Shalom I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing for the letter Aleph

Make sure to download the digital document to follow along and study at your own pace.

Welcome to your first step into the beauty of the Hebrew language. Today we begin with the very first letter of the Hebrew Alephbet — Alef. Alef is unique because… it has no sound at all! Don’t let that scare you. In this short video, I’ll show you how Alef works, how vowels give it voice, and why this ancient letter carries deep meaning in Scripture.

Hebrew is written and read from right to left, the opposite of English. It feels different at first, but after a couple of lessons, it becomes second nature. Today we’ll ease into it together.

Alef is the very first letter of the Hebrew Alephbet — the letter from which all others begin. But here’s the beautiful mystery of Alef: it has no sound of its own. It only makes a sound when it carries a vowel mark, called nikkud.

At the beginning or middle of a word, Alef will take the vowel’s sound. At the end of a word, Alef is always silent.

Let’s learn the first set of vowel sounds attached to Alef:

• AH


• EE


• EH


For example, look at the Hebrew word abba — meaning “Daddy.” The Alef at the beginning takes the vowel sound “AH.”

Now look at eema — “Mommy.” Notice again: the Alef at the beginning takes the vowel “EE,” but the Alef at the end has no vowel and therefore makes no sound.

Alef holds a place of honor in Scripture. It even replaces the numeral “1” at the beginning of each chapter of the Torah and Tanakh.

In Genesis — “In the beginning, G-d created the heavens…” — you can see the Alef appearing silently but powerfully. Early Hebrew didn’t include vowel dots and dashes; those nikkud marks were added later by rabbis as literacy declined. But the Alef’s role remained — a silent letter with deep spiritual weight.

Here’s a quick exercise: match each form of Alef with its vowel sound — AH, EH, or EE. This simple activity helps your eyes learn how vowels change the sound of a silent letter.

Now let’s learn to write it. Follow the strokes:

1.  Step 1 — downward right diagonal


2.  Step 2 — downward left diagonal


3.  Step 3 — connecting diagonal in the middle


Practice writing it several times. Your muscle memory will thank you as you continue the Alephbet.

To continue your learning:

• Watch the full video lesson (on next tab).


• Take the online quiz to test yourself.


• Listen to the “Sounds Only” audio for additional practice.*


This concludes Alef — the first step in your Hebrew journey. Remember: Alef begins the Alephbet, begins many Hebrew words, and reminds us of the quiet presence of G-d in creation. Join me in the next lesson as we continue unlocking the Hebrew language, one letter at a time.

Again I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing

May God Bless You

Shalom I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing for the letter Bet

Make sure to download the digital document to follow along and study at your own pace.

In this lesson, we’re continuing our journey through the Hebrew Alephbet with Letter 2 — Bet. Today you’ll learn how a single dot, called a dagesh, can completely change the sound of a Hebrew letter, and how to correctly sound Hebrew by identifying the consonant first, then the vowels.

The Hebrew alphabet is also called the Alephbet, named after its first two letters: Alef and Bet. Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and it behaves differently depending on whether it contains a dagesh, or dot, in the center.

• Bet WITH a dagesh makes a “B” sound, like boy.


• Bet WITHOUT a dagesh is pronounced “V”, and is then called Vet, like victory.


This makes Bet one of only a few Hebrew letters whose sound changes based on the presence of a dot.

In Hebrew, we always pronounce the letter first, then the vowel second.

For example:

• Bet with a dagesh plus the “AH” vowel becomes BAH


• Vet without a dagesh plus the “EE” vowel becomes VEE


This approach will help you sound out any Hebrew word as you continue learning.

Let’s look at a few real Hebrew words.

• Shabbat (שבת) — Notice the Bet with a dagesh producing the “B” sound.


• Tov (טוב) meaning “good” — Here the letter appears as Vet, creating the “V” sound.


Remember, Hebrew words are read right to left, so always start from the far right side of the word.

Now we introduce a new vowel called Sheva. The Sheva can be silent or spoken.

• When spoken, it makes a short “EH” sound.


• At the beginning of a word, it is usually pronounced.


• At the end of a syllable or word, it is usually silent.


For example, in the Hebrew word for blessing, the Bet at the beginning uses a Sheva, forming the sound “BEH.”

One of the first Hebrew words many people recognize is Abba, meaning father or daddy. This word appears in Hebrew and Aramaic and is commonly used in traditional Jewish prayers as a reference to G-d.

Understanding Bet helps us recognize how foundational Hebrew sounds connect language, prayer, and Scripture.

Now let’s practice writing the letter Bet. Follow the stroke order carefully, step by step. Writing reinforces recognition and sound, helping lock the letter into long-term memory.

To review:

• Bet with a dagesh = “B”


• Vet without a dagesh = “V”


• The Sheva may be silent or pronounced “EH”


Practice by identifying the consonant sound first, then the vowel.

Be sure to watch the full lesson video, take the quiz, and listen to the podcast linked below. In our next lesson, we’ll continue building your ability to read and understand Hebrew confidently. Shalom.

Again I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing

May God Bless You

Shalom I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing for the Letter Gimel

Make sure to download the digital document to follow along and study at your own pace.

Shalom and welcome back to Hebrew Alphabet in 30 Days. In this lesson, we’ll be learning Letter 3 of the Hebrew Alephbet — Gimel. We’ll review consonants and vowels you’ve already learned, introduce the sound of Gimel, and practice reading real Hebrew words by sounding the letter first, then the vowel.

Gimel is the third letter of the Hebrew Alephbet. The sound of Gimel is very simple — it makes a hard “G” sound, like the “g” in girl or gabby. Unlike Bet, Gimel does not change sounds based on a dot or marking. Its consonant sound stays the same.

Before we go further, let’s review what we already know.

• Aleph is silent and only carries the sound of its vowel.


• Bet makes a “B” sound with a dagesh and a “V” sound without it.


We also review our vowel sounds:
AH, EH, EE, OH, and OO.
These vowels appear beneath the letters and give Hebrew its pronunciation.

Now let’s practice Gimel with vowels. Remember the rule:
 Pronounce the consonant first, then the vowel.

Examples include:

• GAH


• EH-G


• AH-G


Always read Hebrew right to left, which feels backward from English at first, but quickly becomes natural.

Let’s try reading a Hebrew word together. The Hebrew word for “garden” ends with an “N” sound. By identifying each letter, its vowel, and reading from right to left, we can correctly pronounce the entire word.

This exercise reinforces how Hebrew reading works — recognizing sounds instead of memorizing words.

Now let’s review all three letters we’ve learned so far:

• Aleph — silent, vowel-driven sound


• Bet — “B” with dagesh, “V” without


• Gimel — “G” sound as in girl


Practicing these letters together builds a strong foundation for Hebrew reading and writing.

Take time to practice writing the letters and reviewing their sounds. Repetition is key. In the next lesson, we’ll continue adding new letters and vowel combinations, helping you grow more confident in reading Hebrew words straight from the page.

Thank you for learning with me today. Stay consistent, stay encouraged, and I’ll see you in the next lesson. Shalom.

Again I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing

May God Bless You

Make sure to download the digital document to follow along and study at your own pace.

Welcome back to Hebrew Alphabet in 30 Days. Today we continue our journey through the Hebrew Alephbet with Letter 4 — Dalet. Dalet teaches us the “D” sound, how vowels change the meaning of a word, and how the Sheva vowel behaves in different positions. Let’s get started.

The Dalet is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and it makes the “D” sound, just like in day or dog. According to the PDF on page 17, Dalet replaces the numeral four in Torah chapter subheadings.

Dalet may appear with or without a dagesh (a dot), but unlike Bet, Gimel, or Tav in ancient Hebrew, the presence or absence of the dagesh does not change the sound of the Dalet. It is always a “D.”


Lets Practice The Sounds

• EEV


• EHB


• EHV


• GEED


• AH-BAH


These words help strengthen your sound recognition. Cover the sounds with your hand and recite them from memory. This reinforces the rule: sound the consonant first, then the vowel.


Now let’s look at how vowels transform a word. On page 18, you’ll see the word related to “honey” and how each vowel change produces a new pronunciation.

• With a Sheva, Dalet is lightly vocalized: “DEH”.


• Adding a dagesh to the next letter turns it into Bet, so the word becomes “BEH”.


• Changing the vowel under Bet to AH gives “BAH.”


• Removing the dagesh turns Bet into Vet, giving “VAH.”


Each shift—dagesh or vowel—changes the entire sound pattern of the word.


Let’s practice writing Dalet. On page 19, you’ll see the stroke guide:

• Step 1: Draw the top horizontal line.


• Step 2: Add the vertical line down on the right.


Repeat this several times until the shape becomes familiar. You can also practice writing ABBA, meaning “daddy,” using the same letter combinations you’ve learned so far.


Students match words like:

• dag (fish)


• av (father)


• abba (daddy)


• bah (come)


• beh (in)


This exercise helps train your eye to recognize how consonants and vowels combine to form meaning.


Page 21 highlights one of the most important vowel principles: the Sheva.

The Sheva:

• Makes a short “EH” sound at the start of a word


• Is silent at the end of a word


• Is also silent when closing a syllable


An example given is the phrase “cha-leh” meaning “to you,” where the Sheva softens the second syllable.


Now we apply everything: consonants, vowels, Sheva usage, and letter identification. This builds fluency in recognizing Hebrew words quickly.


Great job completing Letter 4 — Dalet. You now understand its “D” sound, how vowel shifts create new meanings, how the Sheva functions, and how to read several Hebrew words with confidence.

Again I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing

May God Bless You

Make sure to download the digital document to follow along and study at your own pace.

Welcome back to Hebrew Alphabet in 30 Days. Today we study the fifth letter of the Hebrew Alephbet — the Hey, a beautifully important letter that carries the soft breathy “H” sound, and also functions as the word “the” at the beginning of many Hebrew words. Let’s explore how Hey works in Scripture and in Hebrew reading.

What is Hey?

The Hey makes the “H” sound, like in horse. It is also used in the Tanakh and Torah chapter headings to represent the number 5.

But here is something essential to remember:

• At the end of a word, the Hey is usually silent.

• At the beginning of a word, Hey commonly means “the.”

This is one of the first grammatical tools students learn when reading Hebrew. 

Let’s look at some examples straight from the lesson materials.

1. The word: “the man” — הָאִישׁ

Page 22 shows how Hey gives us the sound “HA”, meaning “the,” followed by “EESH” meaning “man.”
So the entire word becomes ha-EESH — “the man.”

2. Psalm 1:1 — “Blessed is the man…”

The verse notes: Ashrey ha-EESH…
Again, Hey is functioning as the word “the.”

3. Psalm 1:4 — “the wicked”

The word הָרְשָׁעִים uses Hey at the beginning to mean “the wicked.”

The word for “love”: אַהֲבָה

Hey appears in the middle of the word, giving the soft HA sound. However, if Hey appears at the end of a word, it is normally silent.

The word “this day”: הַיּוֹם

Hey again functioning as “the” —
ha-YOM = “the day.”

These examples not only teach pronunciation but also introduce real biblical vocabulary early in the learning process.

 We learn to write the Hey with a two-step process:

• Step 1: Draw the top horizontal line.

• Step 2: Draw the vertical left-side line and short leg on the right.

Practice writing it several times to train your hand and your eyes. Repetition leads to recognition.

Here are some important points for the letter Hey

1 Hey makes the “H” sound.

1 At the end of a word, Hey is silent.

1 At the beginning of a word, Hey often means “the.”

1 Always sound the letter first, then the vowel.

You are now able to recognize Hey in Scripture and pronounce it correctly.

Try These Practice Words

A. דָּג — “fish”

From the book of Jonah. Sound it out:
DAHG — Dalet + AH vowel + Gimel.
(Page 24 gives the explanation.)

B. אוֹר — “light”

From Genesis: “Let there be light.”
Hey is not in this word, but the workbook has you identify the first sounds to reinforce reading technique:

• Silent Aleph

• Vowel “OH”

• Resh gives “R” This results in OHR.

 Try some of these Hebrew vocabulary words.

 • בְּ — BEH (“in”)

• בַּ — BA (“in the”)

• אַבָּא — ABBA (“daddy”)

• אָב — AHV (“father”)

These small words become powerful building blocks as you continue into Hebrew grammar.

Here are some Hebrew words to practice.

בָּא הַדָּג
Read right to left:
BA — is coming
Ha-DAG — the fish

So the full translation becomes: “The fish is coming.”

The page also explains two kinds of dagesh:

• Dagesh Forte — doubles or strengthens a letter

• Dagesh Lene — changes the sound, as in Bet Vet


Great work today! You learned the Hey, how it works as the word “the,” how it becomes silent, and how to read real Hebrew verses. Continue practicing your vocabulary, writing the Hey, and sounding out full sentences. I’ll see you in the next lesson. Shalom!

Again I am Rabbi Jim “Yaakov” Becka with Free Hebrew Class and this is Intro to Hebrew Reading & Writing

May God Bless You

This course will take us well into a two year or more time period, with much additional information provided by our Pastors, William and Cheeto, as well as  ‘rabbit trails’ that make our classes more exciting.  I encourage our מִשְׁפָּחָה mish’pachah, family to participate, doing some interaction with our lessons this year.

One of the fun things will be that lessons will overlap, depending upon your participation of asking questions and input. I am also going to produce copies of the lessons, but in double space between lines so you can make notes as we proceed.  However, please be aware, I asking you to donate when you can for cost of all that is required to produce this class.  I cannot proceed any longer without your financial help.  Everything costs so much, that I cannot cover it by myself any longer.

So, let me get started with some opening statements.  The א Aleph symbolizes the One and Only, the Eternal, the Omnipotent G-d. it is the symbol of G-d as the Creator and Master of the universe.  The gematria, or numerical value of the א is the number 1.  The parts with which the letter is formed allude to G-d’s sacred Name, as we shall see later on.  Even the name ‘aleph’ because it is related to ‘aluph, which means ‘master’ in Ivrit, alludes to the sovereignty of G-d.

being represented.  Then we will explore the other side of this letter in a bit.

Let’s go on a journey into the new testament and look at a man whose identity is completely ‘wrapped up’ in the  ג Gimel.  His name is John the Baptiser.

Many of us are familiar with the scriptures about this man.  We are aware of how the people in charge wanted to know why he was baptizing people and was asked who and by what authority he was doing such things.  His answers were always..no..I am not He.  However, he would say that he was the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘make straight the way for the Lord.  And ‘the Lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world’.

He was G-d’s voice dressed in camel skin, preaching in the desert….and people responded.

Now watch carefully with me as I draw your attention to something that is crucial to our understanding of John, his ministry, and the secret of one side of the ג Gimel. 

Our messiah, whether He comes to a nation or to an individual  לֵב lev, heart, ..watch now…must have a forerunner.  Even as G-d prepared a world in 6 days for the reception of man, he also commands us to prepare ourselves for the reception of G-d.

Have you ever made a purchase on something, like a device of some sort that you always wanted to have…and after the purchase, you found that your joy was dampened because it was too complicated and so unfamiliar for you to use….and you found yourself searching for some one to help you figure the thing out?

Paul, the apostle had a situation where he had to go to the jews and help them understand the reason for  יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua coming on the scene.

Another situation, coming from a much higher level, G-d gave  מֹשֶׁה  Moshe some commandments to pass on to the chosen עַם people.  As time went on, as we now know, people kept adding to the commandments until the ‘original’ had become so burdensome that only a few could follow them…..G-d did not have this in mind.

So…. G-d sent his son יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua, as we know, to live among us and show us how to live.  His purpose was to explain and clarify the laws, and remove the confusion that had been build up for years and years.

Just as מֹשֶׁה  Moshe eventually removed his veil after his visit on Mt. Sinai, , his face being radiated with the glory of G-d by the way… יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua took away the veil away for all who would believe in him.

However, going a little deeper with this, people did not understand all that יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua was telling them, so after the resurrection, he told them to go to the upper room and    the Holy Spirit would come upon them and open up the Old Testament and introduce the new. 

So…as it stands today, without    רוּחַ הַ קֹדֶשׁ  Holy Spirit, the bible is difficult to understand…..so here again, the veil is lifted for those who seek…