For the modern student, "Hebrew From Scratch" is synonymous with the textbook authored by . Published by Magnes Press at Hebrew University, it has been the primary tool for beginner learners for over 20 years.

They shifted the language from a purely literary form into a living, breathing vernacular.

To learn Hebrew "from scratch" in a historical sense is to participate in one of the most unique linguistic events in human history. For nearly 1,700 years, Hebrew ceased to be a spoken mother tongue, serving instead as Lashon HaKodesh (the Holy Tongue) used exclusively for prayer and scholarship.