Hebrew is more than just a way we communicate with each other. It’s our culture, connecting us to our past as a people and linking us to a place, to memories, to the songs we grew up with, and to stories from Grandma’s house. And for us Israelis in Europe, it also largely connects us as a community.
As parents of Israeli children in Europe, we understand that our children live in an environment where the local language is dominant and is the main language they use daily, while their exposure to Hebrew mainly occurs at home or when meeting with family.
To preserve and enhance their Hebrew, children need a Hebrew-speaking space with an Israeli atmosphere, which will allow them to learn new words, converse in Hebrew for several hours, and make new friends with other Hebrew-speaking children in the city.
This is precisely why we partnered with the Department for Relations with Israelis Abroad of the World Zionist Organization on the Beit Ha’am – An Israeli Educational Home project.
Beit Ha’am operates as a bi-monthly Sunday School or a weekly after school meeting in midweek program. During these sessions, children enjoy engaging activities in Hebrew, enhance their Hebrew skills, and enrich their knowledge of Israeli culture and tradition.
Beit Ha’am focuses on children aged 3-10 and all teaching and instruction teams are professionals who are guided and trained by us. The programs delivered as part of the activities were specially developed by the World Zionist Organization for children of Israelis abroad.
An Israeli educational home, so children in Europe keep growing up in Hebrew.
Hebrew is more than a way we speak to each other. It's our culture — a connection to our past as a people, to a place, to memories, to the songs we grew up with and the stories from Grandma's house. For Israelis in Europe, it's also much of what holds a community together.
As parents of Israeli children in Europe, we know our children live in an environment where the local language dominates. It's the language they use all day, and their exposure to Hebrew happens mostly at home, or when family visits.
To keep and strengthen their Hebrew, children need a Hebrew-speaking space with an Israeli atmosphere — somewhere to learn new words, talk in Hebrew for a few hours, and make friends with other Hebrew-speaking children in their city. That's why we built Beit Ha'am with the Department for Relations with Israelis Abroad of the World Zionist Organization.
It runs either as a bi-monthly Sunday school or as a weekly after-school session midweek. Every teaching team is made up of professionals we guide and train, and the programmes were developed by the World Zionist Organization specifically for the children of Israelis abroad.
Expanding vocabulary, strengthening language skills, and preparing for reading and writing.
Israeli culture, values and customs, alongside literature, art and music.
Learning the holidays and the traditions that belong to each of them.
Alongside the children's sessions, the year includes joint activities for children and parents, and enrichment evenings for the parents. Families get to know each other, and a community forms.
Beit Ha'am runs in partnership with local Jewish communities and with their support. Children from the Jewish community who speak some Hebrew are invited to join too.
Every Beit Ha'am works together and receives logistical and educational support from headquarters. The directors meet monthly for training and professional development.
