Hebrew Adventures in Spring 2026

In our Spring 2026 portfolio showcase in the Freeman Center lounge, Hebrew students from beginner to advanced levels showed off some of the ways they’ve been engaging with the Hebrew language and culture through their self-directed explorations this semester. The attached snapshots show students sharing their work with classmates and those from other Hebrew classes, while a slideshow compiled from everyone’s portfolios plays on the TV screen in the background. Some highlights:

• Many students dove into the world of Hebrew slang and idioms. A favorite at the showcase was זה לא החומוס שלי “that’s not my hummus!” (i.e., “not my problem!”).
• While Hebrew songs always make an appearance in multiple portfolios, this year a musically talented student took the time to learn several classic Israeli rock songs from different periods and recorded himself playing them on his guitar and singing along.
• Other content included Israeli athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics, Hebrew podcasts and social media (memes, Instagram recipes, TikTok tutorials), study-abroad adventures, current events, Biblical Hebrew texts, and more.

In mid-April, to celebrate four semesters of language study together, the second-year Hebrew class climbed the Duke Chapel Tower to see what we could see—and of course discuss it in Hebrew! (Shown in the picture: students on the tower holding the letters “עברית/Hebrew.”)

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