Brandeis’ Consortium for the Teaching of Hebrew joins with Tel Aviv University's Hebrew Olympiad to strengthen global Hebrew education
June 19, 2024
The Consortium for Teaching of the Hebrew Language and Culture at Brandeis University and The Hebrew Olympiad at Tel Aviv University, are announcing a plan to collaborate to expand Olympiad activities globally, and to foster a deeper connection between Israel and the global Jewish community through the shared language of Hebrew.
The partnership will encompass program development, engaging events, competitive activities, and research about the impact of Hebrew language acquisition on learners' identity and their connection to Israel.
The Hebrew Olympiad is an international competition launched by several Israeli high-tech companies in 2021, in which middle- and high-school students compete to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency. Finalists are invited to Tel Aviv University to face off in a live challenge.
The competition saw a 72 percent increase in participation this year, with 3,692 students from middle and high schools across Israel and several other countries participating in the preliminary stages. Over the three years since its inception, more than 5,000 students participated. Winners are celebrated with certificates, cash prizes, and university scholarships, fostering their academic growth and passion for Hebrew.
The Consortium for the Teaching of Hebrew Language and Culture at Brandeis is working to transform Hebrew teaching and learning globally to significantly boost the number of proficient speakers by establishing a unified philosophy on Hebrew language acquisition, systemized pedagogy and best practices.
“By expanding our reach in working with the Olympiad, we hope to create a vibrant network of Hebrew language enthusiasts, celebrating our rich cultural heritage and forging stronger connections to our collective identity around the world,” said Vardit Rinvald, director of the consortium.