This course is designed for students who are familiar with the Hebrew alphabet, and who have rudimentary skills in reading, writing, speaking and comprehending modern Hebrew. Over the spring term, students will further develop their proficiency in these skills, and acquire a solid grounding in modern Hebrew grammar and syntax. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and comment on short articles, stories and poems, to conduct conversations, and make short presentations.

This course is designed for students who have completed elementary modern Hebrew language courses, and aims at further developing their reading, writing, speaking and aural comprehension skills. Emphasis will be placed on grammar and syntax, on conversational skills, and on creative writing. By the end of the spring term, students will achieve mastery of the Hebrew verb patterns, and proficiency in constructing complex sentences, and will be able to read and analyze literary works, discuss various media contents, write essays and make presentations.

Discuss development of Israeli theater since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1949, focusing on key figures, movements, and themes. Explore foundation and early years of the Habima and Cameri theaters, two of Israel's most prominent companies. Analyze how theater reflected the social and political realities of the state's early years, such as immigration, and nation-building, to name only a few; key elements of theatrical production, including acting, directing, set design, and lighting; and specific Israeli plays in detail and analyze their historical context, thematic content, and artistic significance.