Covers common expressions, conversations, and cultural notes

With this guide, you can return to your roots or create new ones

Want to discover how to speak Hebrew? This easy-to-understand guide explains basic grammar and usage, covering everything from the alphabet and numbers to making small talk, planning a trip, and changing money. You’ll also discover the basics of Hebrew blessings and prayer, as well as the significance of the holy days.

All this on the Audio CD

Pick up Hebrew the easy way –through actual conversations
Features dialogues by native Hebrew speakers
Allows you to hear Hebrew as it’s really spoken
Reinforces lessons from the book

One of the most amazing things about Hebrew is that, in less than a century, it has gone from an ancient language of prayer and ritual spoken by a few holy men to a modern language of sunbathing, dining, going to the movies, and countless other everyday activities, spoken by millions. Modern Hebrew is a beautiful language, but for a native English speaker it can be tough wrapping your tongue around exotic expressions like “Ha’im Ayn Oogiyot?” (“What, no cookies?”). As with any language, the quickest way to master Hebrew basics is to immerse yourself in its sounds and rhythms. The next best thing to six months in Haifa, Hebrew For Dummies lets you do just that!

Whether you want to communicate with your Israeli cousins, understand Jewish prayers and sacred literature, impress your Jewish in-laws, or you’re planning a trip to Israel, this book/audio package can help. In no time, you’ll:

Master Hebrew sounds and rhythms
Understand basic grammar and usage
Get a handle on the Hebrew alphabet
Make small-talk, and most everyday transactions
Discover the basics of Hebrew blessings and prayer
Gain insights into Hebrew culture and traditions
Each chapter of Hebrew For Dummies is organized around a specific set of activities—such as eating, traveling, shopping, and asking directions—and gives you the lowdown on all the Hebrew you’ll need to get by. Topics covered include:

Eating, going shopping, having fun, sports, hobbies, talking on the phone, communicating around the office, and other everyday activities
Hebrew for travelers, including transportation, hotels, money changing, asking directions, and handling emergencies
Sacred Hebrew, including reading the Bible and prayer books, blessing formulas, sacred rites and services, and more
The enclosed audio CD let’s you pick up Hebrew the easy way—through actual conversations. It features:

Dialogues by native Hebrew speakers
Answers to the Fun & Games activities in the book
The fun, easy way to master basic Hebrew, this book will quickly get you on track with the language skills you need to speak and read Hebrew like a native.

Jill Engel
Bravo! Ms. Jacobs has done a superb job in teaching/brushing up on Hebrew. This book is fun, easy to follow and teaches practical Hebrew. I feel quite confident in my Hebrew speaking skills too. I highly recommend this book.

Krystal
"Hebrew for Dummies" is a basic starting point for those who would like to learn Hebrew for travel purposes. For example, you will learn basic phrases (greetings, hotels, how to...) and plenty of nouns (animals, for example) - the usual. A useful and comprehensive pronounciation guide is also inlcuded at the beginning of the book. The author also provides little hints such as good Israeli DVDs and CDs to buy (and importantly, where to get them from!) - so you can practice hearing Hebrew and to learn a little about Israeli/Jewish culture.

Additionally, what I really liked was that there is a whole section on Biblical Hebrew (*BASIC* prayers - such as the Sh'ma) and a little biblical grammar.

Another great part of this book is the accompanying audio CD which compliments the book nicely . It contains pronounciation guides and conversations to repeat and practice.

The only downfall of this book is that there is NO HEBREW lettering - everything is transliterated (hence, the simplicity of "Dummies" books). The only place where Hebrew can be found is in the Biblical section in a small number of the prayers.

Overall, this is an excellent guide for beginners who want to start learning Hebrew - you'll get a lot out of it - but for those who already have some prior knowledge of Hebrew, I highly recommend "Hebrew: a Language Course (levels 1, 2 & 3)" by Band & Bergman, all of which can be purchased here at Amazon.