The Academy of the Hebrew Language undertakes a wide range of fascinating projects and important initiatives related to Hebrew’s preservation and continued development. But one in particular sits at the crossroads between Hebrew’s foundational role in society and its place as an academic field of study: the Cultural & Educational Center.

Opened in 2003, the Cultural & Educational Center offers visitors a journey through Hebrew’s ancient past, the story of its miraculous revival, the ongoing development of the language in modern times, and its continued relevance in contemporary culture. It is a place where Hebrew lovers, language enthusiasts and history buffs can all come together and celebrate everything this important language has to offer.

The Cultural & Educational Center features a number of fun and fascinating activities for visitors from all over the world. These include guided activities, a museum exhibition, and expert-led lectures. Let’s explore them all further:

Guided Activities
The Story of Hebrew: Visitors take a trip through time to learn about the history of Hebrew through the ages, and explore the ways Hebrew language and culture impacted Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

The Journey of a Word: This workshop follows the path of the formation of ancient words, as they pass through different linguistic and academic phenomena; as well as the development of modern Hebrew words, formed based on the rules of syntax and grammar of the Hebrew language.

The Miracle of Hebrew’s Revival: An Exhibition
Visitors can experience Hebrew’s majestic revival with an immersive museum exhibition. On display is the original desk of Eliezar Ben-Yehuda, the catalyst behind the revival of the Hebrew Language; a cabinet used by the Hebrew Language Committee; the card index of famous lexicographer Even-Shoshan; a children’s book of poems that’s a hundred years old, and much more.

Enrichment Lectures
The Cultural & Educational Center provides visitors with an unforgettable experience exploring many facets of Hebrew and its place in society. For those looking for even more, visitors can attend an in-depth lecture from one of the Academy’s renowned experts. These lectures deal with a range of fascinating historical and linguistic issues, and are suitable for both general and professional audiences. Here are just a few examples:

The Academy’s Work in the Face of 21st Century Challenges: This lecture focuses on the establishment of the Academy, a look into the different roles of ​​its members, and a discussion how Hebrew reacts to societal changes.

Children’s Language Disruptions: Explore the unique ways in which young children develop their communication skills, how adults innovate language, and the connection between the two.

Women Pioneers in the Hebrew Revival: Learn about the women who played an important role in the development of the rebirth of the language.

Our Cultural & Educational Center is designed for groups who are interested in delving deep into the richness of the Hebrew language, as well as its place in history and culture. The center’s many activities are perfect for everyone from high school students to senior citizens. From time to time the Center holds special events for families with children aged 6 and up.

To ensure our center is accessible to everyone, our center also holds activities tailored to non-native Hebrew speakers — including recent immigrants, tourists who speak basic Hebrew, or Ulpan students who have graduated from Level 3. For those with no knowledge of Hebrew, we are proud to announce the Center’s plans to develop a guided experience through the fascinating story of Hebrew — in other languages! Stay tuned to our blog and newsletter for the latest updates on this exciting project!

If you’re interested in visiting the center, take a look at these reviews from visitors sharing their unique experiences at the center:

“Thank you for an empowering, educational, and enriching session. The guide was wonderful—a real professional and an expert in the field. The group greatly enjoyed it!”
-Tour guide for a group of retirees from Rehovot

“The visit to the Academy showed us just how fascinating the Hebrew language is. Thank you for the pleasant and interesting experience!”
-Group leader visiting from Be’er Sheva

“I have no words to thank you for the wonderful visit we had with you yesterday. We expected to have a great time—and received so much more than that. The whole group hasn’t stopped raving about the experience since!”
-Group leader visiting from Tel Aviv

“Thank you for our visit to the Academy of the Hebrew Language. It was clear that Itay couldn’t celebrate his Bar Mitzvah without making a stop here and getting to know our language…”

Mother of a Bar Mitzvah boy from Modi’in

Although the Cultural & Educational Center provides countless opportunities for learning and connection, its work goes much further than that. During the first few months of the war after October 7th, the center was opened to groups of evacuees from the north and south of Israel. And since the center has designated safe areas, the evacuees could rest assured that they were secure within the walls of the center.

If you’re interested in seeing the center for yourself, simply head to the Academy’s scheduling page to book your group visit.

As Friends of the Academy of the Hebrew Language, we are here to uplift the important work the Academy does every single day. If you’d like to take part in our mission, become a friend or support the Academy today!