MOD-HEB BA / HDS 4015A – Elementary Modern Hebrew I

MOD-HEB BA – Elementary Modern Hebrew I

Semester: Fall
Offered: 2021
Instructor: Irit Aharony
Meeting Time: M, T, W, Th, F 9:00am-10:15am

The course introduces students to the phonology and script as well as the fundamentals of morphology and syntax of Modern Hebrew. Emphasis is placed on developing reading, speaking, comprehension and writing skills, while introducing students to various aspects of contemporary Israeli society and culture. This is an indivisible course. Students must complete both terms of this course (parts A and B) within the same academic year in order to receive credit.

Recommended Prep: Modern Hebrew 130b or equivalent.

Notes: Not open to auditors. Cannot be taken pass/fail. Modern Hebrew BA/BB is an indivisible year-long course. Students must complete both terms of this course (parts A and B) within the same academic year in order to receive credit. In specific cases the instructor will consider approval of enrollment in MOD-HEB BB and MOD-HEB 120A as fulfillment of the one-year language requirement, depending on the student’s proficiency level.

Offered jointly with Harvard Divinity School as HDS 4015A

For more details please visit the Harvard Course Catalog.


Throughout the pandemic, nothing has provided me with more comfort than Dr. Irit Aharony’s warm, melodic, Monday-3pm: ‘Ma nishma? Aich haya sof hashavua?’ (How are you? How was your weekend?)
“Listening to my classmates’ improving accounts of the same lockdown-strolls to the supermarket, I felt connected. On Sundays, thinking of the upcoming class, I felt obliged to leave my room. Put differently, in a time marked by fear, isolation, and uncertainty, Irit’s simple yet sincere question functioned as a much-needed reminder of my three-dimensional existence—an existence with unmuted feelings and actual weekends.
“For that, and the introduction to the most wonderful language, culture, and people, I will forever be grateful to Irit, Osnat and Yoni, and all of my amazing classmates. It was an honor to get to spend my senior year with you all. Lehitraot. TLDR: Study Hebrew at Harvard! :-)”

Linda Leidel
Harvard College, 2021