Jewish Disability, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month: A New Approach to Hebrew-Language Learning for Day School Students with Learning Disabilities

By Rabbi Andrew Ergas EdD

Hebrew language study is a core element of Jewish day school education. However, for the estimated 20% of Jewish day school students with dyslexia and other language-based learning difficulties, learning Hebrew is often a major struggle. While second language acquisition is difficult for these students, Hebrew presents unique challenges for the second language learner because it uses a different alphabet, is read right to left, and requires students to decode and manipulate unfamiliar sounds not in their daily spoken language. Meanwhile the number of day school students with special needs continues to grow.

Importantly, Hebrew language skills go hand in hand with Jewish studies and identity and are necessary for engagement in Jewish communal life. Hebrew reading fluency enables full participation in synagogue life, whether it’s reading the prayerbook, chanting from the Torah and Haftarah, or leading a shiva minyan, while modern Hebrew helps foster a relationship with Israel which is especially critical in our post-October 7 world.

Historically, though, Jewish day schools in North America have been slow to support students with these specific needs. Many of these students who struggle with Hebrew reading are likely to also suffer from low self-esteem and negative attitudes about their Jewish education and Judaism that they may carry throughout their lives

There’s also been little research about the magnitude of the problem and criteria for learning success in teaching Hebrew in North America to students with language-based learning difficulties and other special needs. Additionally, Hebrew language teachers do not necessarily have degrees in education, let alone training in reading, special needs, and/or language acquisition.

A new field-wide initiative – Pritzat Derech/Hebrew for All – helps create a more inclusive environment for all students, while sending an important message to day school students and families, as well as the broader Jewish community, that every student deserves the gift of Hebrew reading and Jewish learning. Pritzat Derech (Hebrew for “breakthrough”) focuses specifically on making Hebrew reading more inclusive: to train teachers and school interventionists to meet the needs of students with language- based learning difficulties, strengthen student outcomes, and provide a pathway to both recruit and retain students in order to increase day school enrollment.

Pilot training will focus on engaging educational professionals with expertise in specific areas, e.g. Hebrew language teachers with knowledge of second language acquisition or reading specialists with expertise on helping students with reading skills. Cross-training in Hebrew language education and language-based learning difficulties will help them round out their areas of knowledge and practice to best serve students, teachers, and schools and become resources for Jewish day schools and the broader community throughout North America.

Pritzat Derech is a joint venture led by Hebrew at the Center, an organization dedicated to advancing Hebrew language teaching and learning, in partnership with such educational organizations as Gateways, MaDYK, Prizmah, and the Shefa Center, a division of the Shefa School.

Dr, Sarah Rubinson Levy, Director of Pritzat Derech/Hebrew for All initiative; Rabbi Andrew Ergas, EdD, CEO of Hebrew at the Center; Rabbi Marc Wolf, Chief of Program and Strategy Officer, Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools at the recent Prizmah 2025 Conference where the Pritzat Derech initiative was presented

I firmly believe that every child, no matter his or her learning challenges, should receive a quality Hebrew language education. We also must provide day school educators with the methodology and training to achieve success.

Making Hebrew accessible to all reflects the core Jewish value that each individual is entitled access to Jewish literacy and the language of the Jewish people. So instead of a day school educational system that puts a roadblock before one in five students, with Pritzat Derech/Hebrew for All, we have opened the gates for every student -- to gain Hebrew language skills, achieve self-confidence, and feel part of the Jewish community. At the same time, we are helping their families feel better about the Jewish educational system and potentially increase enrollment. By our actions -- and with the help of support from the Covenant Foundation, Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation, and our own funders --, we are demonstrating that we are a welcoming, problem-solving community that truly values the uniqueness of every child no matter his or her abilities.

If we want to remain true to our Jewish values of lovingkindness and dignity for every individual, it’s imperative that we educate each learner on his or her individual path. If that path includes challenges, it is our sacred obligation to provide the support and direction to help them move forward with confidence and success. I call on the Jewish community to join us now in smashing away this obstacle that remains in front of far too many Jewish children.

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Rabbi Andrew Ergas EdD Is Chief Executive Officer of Hebrew at the Center. To receive updates or learn more about Pritzat Derech/Hebrew for All, email hebrewforall@hebrewatthecenter.org.