November 15 — Hebrew Class Notes & Homework

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Notes from class on November 15, 2010:

1. Reminder: We will be meeting on Tuesdays for the remaining three weeks of class:

• Tuesday, November 23
• Tuesday, November 30
• Tuesday, December 7

2. Would you like to study Hebrew for another eight weeks?  Please confirm your intention to continue taking this class by sending an email message to Natasha and to Rosalie.  The next eight-week session, which will be a continuation of this class, will take place on Tuesday evenings starting on January 11, 2011.

3. Link to Google Calendar for this class: qbmsgrlb4oe6o4frjpgbucig6s@group.calendar.google.com.

4. The first night of Hanukkah is Wednesday, December 1.  What would you like to study in relation to the holiday? If you send me your requests I will try to incorporate them into our remaining class meetings.  Otherwise I will pick a few Hanukkah-related Hebrew topics myself.

Homework for TUESDAY November 23, 2010:

1. Study this four-verse section in Hebrew from Parshat Vayeishev: Gen. 37:21-24.

• Practice reading the section out loud at least five times before class.  I recommend doing it at least once per day.
• Translate the section as best you can, using Hebrew dictionaries and any other references you like.  Write down your English translation.

2. Memorize the conjugation of the Hebrew verb “to be called” in all its tenses.  This verb is in binyan Nif’al and can be found in Chapter 28 of the text book as well as in the Nif’al charts in the back of the book.  NOTE: There may be a quiz in class next week.

3. Choose five “model verbs” for yourself — one in each binyan taught in our book.  Eventually your choices will become the five verbs you know best, in all their conjugations; you’ll be able to measure other verbs against them in corresponding binyanim, and thus increase your Hebrew vocabulary very fast without having to memorize too much.  You may choose verbs highlighted in the text book or from any source.  For now, no memorizing, just choosing.  Write down the binyan and your chosen shoresh for each of your five verbs.