Description
Yom Asel ve-Yom Basel serves as an introduction to Modern Hebrew. The book is designed to be a resource for students of Arabic, ranging from beginners to native or near-native speakers, who would like to transfer their Arabic skills into Hebrew. Our approach is that Hebrew and Arabic, both Semitic languages, are intrinsically connected. While each can be quite daunting on its own, taking Hebrew into the broader context can substantially help learners.
That being said, since this textbook is primarily written in English, speaking Arabic is not required; all learners are welcome.
The chapters are laid out in a very straightforward format of vocabulary modules and grammar lessons, with a list of exercises at the end of to practice these proficiencies. Numerous multimedia and interactive features, such as illustrations, photographs, references to music, and research topics are included. To illustrate the shared heritage of both languages and cultures, a set of proverbs from Hebrew and Arabic have been included at the head of each chapter. Most of which are shared between the two cultures.
The title of this book, Yom Asel ve-Yom Basel “One day is Honey, One Day is an Onion,” comes from an Arabic proverb that is also used in the Hebrew spoken by Eastern (Mizrahi) and North African (Sephardi) Jews whose cultures have been heavily influenced by the Arab majority in their nation of origin. In essence, it means that life has its ups and downs.
