Reading Hebrew

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====== Lesson 2 ======

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===== Review =====

==== Last lesson we learned that.... ====

  * Hebrew is written from Right to Left.

  * There are 22 letters in the Hebrew Alef-Bet.

  * Seven of the letters are called **double** letters because they make either **plosive** sounds (also called **stops**) or **fricative** sounds.  The plosive version of each is marked by a dot in the middle of the letter called a **dagesh**.  To remember these letters, say:  BiG'Dei KaPoReTh (<wrap :he>בִּגְדֵי־כַּפֹּרֶת</wrap>.)

  * Five of the letters have final forms that are used only at the ends of words.

  * There are many styles of writing, ranging from ancient pictographs, up through formal book print, calligraphy, block letter writing, and cursive.

  * There are different regional/cultural traditions regarding how to say the names of the letters and how to pronounce their sounds, as well as different systems that are used to transcribe words from Hebrew into our Latin Alphabet.
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===== First Letters =====

Memorize these three letters:  [[alef]], [[bet]], [[mem]]

{{ ::lesson2:slide-alef.png?600 |}}

{{ ::lesson2:slide-bet.png?600 |}}

{{ ::lesson2:slide-mem.png?600 |}}

===== First Words =====

See how they make these two words:  'aV & 'eM

{{ ::lesson2:slide-av-em.png?600 |}}

A Child's First Words.  Notice how the alef carries a vowel sound along with it, which is different for each of these words.

More commonly used versions of those words: 'aBBa, 'eeMa

{{ ::lesson2:slide-abba-ima.png?600 |}}

Technically these ones are "loan words" from Aramaic, but I'm sure babies don't realize that 😁   There is some Aramaic in the Bible, as well.  It is a language that is closely related to Hebrew.

I'd suggest that these words came from the meaning implicit in the ancient pictograms.  Or, in other words, the sounds (which undoubtedly came first) got assigned to the pictograms.

Mem, the water, implies "source" or "origin."  The letter mem is used as a prefix to mean "from", so your mother is where you physically came from.

Bet, the house, implies protection, shelter, strength.  A father, in the ancient world especially, would have been the one in whose household you dwelt, provided for, and physically protected you (and provided for and protected your mother, for that matter.)
(And, yes, I'm sneaking a couple of actual words into these early Alphabet lessons, because we will need them in order to talk about Syllables and Vowels in upcoming lessons.)

===== Exercises =====

Master the **[[Lesson 2 Flashcards]]** before you proceed to Lesson 3.