Is learning Hebrew socially acceptable?

Post Reply New Topic

I'm mostly learning Hebrew because I want to control my obsession with Jewish people. Some people tell me that it's a waste of time. They said it's better for me to learn Arabic. I tried asking people on other sites, but they just gave me non answers.

Why would learning Hebrew not be socially acceptable?

As far as Arabic goes they are both Semitic languages and share a lot of the same triliteral roots. Example: Shalom (Heb.), Salaam (Arb) share the SLM root. You can find many, many similarities like this.

That aside, Hebrew is actually a very beautiful language and well worth your time in learning it.

I don't see anything wrong with it.

Good luck though, it looks like a very hard language to learn (heck, any language for me is pretty hard to learn. I'm looking at you Polish language!)

More power to you! I'd love to learn Hebrew, but I think I'm too old, probably. Religion is one of my Special Interests, specifically Christianity, but for a while in the sixties and seventies I branched out into World Religions, New Age, and the psychology of the religious impulse. Anyway, I think it would be wonderful to read the Old Testament in the original, and if things ever settle down in Israel, I'd like to visit there. One of my internet friends is an Israeli.

I don't know why it would be socially UNacceptible, except maybe to pro-Arab, pro-Muslim fanatics, to whom I wouldn't give the time of day!

If there is one thing I've learned over the past 60 years it's that you are never too old to learn something new. And languages are great, they really keep your mind flexible.

As to reading the Old Testament in the original, I think you would be surprised at the depth there is in the Hebrew as opposed to a translation.

I wouldn't say so, but if it is then that's absurd and you should disregard its 'unacceptability'

I cannot imagine anything wrong or unacceptable about learning any language. At the very least in will be good mental exercise.

there is no reason for this not being acceptable.
the mention that arabic might be "more useful" has some validity to it, but that isn't a reason not to learn hebrew if you want to

Its ok to learn a new language, arabic and hebrew are similar sometimes but arabic is more complex especially the grammer and letter writting sometimes; ذ+ل+ك=ذلك --thats letter writting for a short word its a little complex but not much

Dear Kisses. "Useless" my butt! Forget it. This is your choise and no one should interfere!
There is a whole nation, who would find your learning hebrew a very-VERY good thing.
Who knows. There might even be a meaning behind your fascination with jewish people.

Last edited by Jensen on 21 Nov 2014, 4:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

Why would it not be socially acceptable? You make it sound like you are going to molest children. Unless you are currently located in a territory occupied by backward muslim fundamentalists, I don't see the unacceptability. Just learn and enjoy!

I hope there's a meaning. There wasn't any meaning behind my fascination with Iceland. At least none that I know of. I could have some Jewish DNA, but that's common for Hispanics. I might be getting a DNA test. The test can tell me if I have Jewish or Nordic DNA and estimate the percentage.

If you can afford it - GO FOR IT!
I wish, I could. It would be so much fun.

My dad's interested in that as well. He might buy a few DNA tests for Christmas.

DNA tests for Christmas! Now that is the first time I have ever heard that! Enjoy learning Hebrew and anything else your heart desires. Good luck with it.

It's completely acceptable to learn different languages, including Hebrew. If you want to learn it, go for it. Don't let anyone tell you 'no'. I'm sure that many Israelis will find it totally cool that you bothered to learn their language. Yes, it might be more useful to learn Arabic as it's more common, but who cares? Learn what you want to learn! It's your brain!