Hebrew Language and Literature

Hebrew (/ˈhiːbruː/; עִבְרִית‎, Ivrit [ivˈʁit] (listen) or [ʕivˈɾit] (listen)) is a Northwest Semitic language native to Israel, spoken by over 9 million people worldwide. Historically, it is regarded as the language of the Israelites and their ancestors, although the language was not referred to by the name Hebrew in the Tanakh.[note 1] The earliest examples of written Paleo-Hebrew date from the 10th century BCE. Hebrew belongs to the West Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family. Hebrew is the only living Canaanite language left, and the only truly successful example of a revived dead language.

Hebrew had ceased to be an everyday spoken language somewhere between 200 and 400 CE, declining since the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt.[note 2] Aramaic and to a lesser extent Greek were already in use as international languages, especially among elites and immigrants. Hebrew survived into the medieval period as the language of Jewish liturgy, rabbinic literature, intra-Jewish commerce, and poetry. Then, in the 19th century, it was revived as a spoken and literary language. It became the lingua franca of Palestine's Jews, and subsequently of the State of Israel. According to Ethnologue, in 1998, it was the language of 5 million people worldwide. After Israel, the United States has the second largest Hebrew-speaking population, with 220,000 fluent speakers, mostly from Israel.

Modern Hebrew is the official language of the State of Israel, while premodern Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world today. The Samaritan dialect is also the liturgical tongue of the Samaritans, while modern Hebrew or Arabic is their vernacular. As a foreign language, it is studied mostly by Jews and students of Judaism and Israel, and by archaeologists and linguists specializing in the Middle East and its civilizations, as well as by theologians in Christian seminaries.

The Torah (the first five books), and most of the rest of the Hebrew Bible, is written in Biblical Hebrew, with much of its present form specifically in the dialect that scholars believe flourished around the 6th century BCE, around the time of the Babylonian captivity. For this reason, Hebrew has been referred to by Jews as Lashon Hakodesh (לשון הקדש), "the Holy Language", since ancient times.

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Matching Hebrew Language and Literature Colleges

New York University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $53,770 average out-state tuition; $53,770 average in-state tuition

CUNY Hunter College

Four or more years; Public; $14,880 average out-state tuition; $6,930 average in-state tuition

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Four or more years; Public; $54,769 average out-state tuition; $16,865 average in-state tuition

Multnomah University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $28,160 average out-state tuition; $28,160 average in-state tuition

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $25,433 average out-state tuition; $10,099 average in-state tuition

Yeshiva University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $44,300 average out-state tuition; $44,300 average in-state tuition

Hofstra University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $50,265 average out-state tuition; $50,265 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Hebrew Language and Literature Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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TowerCares Scholarship

TowerCares Foundation

$5,000 May 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The TowerCares Scholarship is available to high school seniors and full - time college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. You must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or Foreign Language Linguistics major. Additionally, you must be a U.S. citizen and reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia,...

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TowerCares Scholarship

TowerCares Foundation

award

$5,000

deadline

May 15, 2025
See Details

Description

The TowerCares Scholarship is available to high school seniors and full - time college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. You must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or Foreign Language Linguistics major. Additionally, you must be a U.S. citizen and reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia,...

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Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship

U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association

Up to $3,000 June 30, 2025 See Details

Description

The Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who are entering their freshman of college as well as current college students. You must be sponsored by a current U.S. NCVA member in good standing and submit a brief written statement in order to be considered for this award. Selection is...

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Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship

U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association

award

Up to $3,000

deadline

June 30, 2025
See Details

Description

The Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who are entering their freshman of college as well as current college students. You must be sponsored by a current U.S. NCVA member in good standing and submit a brief written statement in order to be considered for this award. Selection is...

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Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship

Galveston College

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship is available to students at Galveston College. You must have completed 6 semester minimum, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and pursuing a degree in humanities or fine arts to be eligible for this award.

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Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship

Galveston College

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship is available to students at Galveston College. You must have completed 6 semester minimum, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and pursuing a degree in humanities or fine arts to be eligible for this award.

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Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship is available to students at Louisiana State University. You must be enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 3.4 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship is available to students at Louisiana State University. You must be enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 3.4 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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Aspen Mitzvah Fund Scholarship

Portland State University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Up to $1,000 May 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The Aspen Mitzvah Fund Scholarship is available students at Portland State University. You must be enrolled in 300-level Modern Hebrew sequesnce at PSU to be eligible for this award.

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Aspen Mitzvah Fund Scholarship

Portland State University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

award

Up to $1,000

deadline

May 15, 2025
See Details

Description

The Aspen Mitzvah Fund Scholarship is available students at Portland State University. You must be enrolled in 300-level Modern Hebrew sequesnce at PSU to be eligible for this award.

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John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship

Oklahoma State University - College of Arts and Sciences

$700 Varies See Details

Description

The John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship is available to students at Oklahoma State University. You must be majoring in foreign languages and have a good academic record to be eligible for this award.

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John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship

Oklahoma State University - College of Arts and Sciences

award

$700

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship is available to students at Oklahoma State University. You must be majoring in foreign languages and have a good academic record to be eligible for this award.

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Laura S. and Chester W. Nortz Endowed Scholarship

Westminster College, Utah

$600 Varies See Details

Description

The Laura S. and Chester W. Nortz Endowed Scholarship is open to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Westminster College in Utah majoring in the liberal arts. You must show high moral character, be a member of the Protestant faith and have a minimum 3.2 GPA to be eligible for this award. Preference given to students who demonstrate...

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Laura S. and Chester W. Nortz Endowed Scholarship

Westminster College, Utah

award

$600

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Laura S. and Chester W. Nortz Endowed Scholarship is open to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Westminster College in Utah majoring in the liberal arts. You must show high moral character, be a member of the Protestant faith and have a minimum 3.2 GPA to be eligible for this award. Preference given to students who demonstrate...

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Aldo and Adriana Busot Scholarship

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

$600 Varies See Details

Description

The Aldo and Adriana Busot Scholarship is available to juniors and seniors majoring in languages and literature at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.

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Aldo and Adriana Busot Scholarship

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

award

$600

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Aldo and Adriana Busot Scholarship is available to juniors and seniors majoring in languages and literature at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.

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Karl and Sue Roider Undergraduate Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

$500 Varies See Details

Description

The Karl and Sue Roider Undergraduate Scholarship is available to students enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences at Louisiana State University. You must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and demonstrate consistent academic progress to be eligible for this award.

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Karl and Sue Roider Undergraduate Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

award

$500

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Karl and Sue Roider Undergraduate Scholarship is available to students enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences at Louisiana State University. You must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and demonstrate consistent academic progress to be eligible for this award.

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