The Pimsleur System - Speak, Read, and Think Essential Hebrew - this is the course you might see in an airline magazine, I highly recommend this course. It consists of 16 audio tapes and a very small book. Strengths: Modern Hebrew Conversation and pronunciation, perfect for learning in your car or while jogging without needing the book nearby (the book is almost unnecessary). Weaknesses: Teaching you how to read phonetically. Practicality: You’ll be able to order a cup of coffee and ask for more chicken, or tell a fellow passenger that you are cold, and to please close the window, but don’t expect to understand everything the Israeli waiter or bus driver says to you. $295. Available in my online Hebrew Store. Many more details about the Pimsleur system available from a link there. 

First Steps in Hebrew Prayer  (book and audio/CD) $39.95  This book provides an easy and pleasant start with the first steps in Jewish prayer, bringing to you the most important prayers and blessings.  It features the Hebrew text in bold letters, line-for-line with English transliteration, and is illustrated with a beautiful selection of graphics and photos.  The included audio CD follows the prayers with the wonderful voice of Rabbi Tzvi Cooperman. Available in my online Hebrew Store. 

Israeli Hebrew for Speakers of English - is a series of Hebrew language textbooks designed by a group of linguists and Hebrew instructors at the University of Illinois. The series is designed with the following goals in mind: •Hebrew as the language is really spoken in Israel today •Israeli culture •Gradual and highly controlled introduction of grammatical structures •Very extensive practice material •Reading passages with highly controlled vocabulary •Very clear summaries of grammar and vocabulary at the end of each chapter •Material suitable for college, adults and high schools.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this course.  It is extremely well paced.  It exercises the use of each new word (which is properly introduced) and does not throw in strange new words as you go.  It teaches you to read without the vowel dots.  As new words are introduced, they are dotted, but the vowel markings slowly disappear as the lessons continue - and the amazing thing is you really don't miss them.

The series, published by Duben Books, consists a workbook ($7) that introduces the Hebrew alphabet and then three textbooks (approx $21 each). The books are used at major universities around the country as well as in high schools and adult education programs. Tapes are available from the Language Learning Laboratory, University of Illinois (approx. $50 each for volume).

FSI (Foreign Service Institute) - 552 large page book and 24 audio-tapes, 40 lessons, very thorough, maybe too overwhelming for the beginner. This is supposedly the course that U.S. government officials would use to learn Hebrew for "minimal professional competence."   

Full course available from "Audio Forum at http://agoralang.com/audioforum.html" or directly from the U.S. Government Printing Office (Superintendent of Documents, Washington DC). Approx $255  According to a file downloaded form http://www.fedworld.gov/ntis/prs/pr1002.htm  The complete course is 35 audio tapes and $293.  Available from the National Technical Information Service's National Audiovisual Center (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce).  Phone 703-487-4650  

Everyday Hebrew (Eliezer Tirkel) - Passport Books (NTC Publishing Group) - includes 4 60-minutes cassette tapes and a 272 page course book, 30 lessons. Available from local bookstores - but may have to order. Approx $40.  

Hugo: Hebrew in Three Months (Hugo’s Language Books Limited, in USA distributed by Hunter Publishing) - includes 4 cassette tapes and a 211 page course book, 15 lessons. Looks like was originally $40 with four tapes, but new packaging may just have one cassette tape.  

This course and Everyday Hebrew are very similar, and are the typical courses for people travelling to Israel. They go beyond simple phrases and do teach a fair amount of grammar and usually have one to three dialogs per lesson. They teach modern, not Biblical Hebrew, but much of what you learn is applicable in both.

Fluent Biblical and Modern Hebrew, by Robert Goldfarb and David Bivin. Available from "The Messianic Jewish Movement International" 301-656-7575. Approx $98.Looseleaf binder, 138 pages, 16 lessons (each with a dialog) and 6 cassette tapes. Strengths: Does cover Biblical, not modern Hebrew, good quality tapes. Covers several Genesis passages. Leaves you wanting more. Weakness: not very thorough.

Living Language Fast and Easy Hebrew - The Sixty Minute Survival Program - One Audio tape.
I think we will all admit that learning Hebrew can neither be "fast" or "easy".  If you just want a cheap way to see what real Hebrew pronunciation sounds like, then try this tape. Also, if you are going to Israel and want to listen to just one tape on the plane, perhaps this is for you. 

Living Israeli Hebrew - Here is a program to teach you to read and write Hebrew. Designed and recorded by an Israeli, these are for the beginner... the very beginner. If you don't know an ALEF from a BET and if you are yearning to read from the Scripture or prayer book without using the English transliteration, this is going to get you on the right page! Living Israeli Hebrew is easy to follow and comes with a beautifully designed work-book, flash cards and an audio cassette so that you can hear it the way it's really supposed to sound. Used in many colleges. Book, cards & Cassette - . I now carry this product in my store. 

Biblical Hebrew, Step by Step, Vol 1 (Mansoor, Menahem) 40 Lessons, 254 pages An EXCELLENT course. I highly recommend this book for self study or a synagogue class. Each chapter contains small digestible chunks. It would make a great first year course, doing one chapter a week. Volume II is an excellent follow-up.

Biblical Hebrew, A Text and Workbook, (Yale Language Series) Kittel, Hoffer, & Wright, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1989. 55 Lessons, 429 large pages, hardcover. Approx $40. Looks like a very thorough course. The book is workbook style so you actually write in it. Seems a little overwhelming for a beginner. Would probably a good synagogue course if you have a knowledgeable teacher. Could be a good self-study course for the serious student, but not for the faint of heart.

Ha-Yesod (means "the foundation") - 75 lessons, each 3-4 pages.  Covers a lot of good material and grammar, but very few exercises in each chapter.  Beginning students need a lot of exercises!  I'm thinking about using this book as the text for an online web class beginning later in 1999.  Students will be able to register for the class for approximately $10/month.  If you want to be on the list for future info, please send email to: HebrewClass@HebrewResources.com 

See information about my Online Class. 

Behrman House Publishers and Booksellers - has a wide variety of excellent quality Hebrew books, most relating to Jewish life.  They have books that teach prayer-book Hebrew graded for different ages.  Most books have a unique artistic quality to them.  

Hebrew Picture Word Book - Learn over 500 Common Used Words Through Pictures - Ages 9-12 - 

Renyi Picture Dictionary - Editions Renyi Inc, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1992. Includes 3336 words (from Abacus to Zucchini), each with a small, colorful illustration. There are 20 cute illustrations per page, approximately 175 pages (large hardcover). The vocalized Hebrew word is above each picture, with the English word below. It assumes you know how to pronounce the Hebrew (no transliterations). It is presented alphabetically based on the English alphabet, but there is a Hebrew to picture number cross-reference in the back. This would be great for adults teaching vocabulary to children. This is not a study course, but more of a fun dictionary/reference book.