Learning Hebrew
Aleph to Amen: My Beginning Journey Learning Hebrew
By: Frank Marchese | Becoming Ezra Shmuel
When I first sat down with my Hebrew workbook and a cup of coffee, I felt both excitement and intimidation. The letters looked like beautiful little mysteries — curved and ancient, filled with meaning I couldn’t yet grasp. It was humbling to realize that I was stepping into a language that has carried prayers, stories, and identity for thousands of years.
Starting From the Aleph-Bet
Like every beginner, I started with the Aleph-Bet. I practiced each letter over and over — tracing, sounding out, stumbling, and then smiling when it finally clicked. There was something so grounding about those first steps. Every letter felt like a doorway, every sound a heartbeat of a living tradition.
I’ll be honest — there were moments when I mixed up my shin and sin, or forgot which way to read (right to left still trips me up sometimes). But instead of frustration, I’ve tried to approach it with joy. Because this isn’t just about learning a new language — it’s about connecting with the soul of Judaism itself.
Learning Through Prayer and Practice
One of the most powerful parts of my Hebrew journey has been recognizing words from the Siddur — the prayer book — during services. The first time I could follow along and recognize words like Shalom, Baruch, and Adonai, I felt a spark of pride and belonging.
Each Shabbat, I challenge myself to read a little more. Sometimes I only get through a line or two, but even that feels like progress. My rabbi always reminds me: “You’re not just learning Hebrew — you’re learning to listen to the rhythm of Jewish life.” And he’s right.
Finding Meaning in Every Word
Hebrew isn’t just a language; it’s a spiritual map. Every word is layered with history and holiness. The more I learn, the more I see how connected everything is — the letters, the sounds, the meanings. Even the way the letters are shaped tells a story about creation, connection, and divine breath.
Patience, Practice, and Purpose
Some days I study late at night, repeating each letter softly to myself, hoping it’ll stick. And it’s in those quiet moments that I realize how far I’ve already come — from confusion to curiosity, from reading transliterations to slowly forming real words.
Learning Hebrew is teaching me patience. It’s teaching me humility. And most of all, it’s teaching me that growth doesn’t have to be fast to be meaningful.
This is just the beginning, but I already feel a deeper connection to the prayers I say and the faith I live. Each letter I learn brings me one step closer — not just to fluency, but to home.
L’Shalom — to peace, to progress, and to the beauty of new beginnings.
