Hebrew Lessons please! (Miami, Tampa: public school, living, moving to)

[gadadventure]

Hi everyone,
I recently moved to Old NE St Petersburg but work in downtown Tampa. I moved from Miami and am trying to find someone to teach me Hebrew. I have looked into the synagogues and still have found nothing! If you know anyone who speaks Hebrew or gives private lessons....ANYTHING, please reply.

Thanks so much!

[annaegel]

Did you try looking or posting on craigslist? I am surprised you could not find any synagogues that would be willing to teach you Hebrew. Maybe you could post on the synagogues bulletin board.

[gadadventure]

I did look on Craigslist but you are right, I need to put some posts out there. I haven't had any time until now so I was starting here Thanks for the suggestions.

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Five years of Hebrew school but all they taught us was how to read, how to write in both print and script but never conversation. Soooo dumb. So I can read torah, I just have no idea of what it says. Though I hear it wouldn't be to my liking anyway, as I'm more into sitcoms.

Reading the op's post I wondered if Hebrew school was the same fourty years later. Sure enough I came upon this at first google...

NJ Jewish News on-line | Putting the Hebrew in Hebrew school

"We teach siddur [prayerbook] Hebrew, not Hebrew language," said Janet Resnick of Temple B'nai Abraham in Livingston.

So it seems the silliness continues.

I've always felt dumb not being able to speak another language aside from English. I was upset with my brother that he didn't insist his children learn Mandarin when they were young. I've tried learning Spanish a number of times. I get good grades in the courses but conversationally I'm second-language impaired.

You might want to check with the local Jewish Federation and see what they suggest. Maybe they've got some adult education classes in conversational Hebrew. Your local public school might also offer this. But make sure you know what you are getting into before you spend time on something that might only teach you enough to pray in the lingo, but not really enough to speak of.

[bentlebee]

Rosetta Stone has it also, but I don't have any experience if that really works.

I had Hebrew lessons as a child for 3 years and didn't learn much. IMO you only learn a lot if you can use it on a daily base and of course motivation which the OP clearly has

Chag Pesach Sameach (Happy Passover) Shalom

[Angler]

Tempel Beth El in St. Pete has Hebrew lessons for adults.

[gadadventure]

Thanks everyone. For those who mentioned Rosetta Stone- I bought it for Italian and it is not worth the $500 or so....I didn't learn much that way although I did learn it (by moving to Italy lol!) I really need a structured class so I will check out the Jewish Federation and I guess post at synagogues when I find one to start attending. Thanks everyone and Hag Sameach or Happy Easter-whichever applies to the reader

[TampaKaren]

I found several on the Tampa Jewish Community Center's website. Hope this link works! Search Results

[gadadventure]

Thanks TampaKaren..Most of those are for advanced Hebrew but I think I will attend the one day class just because I don't have many choices! I was really hoping for a tutor or someone who will do private lessons for some money during the week since well, people need money and I need lessons! Suggestions are awesome thought and I can't thank everyone enough!

[chabad Tampa Bay]

Originally Posted by gadadventure

Hi everyone,
I recently moved to Old NE St Petersburg but work in downtown Tampa. I moved from Miami and am trying to find someone to teach me Hebrew. I have looked into the synagogues and still have found nothing! If you know anyone who speaks Hebrew or gives private lessons....ANYTHING, please reply.

Thanks so much!

you want hebrew classes call Rabbi Rivkin 8139668770 or chabadoftampa.com