Classical + Immersive
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הַשָּׂפָה, מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהִיא נוֹבַעַת מֵרוּחַ הָאֻמָּה, פּוֹעֶלֶת הִיא לְהַטְבִּיעַ יָפֶה אֶת חוֹתַם הָאֻמָּה ע”י הִתְגַּבְּרוּתָהּ וְשִׁלְטוֹנָהּ בַּחַיִּים וּבַסִּפְרוּת.
About THE Program
Hebrew is a critical element of Jewish education, serving as both the divine language of our sacred texts and a living bridge to Jewish culture, identity, and the Jews all over the world.
This initiative aims to cultivate mastery in both Biblical and Modern Hebrew, enabling students to access classical sources with depth and engage meaningfully in Jewish life. Through a cohesive, rigorous curriculum grounded in the principles of classical education, students develop fluency across all language domains and foster a profound connection to the Jewish people, our heritage, and the State of Israel.
OUR
APPROACH
The Lobel Center’s 5 Pillars of Hebrew Education
Pillar 1
Make Hebrew a priority
School leaders need to set high expectations for Hebrew mastery and allocate sufficient time and resources to the subject. Hebrew is the birthright of every Jew and should be a high academic priority.
Pillar 2
Teach through immersion
Students learn languages best when they are fully immersed. The constant exposure sharpens comprehension and listening skills, accelerates vocabulary acquisition, and improves retention.
Pillar 3
Develop an integrated and substantive curriculum
In addition to critical lessons on grammar and vocabulary, the curriculum should introduce students to the riches of Jewish civilization, empowering them to access Hebrew poetry, literature, history, and our religious tradition.
Pillar 4
Recruit excellent Israeli emissaries
Native fluency alone is not enough. Schools must identify outstanding Israeli educators and equip them to teach U.S. students effectively. This combination will improve the learning outcomes and create a vibrant connection to Israel.
Pillar 5
Embrace the rigor of classical pedagogy
Teachers should employ classical methods—recitation, memorization, and seminar-style dialogue—to foster discipline and mastery.
Our Partners
Emet Classical Academy
Emet Classical Academy utilizes our custom curriculum for both modern and Biblical Hebrew.
Hadar Jewish Classical Academy
Hadar Jewish Classical Academy operates as our lab school for Hebrew immersion. Between 40%-90% of the school day is conducted exclusively in Hebrew.
The Adelson School
We partnered with the Adelson School to launch a Hebrew immersion pilot program for its youngest class.
Our Programmatic Initiatives
School Partnerships
- From early childhood centers to high schools, we collaborate with educational institutions across the country. Whether we are partnering with a community day school or one focused on a particular denomination, we always design each partnership to honor the school’s distinct mission, culture, and aspirations.
- We support a wide range of Hebrew instruction models—from full-day immersion (80–90% of the school day) to focused daily lessons (30–45 minutes)—ensuring every student has a meaningful path toward fluency.
- Hebrew education is strengthened through the strategic placement of skilled educators, including Israeli emissaries, who receive weekly mentoring, coaching, and ongoing professional development grounded in best practices for second-language acquisition.
- Each school benefits from a carefully designed, high-impact curriculum enriched with authentic Israeli literature, music, and cultural experiences that inspire students to use Hebrew with confidence both in and beyond the classroom.
Teacher Recruitment and Mentorship
- We partner with the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and work with a dedicated consultant in Israel to recruit highly qualified Israeli educational emissaries with expertise in Hebrew language instruction.
- All teacher candidates undergo a rigorous, multi-stage screening process that includes a model lesson review and multiple interviews. This helps ensure alignment with our pedagogical vision and adherence to our high standards.
- We require all teachers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, with many bringing advanced graduate training, and we equip them with comprehensive summer preparation on the curriculum they will teach.
- Our support goes far beyond recruitment, with ongoing mentoring, coaching, and continuous professional development, in addition to practical and personal support, from relocation assistance to regular check-ins throughout the school year.
Curriculum Development
- Our curriculum is rooted in authentic Israeli literature and is crafted by expert curriculum developers to ensure cultural richness and linguistic depth.
- We adapt and enhance materials to build conversational fluency while integrating content knowledge, grammar, and language acquisition skills.
- Each piece of curriculum is designed to support comprehensive skill development, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking, at each developmental stage and proficiency level.
- Teachers receive ongoing training and mentorship to implement and adapt the curriculum effectively, ensuring instruction that is both dynamic and responsive to their students’ needs.
Working Groups
- Collaborative Cohorts
Working groups bring together Hebrew language educators from multiple schools to jointly implement and reflect on curriculum units developed by the Lobel Center. - Literature-Based Pilots
Each cohort pilots two Hebrew language units rooted in authentic Israeli literature, generating real-time classroom insights and a consistent foundation for discussion and improvement. - Structured Meetings
Educators meet six times—before, during, and after implementation—to share experiences, address challenges, and exchange best practices. - Professional Community
The cohorts function as professional learning communities, providing mentorship, peer support, and exposure to immersive, literature-driven instructional models. - Participating Schools (2024-2025)
- Brauser Maimonides Academy (FL)
- Yeshivat He’Atid (NJ)
- Akiba Yavneh Academy (TX)
- Hebrew Academy Miami (FL)
- Emet Classical Academy (NY)
Israel Lobel Yom Iyun
- Annual Gathering of Thought Leaders
For the past three years, the Lobel Center has hosted a dynamic Yom Iyun in Jerusalem, convening educators and leaders to deepen partnerships and position the Center as a visionary force in shaping Jewish education in the United States. - Building a Collaborative Network
These gatherings have cultivated a growing network of like-minded educators, many now part of a pipeline of emissaries and partners. They also have resulted in lasting collaborations with leading Israeli institutions, including the Polis Institute, Herzog College, and Gordon College of Education. - Catalyst for Recruitment and Innovation
Through rich learning experiences grounded in classical education and immersive Hebrew instruction, these Yom Iyun events have become a premier forum for recruiting outstanding educators and advancing new models of excellence in Hebrew and Jewish education.
