I found myself constantly trying to engage him in age-appropriate activities in Hebrew, from counting to recognizing colors, to watching Israeli TV and reading books. Teaching Hebrew while everyone around us speaks in English, was often challenging. While I was 100% sure that he was capable of learning, and I was capable of teaching, I often faced backlash from others around me who thought that maybe my son just doesn’t understand what I´m saying and criticized my determination. Sometimes, I noticed people got frustrated because they didn´t understand what we were talking about.

But I´m not one to give up. Hebrew means so much more than just a spoken language. Hebrew is the culture, the experience and the essence of being an Israeli, and that is what I want my kids to inherit and love.

To supplement the work I was doing at home, I was in constant search of Israeli focused activities and classes that would provoke my son to use Hebrew in his daily life. Unfortunately, I noticed that there is a lack of early Hebrew language programming for babies and toddlers. The content that was offered was centred around Judaic studies and memorizing prayers, while I was looking for content that would instil the daily use of the modern Hebrew language.

Consequently, I started implementing what I thought could be beneficial teaching techniques at home with my son, then my daughter, and now my toddler. With a never-give-up attitude, enthusiasm and passion for the Hebrew language Only Hebrew was created.  

Only Hebrew is a dynamic, immersive approach for teaching Hebrew, specifically intended for children, inspired by Eliezer Ben Yehuda - the father of modern Hebrew – who insisted that his son, Itamar Ben Avi, would be spoken to exclusively in Hebrew at home, and required him to respond only in Hebrew. Ben Yehuda was a strong advocate for “Hebrew in Hebrew” in education and teaching, a philosophy that guides my approach today.  

Just like Ben Yehuda, I speak exclusively in Hebrew to my children and require that they respond to me in Hebrew, in addition to speaking in Hebrew amongst themselves. While I won’t stop my American husband from conversing with them in English (someone has to help with shower time!), our home operates as a Hebrew-only zone. From daily conversations, to reading books, to playing games and watching TV—everything we do at home is in Hebrew.

This immersive approach has a highly effective, proven track record in developing a strong, natural understanding of the Hebrew language that leads to daily viability. I believe that when children are brought up with Hebrew, what they say, they will understand; what they understand they will remember; and what they remember, they will use.