Ha-yesod: Fundamentals of Hebrew [Paperback]

Luba Uveeler (Author), Norman M. Bronznick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0873062140 | ISBN-13: 978-0873062145 | Publication Date: January 1, 1991 | Edition: 8th

A comprehensive, step-by-step textbook teaching modern Hebrew language and grammar, geared especially to the needs of the English speaking student. For use in the classroom as well as for anyone who wishes to teach himself. Newly revised and expanded.

Product Details

• Paperback: 428 pages
• Publisher: Feldheim; 8th edition (January 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873062140
• ISBN-13: 978-0873062145
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Hebrew > Instruction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to expectations, August 6, 2005

By 

J. Plunk (Ellerslie, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ha-yesod: Fundamentals of Hebrew (Paperback)

I bought this book because I grew frustrated with Haiim Rosen's "A Textbook of Israeli Hebrew". This is more like a typical language textbook. This book does use vowels, the lack of which is part of what I didn't like about the Rosen book. It has a good number of translation and reading exercises, which is what I look for because I find that it makes me retain the vocabulary. No complaints so far. The vocabulary, at least at first, does contain a number of words one would only use in school, but that seems to be pretty typical of textbooks. By far, the vocabulary is useful right from the beginning. Unless you are looking for something specialized, you will probably be happy with this book. I am.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good but not perfect, December 30, 2004

By 

Makarov9 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ha-yesod: Fundamentals of Hebrew (Paperback)

This book is for the serious learner of Hebrew. Extensive verb drills, exercises, vocabulary.
But with several serious flaws: no answer key, no accentuation of words which do not follow normal accent rules, vocabulary list in back of book is not really a bilingual vocabulary-but rather shows what chapter word first appears(not very useful!), exercises and readings are stilted and not practical for modern Hebrew(no idiomatic phrases nor everyday conversation expressions).
If you can ignore the above short-comings, it is the best Modern Hebrew book out there today- (if only the Teach Yourself series would come out with their version of modern Hebrew..instead of Biblical!)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ha-Yesod: Fundamentals of Hebrew (1998 ed.), January 13, 2000

By 

Shemayah Phillips - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ha-yesod: Fundamentals of Hebrew (Paperback)

I am using this book currently and like it. I would suggest that the user of this book have some exposure to Hebrew beforehand if they are using it for self-study. The book is very thorough in coverage. I am not sure how well it can build conversational skills, and it has no ancilliary materials like CDs, or tapes. I appreciate the small size of the lessons (shi`urim). They are 3-4 pages, include a lesson vocabulary (and new words are not snuck in yet previous lesson vocabs are), followed by a diqduk/grammar section for new concepts introduced in the lesson, followed by a reading in pointed Hebrew.

The lesson is then quizzed and reinforced by targilim/ exercises that ask questions in Hebrew over the reading to be answered in Hebrew; an English section of 10-20 sentences to be translated into Hebrew; and then a section dealing directly with the grammar section. Examples: provide the correct form of the definite article, or pluralize a list of nouns and adjectives. Not every lesson includes this last section, but there may be 5-15 exercises in them.

Contents, intro, and (vocab)index appear in Hebrew also with the English. There are verb conjugations, a glossary of the vocab words, and some extra lessons in the back of the book.

The book is worth the reasonable price. My biggest problem is that there are NO answers to the exercises sections which a self-study person needs. Anybody have the answers? email me. ;-)