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Ida Nasatir book review

Hebrew Self-Taught by Zevi and Ben-Ami Scharfstein
July 31, 1947—Hebrew Self-Taught by Zevi and Ben-Ami Scharfstein,  Southwestern Jewish Press, page 6: The ignorance of Hebrew is among the greatest spiritual defects of American Jews. Unless this is remedied, and speedily, the Hebrew language is doomed to disappear from among our people in this country, and a Judaism without Hebrew is impossible. A knowledge of Hebrew is imperative for loyal Jews, since an ignorance of it precludes a decent appreciation or regard for Jewish values. This statement may be denied, openly and even emphatically, yet there resides in the subconscious mind of the Jew a sense of guilt and shame at the neglect of the ancient tongue. Recently these feelings have been strengthened by the remarkable growth of the Jewish community in Palestine. The fortunate result there has been to create a desire for a knowledge of Hebrew. This volume by two well known Jewish educators will answer this want, and in splendid fashion. Anyone who applies himself or herself to Hebrew Self-Taught can learn the language without the aid of a teacher. Knowing the distaste for Hebrew many have acquired in their youth when they were trained in mechanical reading, the authors issue this timely warning: "Anyone who is willing to put in honest work can get to speak Hebrew, to read a Hebrew newspaper, or a simple book, and to write a friendly note. To help you, who are willing to help yourselves, we have left out everything that does not have a direct practical bearing on learning to understand and to speak. We have chosen a vocabulary mainly for the needs of everyday conversation whether here or in Palestine..." Hebrew has a beautiful literature, ancient, medieval and modern, sacred and secular, and it has become a living language with an exciting future. The procedure is quite simple, and those who have studied foreign languages will quickly recognize it. The forty lessons include vocabulary, grammar and exercises, happily combined. The 36th lesson describes a scene at the Wailing Wall; the 38th sets fort the beauties of Eretz Israel; the 39th lesson describes a visit to Mount Carmel; the 32nd describes how Tel Aviv prepares for the Sabbath, and the 39th tells of a visit to Petach Tikvah. After completion, the student will have gained a knowledge of 150 Hebrew words, which is quite adequate, since 1,000 words constitute about 80 percent of the everyday Hebrew vocabulary. Actually this is an exciting book. Once this volume is mastered, the study will of itself be continued. Try it, and see for yourself.