת הַשֶׁפַע (chevrat hashehfa) abundant society since it is a wealthy society and offers many possibilities.

If water in a river is flowing strongly, we can say that the water is שׁוֹפְעִים (shof’im) flowing and bountiful.
The second meaning of the root ש-פ-ע is related to slants and inclines. A שִׁיפּוּעַ (shipu’a) is a slope or incline.
From this meaning comes the verb לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ (le’hashpi’a), which means to influence.
When a person influences someone else, he causes him to stray from his path, in one way or another, and to come closer to his way of thinking.
הַשְׁפָּעָה
(hashpa’ah) means influence.
מַשְׁפִּיעַ
(mashpi’a) is one who is influencing.
מוּשְׁפָּע
(mushpa) is the one who is influenced.
➖

🟦 Tip בַּקְּטַנָּה 🟦A small tip, a big step in your Hebrew journey.Welcome to our new series: Tip בַּקְּטַנָּה (Baktaná ...
20/05/2025

🟦 Tip בַּקְּטַנָּה 🟦
A small tip, a big step in your Hebrew journey.

Welcome to our new series: Tip בַּקְּטַנָּה (Baktaná = “just a little” in Hebrew slang).
Each time, we’ll share a quick, doable tip to help you learn Hebrew in a way that fits your real life.

Today’s Tip:
You don’t need hours a day to improve your Hebrew.
Try this: pick one small thing- a Hebrew song, a short news article, or even your grocery list, and use it daily.

A few minutes every day beats a few hours once a week.

What’s one tiny Hebrew habit you could start this week?
Let us know in the comments- your idea might inspire someone else too.

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