Ulpan Aviv is a Hebrew school in Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv). Ulpan Aviv's accelerated learning program means that you will be able to speak Hebrew in 10 days. Ulpan Aviv's methodology is custom designed and text books follow the unique methodology of Hebrew learning
Monday, December 26, 2011
Shalom VeShavua Tov!
I was thinking of how I would open this post? There are so many holidays taking place at the moment meaning it is hard to be politically correct with your wishes. I guess that “Happy Holidays” would suit most of us…
Today , Sunday, we are lighting the 5th Chanukah candle, and I am refusing to admit that more than half of the holiday has already gone. May the light continue shine in our hearts all year long.
We are launching a new campaign in the Ulpan this month: the month of Eliezer Ben Yehuda. Eliezer Ben Yehuda was responsible for reviving the Hebrew language in modern era. He was born on the 7th of January 1858 and this year will be his 154 birthday. We decided that we would like to create something to mark this date as a tribute to one man’s life project (after all, without him we would not be in work right now, nachon?)
So, starting from the January 1st make sure that you visit our web site and to find out about the surprises we have got planned for you for this month. You are all invited to celebrate with us! Below you can find a little reminder of the occasion.
This week’s Torah portion was Parashat MIKETS which starts with Pharaoh’s dreams and Yossef’s interpretation. One, (but not the only), interesting thing to see is that when Pharaoh describes the cows he has seen in his dream, he is using the word:
רקות
RAKOT
A common mistake is to think that Pharaoh is saying that the cows were “soft”, the fem. Pl. of the word :
רך
RACH
Soft
BUT, the word “soft” in Hebrew is spelt with a "כ" where as in the Torah the word is written with a "ק".
This indicates that it is a different word entirely and that we need to identify from which word it is taken:
רק
RAK
only/just
This word, in modern language is not an adjective that may be conjugated according to gender or number. It is a quantity description.
However, we see that in biblical language there is an option of conjugating it when wanting to minimize an amount. In fact, it is just like saying: “a few”.
Chanukah Sameach!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Shalom LeKulam!
I trust this blog post finds you all safe and well.
I am doing just fine, Baruch H', no complaints. The new baby, Ori Avraham, is growing well thank G-d and if he would only sleep just a little more often, then things would be even better. All of his siblings seem to have accepted Ori quite well and despite our worries about how our daughter, Adi, who is almost 2 years old would manage to handle a younger brother at her age, things are going well. The truth is that Adi seems to have come to terms with the change much better than we could have hoped and has only bitten him twice so farJ.
Things continue to go well in the Ulpan here in Tel Aviv, and we have seen a rapid growth in on-line courses. People are less likely to visit Israel at this time of year and so we thought that it may be a good thing to iadvertise to increase awareness of the availability of our on-line courses. This approach appears to have worked well. I am teaching 7 students on-line these days and I must say that I enjoy every minute of it. In recent times I had very litttle time to teach. Most of my time was invested in managing, training new teachers, supervision, etc. If I ever needed to focus even more time on things involved around running and managing the Ulpan, I don’t think that I could ever stop teaching completely. It is so refreshing and energizing…
I was asked more than once this week about the best way of retaining vocabulary. "What is the best way for me to learn the new words?" everyone asks. Well friends, let me let you in to a little secret that the Torah has been telling us about for the past 5000 years. In the "Shema" we commit ourselves to teach and educate our children to follow the rules of the Torah, keep the faith in HaShaem, etc. This command is given as follows:
"ושננתם לבניך"
VESHINANTAM LEVANECHA
"memorize this to your sons"
The Hebrew language gives us the missing piece. The word:
"ושננתם"
VESHINANTAM
which talks about memorizing. If you notice this word has the same root as the word:
שיניים
SHINAYIM
teeth
Memorizing is best done by “using your teeth”, eg., speaking, or saying out loud the thing that you wish to memorize. I trust (actually, I know) that this is the best way for any student to retain all the vocabulary he/she is trying to learn.
So, off you go to your list of new words…J (Maybe warn the neighbours first so they know that you haven’t comletely lost it!!!!)
Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom and warm wishes!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Shalom LeKulam!
I trust this blog post finds you all safe and well.
I am doing just fine, Baruch H', no complaints. The new baby, Ori
Avraham, is growing well thank G-d and if he would only sleep just a little
more often, then things would be even better. All of his siblings seem to have
accepted Ori quite well and despite our worries about how our daughter, Adi,
who is almost 2 years old would manage to handle a younger brother at her age,
things are going well. The truth is that
Adi seems to have come to terms with the change much better than we could have
hoped and has only bitten him twice so farJ.
Avraham, is growing well thank G-d and if he would only sleep just a little
more often, then things would be even better. All of his siblings seem to have
accepted Ori quite well and despite our worries about how our daughter, Adi,
who is almost 2 years old would manage to handle a younger brother at her age,
things are going well. The truth is that
Adi seems to have come to terms with the change much better than we could have
hoped and has only bitten him twice so farJ.
Things continue to go well in the
Ulpan here in Tel Aviv, and we have seen a rapid growth in on-line courses.
People are less likely to visit Israel at this time of year and so we thought
that it may be a good thing to iadvertise to increase awareness of the
availability of our on-line courses.
This approach appears to have worked well. I am teaching 7 students on-line these days
and I must say that I enjoy every minute of it.
In recent times I had very litttle time to teach. Most of my time was
invested in managing, training new teachers, supervision, etc. If I ever needed
to focus even more time on things involved around running and managing the
Ulpan, I don’t think that I could ever stop teaching completely. It is so refreshing and energizing…
Ulpan here in Tel Aviv, and we have seen a rapid growth in on-line courses.
People are less likely to visit Israel at this time of year and so we thought
that it may be a good thing to iadvertise to increase awareness of the
availability of our on-line courses.
This approach appears to have worked well. I am teaching 7 students on-line these days
and I must say that I enjoy every minute of it.
In recent times I had very litttle time to teach. Most of my time was
invested in managing, training new teachers, supervision, etc. If I ever needed
to focus even more time on things involved around running and managing the
Ulpan, I don’t think that I could ever stop teaching completely. It is so refreshing and energizing…
I was asked more than once this week about the best way of retaining
vocabulary. "What is the best way for me to learn the new words?"
everyone asks. Well friends, let me let you in
to a little secret that the Torah has been telling us about for the past 5000
years. In the "Shema" we
commit ourselves to teach and educate our children to follow the rules of the
Torah, keep the faith in HaShaem, etc. This command is given as follows:
vocabulary. "What is the best way for me to learn the new words?"
everyone asks. Well friends, let me let you in
to a little secret that the Torah has been telling us about for the past 5000
years. In the "Shema" we
commit ourselves to teach and educate our children to follow the rules of the
Torah, keep the faith in HaShaem, etc. This command is given as follows:
"ושננתם לבניך"
VESHINANTAM LEVANECHA
"memorize this to your
sons"
sons"
The Hebrew language gives us the missing piece. The word:
"ושננתם"
VESHINANTAM
which talks about memorizing. If you notice this word has the same root as
the word:
the word:
שיניים
SHINAYIM
teeth
Memorizing is best done by “using your teeth”, eg.,
speaking, or saying out loud the thing that you wish to memorize. I trust
(actually, I know) that this is the best way for any student to retain all the
vocabulary he/she is trying to learn.
speaking, or saying out loud the thing that you wish to memorize. I trust
(actually, I know) that this is the best way for any student to retain all the
vocabulary he/she is trying to learn.
So, off you go to your list of new words…J (Maybe warn the neighbours first so they know that
you haven’t comletely lost it!!!!)
you haven’t comletely lost it!!!!)
Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom and warm wishes!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Shalom…….
I hope everything is BESEDER at your end wherever you are.
I thought that it might be interesting if I shared one of the things that I have been teaching during the past week, something out of the Scriptures. Recently, I started to explore in much more depth the process that the biblical Hebrew has undergone from the era in which it was written, until "modern" life. As I find the subject so fascinating, I was thinking that I might write a little on this subject with each blog that I post. Hopefully, I won’t bore you…☺
Each week in my lessons I like to include some of the Torah portion from the previous Shabbat. It is always easier to speak to students about things they may have already read rather than talking about something which is completely new to them. The students who haven’t read the Parasha do get a general background during the lesson.
Last Shabbat we read the portion called TOLDOT, my Bar Mitzva portion. (It was my birthday last Friday!). "Toldot" literally means 'biography' (same root in Hebrew as the word birth). In this portion we read about Esav selling his birth rights to Ya'akov and as a result, Ya'akov receives the blessing from Yitzchak (not getting into the argument about that one…). When Esav came back from the field and finds out about what has happened, he said to his ABA, Yitzchak:
Esav is using the verb: ATSALTA, which does not exist in Modern Hebrew. In its place in Modern Hebrew we find the preposition: ETSEL ("אצל") which is used when something/one is found in someone's personal space.
If any of you would like to comment on anything that I have written about, please feel free to do so: gil@ulpanaviv.com
Back to life….. This week in Ulpan has definitely been a week of "Goodbyes". Tamara, our right hand, has gone back to Europe for 6 weeks and Ruth, one of our long-term students who has been in Israel for the past 3 months, has also left for a couple of months. The big project that we are currently running in Northern Israel for students from Australia finishes this week and has been a great success; meaning Saray (TLV teacher) will be back in Ulpan full time as from next week. I couldn’t be happier but as she is my sister, I certainly won’t be telling her that!!! Also, this week two very nice students finished their courses here in TLV. How much can one teacher take? The comfort in all this I guess is that endings usually point to new beginnings…..
As for Ori Avraham (the NB), he is not a great fan of sleep and decided that he would not let us sleep much for the past month. It is a good job that he is just so cute, otherwise…….. ☺
Shavua Tov to you all!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
I thought that it might be interesting if I shared one of the things that I have been teaching during the past week, something out of the Scriptures. Recently, I started to explore in much more depth the process that the biblical Hebrew has undergone from the era in which it was written, until "modern" life. As I find the subject so fascinating, I was thinking that I might write a little on this subject with each blog that I post. Hopefully, I won’t bore you…☺
Each week in my lessons I like to include some of the Torah portion from the previous Shabbat. It is always easier to speak to students about things they may have already read rather than talking about something which is completely new to them. The students who haven’t read the Parasha do get a general background during the lesson.
Last Shabbat we read the portion called TOLDOT, my Bar Mitzva portion. (It was my birthday last Friday!). "Toldot" literally means 'biography' (same root in Hebrew as the word birth). In this portion we read about Esav selling his birth rights to Ya'akov and as a result, Ya'akov receives the blessing from Yitzchak (not getting into the argument about that one…). When Esav came back from the field and finds out about what has happened, he said to his ABA, Yitzchak:
"הלא אצלת לי ברכה?"
HALO ATSALTA LI BERACHA?
Did you not keep a blessing for me in you?Esav is using the verb: ATSALTA, which does not exist in Modern Hebrew. In its place in Modern Hebrew we find the preposition: ETSEL ("אצל") which is used when something/one is found in someone's personal space.
"אני אצל משה"
ANI ETSEL MOSHE
"I am at Moshe's"
Interestingly enough, the same root is used in the verb used in Biblical language as the preposition used in modern language. If any of you would like to comment on anything that I have written about, please feel free to do so: gil@ulpanaviv.com
Back to life….. This week in Ulpan has definitely been a week of "Goodbyes". Tamara, our right hand, has gone back to Europe for 6 weeks and Ruth, one of our long-term students who has been in Israel for the past 3 months, has also left for a couple of months. The big project that we are currently running in Northern Israel for students from Australia finishes this week and has been a great success; meaning Saray (TLV teacher) will be back in Ulpan full time as from next week. I couldn’t be happier but as she is my sister, I certainly won’t be telling her that!!! Also, this week two very nice students finished their courses here in TLV. How much can one teacher take? The comfort in all this I guess is that endings usually point to new beginnings…..
As for Ori Avraham (the NB), he is not a great fan of sleep and decided that he would not let us sleep much for the past month. It is a good job that he is just so cute, otherwise…….. ☺
Shavua Tov to you all!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Shalom…….
Other than the enormous amount of rain that has fallen this week, which is unusual for November; this week has just been one of those ordinary weeks. At home things are getting back to normal and the children, (all 4 of them…) are settling back in to some sort of routine. We are just about to sign the final papers for us to buy the land that we applied for and in a in the next few months we hope to start building. It is all very exciting, a bit stressful too, but none the less exciting. This week too, my closest friend, Uri, was doing his national army reserve service in the yeshuv where I live, just near my house. One evening I got a pizza and went over to see him where he was on-duty at the check-point between my yeshuv and the Palestinian village next door. While we were talking, I suddenly got the urge to see things from the ‘other side’. It is true, in life that we tend to see things only from our own point of view and just once, I wanted to be able to see things from the other point of view; to see my house the way that the inhabitants of the Palestinian village see it and to see their life how they see it. As I said there is a check-point just next to where I live and people come from as far as Bethlehem to work in Israel. They do a 240km round trip every day and spend as much as 2 hours, twice a day crossing the check-point in order to come in to Israel to work. Four hours a day that I am sure they would rather be spending in their homes with their families; I know I would. Of course, Uri refused to take me over the check-point for security reasons, but I hope that one day that it will be possible. Maybe I should explain that whilst all of my friends and class mates where doing their national service in the army, I was given a medical discharge due to my Chron’s disease, and so as Uri was showing me around the dormitories and the barracks, it was as if I was walking around somewhere totally unknown. Whereas the vast majority of the people that I know would feel completely at home in this environment it was so outside of my own experience and brought home the feeling once more, that I had missed out on something that is such a fundamental part of our daily, national life here in Israel. It was like being a complete stranger in my own yeshuv, only a few meters from my own home. Very bizarre!
Anyway, on that philosophical note I must get back to preparing for my Ulpan students, but wish you a pleasant end to the week and Shabbat shalom!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Anyway, on that philosophical note I must get back to preparing for my Ulpan students, but wish you a pleasant end to the week and Shabbat shalom!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Shalom le kulam. Ma shlomchem?
Shalom le kulam. Ma shlomchem?
Doesn't time go by so quickly? I feel like I have only just finished writing the other blog and it is time to write another. I am thankful to say that things have really been getting back to normal this week. Little Ori recovered well after his circumcision, although he is a bit 'gripey' now which leads to fun nights! The whole family is settling down and finding their new places within the family and I am glad to say that our little 20 month old daughter hasn't managed to inflict any serious damage on Ori yet, although she really gave him a good whack when he was only a few days old!! This week was another family event; it was my cousin's wedding. He is only 22 yrs old and there was much talk of how young he is to be getting married. In our culture it is obligatory to find something to talk about…. The wedding was great and everyone seemed to really get in to the spirit of things. The Shabbat after a wedding the whole family and all the friends get together for the Shabbat to be with the newly married couple. It is always a crazy but fun time and I am really looking forward to it. The project up north is going really, really well and as one of the directors here at the Ulpan, I went up to see that everything was going alright. There were glowing reports of Efat and Saray, (of course I would have never doubted for a moment that there would be…) and the students seem to be progressing well.
Well, writing this from a rainy and cold Tel Aviv hope that you all have a good end to the week and I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv-Director
Doesn't time go by so quickly? I feel like I have only just finished writing the other blog and it is time to write another. I am thankful to say that things have really been getting back to normal this week. Little Ori recovered well after his circumcision, although he is a bit 'gripey' now which leads to fun nights! The whole family is settling down and finding their new places within the family and I am glad to say that our little 20 month old daughter hasn't managed to inflict any serious damage on Ori yet, although she really gave him a good whack when he was only a few days old!! This week was another family event; it was my cousin's wedding. He is only 22 yrs old and there was much talk of how young he is to be getting married. In our culture it is obligatory to find something to talk about…. The wedding was great and everyone seemed to really get in to the spirit of things. The Shabbat after a wedding the whole family and all the friends get together for the Shabbat to be with the newly married couple. It is always a crazy but fun time and I am really looking forward to it. The project up north is going really, really well and as one of the directors here at the Ulpan, I went up to see that everything was going alright. There were glowing reports of Efat and Saray, (of course I would have never doubted for a moment that there would be…) and the students seem to be progressing well.
Well, writing this from a rainy and cold Tel Aviv hope that you all have a good end to the week and I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv-Director
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Shalom le-kulam
This week I hardly know whether I am coming or going! I normally start with what is going on here in Israel, but today, I want to start with what is going on with me! As I said last week, my wife gave birth to our 4th child, (3rd son). When a boy is born, there is always so much to do and for me it was no exception. Trying to get the Brit Milah arranged, the Sandak (godfather), the Mohel (the circumciser) and all the family in the same place at the same time and all on the 8th day of his life, whilst making sure that all is going smoothly at the Ulpan, and that all of our students and potential students are taken care of. Eventually, it all came together beautifully yesterday. The weather was fantastic and all of our closest friends and family were there as well as all of my colleagues from both the Tel Aviv branch and the Jerusalem branch along with a few of my long term students. There was a real mixture of people, backgrounds and languages. It would have been an anthropologist's dream! As the Parashat ha Shavua was "Lech Lecha", this week where G-d told then Abram to leave his country, home and father's house, I spoke a little bit of Abram's character and the importance of what he actually did, becoming the first Ivri (the first 'Hebrew' from the root 'To pass over'), also about his heart to take everyone with him. It was important for us to choose a name which reflected firstly, what our new little son meant to us and secondly, what we hoped he would be and become and so we chose the name 'Ori Avraham'. (Ori meaning 'my light' and Avraham after Avraham, Avinu.) We look forward to the next many years that we have together; getting to know him and seeing our little Ori Avraham grow in to what we hope and pray will be an exceptional man and especially a man of G-d.
Other than that, there were a few significant days this week; there were the memorial days for Rachel, emenu and for Yitzak Rabin, after his assassination, 16 years ago.
Shabbat Shalom le kulam!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv-Director
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Ulpan Aviv
Well as you know, things are rarely dull here in Israel and this week was no exception… Two days ago, there was the vote at UNESCO (United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization) concerning the request from the Palestinian Authority to be admitted. Despite them meeting none of the educational and cultural criteria for admission, the result of the vote was still positive. We are waiting with baited breath to hear the results of the UN Security Council vote on the 11th of November…. In the meantime Mahmoud Abbas has been encouraging Palestinians to kidnap Israeli soldiers with North Sudan giving people the added incentive of offering 1 million USD to the person who successfully captures an Israeli soldier. The first known attempt was made to kidnap a young female soldier yesterday evening in Pisgat Ze'ev (one of Jerusalem's neighbourhoods). In the Gaza region, rockets and mortars have been coming in thick and fast to the Israeli towns of Beersheva, Sderot and Shaar Negev, killing one man, causing a lot of damage and resulting in all the local schools being temporarily closed down in order to prevent any harm to the local children. It really feels as if it is 'open season' on Israeli citizens at the moment. Not a very comfortable time…
On a personal note, I haven't been in to the Ulpan at all this week although I have been overseeing things from home. No! I haven't been ill this week….. On Monday evening, my wife gave birth to our fourth child, a little boy. We are absolutely delighted and thank G-d for his safe arrival. The labour was a long one, but both mum and baby are doing well. The Brit Mila (circumcision) will be on Tuesday next week (we go according to the 8th Hebrew days) and so at the moment all my time is taken up with arranging that and the special Shabbat that we have on the first Shabbat after the birth. I'll let you know how things went next week!
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful and blessed end of the week.
On a personal note, I haven't been in to the Ulpan at all this week although I have been overseeing things from home. No! I haven't been ill this week….. On Monday evening, my wife gave birth to our fourth child, a little boy. We are absolutely delighted and thank G-d for his safe arrival. The labour was a long one, but both mum and baby are doing well. The Brit Mila (circumcision) will be on Tuesday next week (we go according to the 8th Hebrew days) and so at the moment all my time is taken up with arranging that and the special Shabbat that we have on the first Shabbat after the birth. I'll let you know how things went next week!
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful and blessed end of the week.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Shalom le Kulam! Ma nishma?
Well! After the excitement last week of Gilad Shalit's release and Sukot followed by Simchat Torah, this week was back to the grind stone! I have to say that after all Tishrey's holidays and festivals it will be great to get back to a more normal rhythm and routine, although I have seen that Israel is back in the news (just for a change…), with the earthquake in Turkey. Apparently, despite the strained relations between the two countries at the moment, Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rang the Turkish Prime Minister to offer assistance. At first this was refused as Turkey hoped not to need external assistance, although it was reported in the newspapers this morning that Turkey has accepted the offer. I hope that it will lead to warmer diplomatic relations between the two countries and was moved to see the rescue of a two week old little baby from the rubble yesterday. I hope and pray that the baby's family will also be found safe and sound.
After finishing her training last week, Noyah, our new teacher will be starting to take students this week. We are delighted to have her on our team and we wish her every success. I love to see how our teachers develop and blossom in their style and confidence with every course that passes. The continuing education program that we run here at Ulpan Aviv, allows Osnat and myself to really be involved in this process. A real privilege.
Today, Sarai and Efrat travelled up north to start the project with the Australian students on Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu. Both are very much looking forward to the challenge. All the best to them. It will certainly be quiet around here without them!!!!!!
After finishing her training last week, Noyah, our new teacher will be starting to take students this week. We are delighted to have her on our team and we wish her every success. I love to see how our teachers develop and blossom in their style and confidence with every course that passes. The continuing education program that we run here at Ulpan Aviv, allows Osnat and myself to really be involved in this process. A real privilege.
Today, Sarai and Efrat travelled up north to start the project with the Australian students on Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu. Both are very much looking forward to the challenge. All the best to them. It will certainly be quiet around here without them!!!!!!
Shalom le Kulam! Ma nishma?
Well! After the excitement last week of Gilad Shalit's release and Sukot followed by Simchat Torah, this week was back to the grind stone! I have to say that after all Tishrey's holidays and festivals it will be great to get back to a more normal rhythm and routine, although I have seen that Israel is back in the news (just for a change…), with the earthquake in Turkey. Apparently, despite the strained relations between the two countries at the moment, Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rang the Turkish Prime Minister to offer assistance. At first this was refused as Turkey hoped not to need external assistance, although it was reported in the newspapers this morning that Turkey has accepted the offer. I hope that it will lead to warmer diplomatic relations between the two countries and was moved to see the rescue of a two week old little baby from the rubble yesterday. I hope and pray that the baby's family will also be found safe and sound.
After finishing her training last week, Noyah, our new teacher will be starting to take students this week. We are delighted to have her on our team and we wish her every success. I love to see how our teachers develop and blossom in their style and confidence with every course that passes. The continuing education program that we run here at Ulpan Aviv, allows Osnat and myself to really be involved in this process. A real privilege.
Today, Sarai and Efrat travelled up north to start the project with the Australian students on Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu. Both are very much looking forward to the challenge. All the best to them. It will certainly be quiet around here without them!!!!!!
After finishing her training last week, Noyah, our new teacher will be starting to take students this week. We are delighted to have her on our team and we wish her every success. I love to see how our teachers develop and blossom in their style and confidence with every course that passes. The continuing education program that we run here at Ulpan Aviv, allows Osnat and myself to really be involved in this process. A real privilege.
Today, Sarai and Efrat travelled up north to start the project with the Australian students on Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu. Both are very much looking forward to the challenge. All the best to them. It will certainly be quiet around here without them!!!!!!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Shalom Lekulam!
It is almost with a sense of disbelief that I am writing this blog. It is 08.27am on the morning of Tuesday the 18th October 18, 2011 and in just over half an hour, Gilad Shalit, a young soldier imprisoned in Gaza for the last almost 5 years, (1940 days) should be freed. There have been so many rumors; “Is he alive?” “If he is alive, what condition will he be in?” “Who is on the list of prisoners to be exchanged?” The whole of Israel and the world with her are holding their breath. What a historic day. And, what an appropriate moment; at the moment we are celebrating Sukot, a time of joy and celebration and of gathering in. At last Israel will be able to ‘gather in’ her long lost son. I would also like, at this time, to honor the families who lost their loved ones to the hands of those who are being released as I am writing this blog. The pain of seeing their son or daughter, mother or father, friend or relative’s murderer going free must be excruciating. All I can say is that they may be free from the prison bars which held them, but they are in no way free from the justice of HaShem the perfect judge……
The news flash is that an Israeli officer has just met Gilad. Only a few more moments…..
In the light of the breaking news, my news seems insignificant. I had a great beginning of Sukot with my family. All of my brothers, their families and my sister were at my parent’s house. It was a very noisy affair, (9 small children!!!), but we had a fantastic time. Tomorrow evening marks the end of Sukot and the beginning of Simchat Torah, which means “rejoicing over the law.” Each week in synagogues around the world a portion of the Torah (1st five books of the Tanakh, i.e. the law) are read. This week sees the last reading of the Torah being read, before starting again next week. There will be lots of singing, dancing and a special blessing said over the Torah. Another time of great joy for the nation.
Anyway, you will have to excuse me; I am just off to see what is happening with the exchange. I wish you a joyful and peaceful end of the week. Chag Sameach!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv - Director
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Wow everybody, what a week!
Rosh Ha Shana was great. I spent it at my in-laws house with my wife’s family and we all came out speaking to each other which just goes to prove that miracles not only happen during Purim! My wife especially loves going to the synagogue to hear the shofar being blown. It is a sound that seems to really tug at your heart.
These last few days have been ones of soul searching before G-d to bring to light any wrong doings from the past year. It’s tough to come face to face with one’s own humanity in the light of the holiness of HaShem.
At Ulpan this week, things have been crazy. Final preparations for the project up in the north starting directly after Succot and interviewing new teachers to take Sarai’s and Efrat’s place during that time. (Not easy shoes to fill….)
The process to update the website is well under way and going well and we have launched a new campaign on Facebook. Don’t forget to check it out and you may even win a free course…. Other new things at the Ulpan in Tel Aviv include a new street sign on rehov HaYarkon. In the very short time that it has been up it has already brought 3 potential students in, all enquiring about learning Hebrew. Despite the pre-opening nerves, things really have taken off here in Tel Aviv, which is fantastic!
Well I am off to prepare for Yom Kippur, which by the way, as with this year, is the only day on which fasting is allowed on the Shabbat. So it just leaves me to wish you all TSUM KAL.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Shana Tova!!!
Well blog followers, this is the last blog post for this Hebrew year and what a year it has been.
At this time last year another Ulpan in Tel Aviv was just a dream and now, when I come in to work in the morning, I can’t help smiling to myself and being amazed at what a difference year can make.
As you will probably all have heard, the vote on the Palestinian state was put off and is supposed to take place sometime this week. Benjamin Netanyahu, (the Israeli Prime Minister), gave a moving speech to the UN reminding them of the reason that the UN was created in the first place and to fulfill the mandate for which they were created, to protect lives and to stand against injustice. He brought to their attention the day to day lives of normal Israelis and the number of rockets that arrive in Israeli civilian neighborhoods on a daily basis. We are all waiting to see what the outcome will be. In the meantime life carries on….
I think I’ve already mentioned that we are in the process of upgrading our web-site and so I have already been on the phone for quite a while this morning making decisions as to what navigation tools to use, (drop down boxes etc.), to make sure that the site is as user friendly and easy to use as possible. Watch this space…
Yesterday I was up in the North of Israel to visit the Kibbutz Sdeh Eliyahu where the autumn project will be taking place. I went with Sarai and Efrat, the teachers on the project and we were warmly welcomed and shown around before discussing the final practical details and logistics of the course. The students arrive from Australia in only a week or two’s time and it looks like everyone is very much looking forward to the experience.
The next blog post will be at the beginning of the New Year and I just wanted to wish everyone Chag Sameach and Shana Tovah. May this next year be the best one yet, filled with happiness and fulfillment. Don’t forget, it’s not too late to sign up for Hebrew lessons and get working on accomplishing your New Year’s resolutions straight away!!!!!
SHANA TOVA VECHAG SAMECH,
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Friday, September 16, 2011
Shalom le kulam!
Can you believe that this is our 30th blog post? I can’t. Time flies.
Those of you who have been following the International news these last few weeks will know that we are reaching a critical time here in Israel. In 6 days’ time the UN will be debating and voting on the declaration of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. There are numerous European countries that have indicated that they will abstain from voting which means that the vote could go either way. In the mean-time all we can do is to wait and pray. The situation doesn’t look much better in Turkey either, with the Israeli Embassy being broken in to in Egypt prior to the Turkish Prime Minister’s visit. Many Israeli’s have travelled to Turkey in recent times for a holiday, although in the current climate Israeli tourism to Turkey has plummeted.
Here in Ulpan thankfully things are looking much brighter, with Efrat our new teacher arriving at the end of her training before moving up north for the autumn to teach children on one of our projects, (more about that in Saray’s blog). We are pleased to have her on our staff team and wish her every success.
In the count-down to Rosh HaShana, I am currently working on a new advertising campaign that will run for 6 weeks in the Jerusalem post among other places. Don’t forget to watch out for it (and to sign up for Hebrew lessons here at Ulpan Aviv to learn or improve your Hebrew as part of your New Year’s resolutions!!)
On a personal note; my little daughter is feeling much better and is back to normal again after her 2nd bout of dehydration. Thanks to those who have been asking about her.
Well I wish you all Shabbat Shalom. Until next week…..
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Director
Monday, September 12, 2011
Shavua tov to you all!
I am sorry that this blog has been posted late, but it is only now that I am catching up with all the things from last week.
First and foremost, the Ulpan Aviv team would like to offer their condolences to the family, friends and children of the victims of the Twin Tower attack in New York 10 years ago. Our thoughts also go out to those who survived and are having to live daily with the consequences.
Last week was a great week. It saw the start of one of our groups for young people and preparation for the second which starts tomorrow. Last week’s group started in Jerusalem and there was all the bustle and excitement of meeting the new students, doing all the evaluations, assigning groups, ordering materials and putting the finishing touches to the curriculum in order that the courses would better suit each group of students. After that group was launched at the beginning of the week, the rest of the week was spent deciding on the last few details of the course that starts tomorrow in the North of the country.
As most of you who have been following my blog know, we launched our new Ulpan Aviv web site a few months ago. Over the next month or two we will be updating our website in order to make it more “user friendly”. Please feel free to send me any comments or ideas that you may have that you feel would improve the site.
Along with all the preparations for the new groups, as my course comes to an end, last week I had to give my final presentation. I chose to speak about building an infrastructure for an Ulpan from scratch and then the subsequent P.R. and marketing of that Ulpan. I was really pleased at the positive reception and feed-back that I received from the presentation. PHEW….
On a personal level things too are far from boring. After buying some land to build a house on last year, we are now in the stages of meeting with architects and builders in order to start making decisions about the structure etc., of the house.
Well enough from me for now. I wish you all an excellent week and look forward to my next blog.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Shalom! Ma Shlomchem?
I trust this blog post finds you all safe and sound.
What a week! I have already told you in my previous post about the groups from the youth movements and organizations that we will be teaching starting in September. This involved recruiting staff members, (lots of) training, writing curriculums, deciding schedules and heaven knows what else. A lot to do indeed. As I am in based in Tel Aviv and the courses will be taught in Jerusalem, I found myself driving to Jerusalem every day this week. After writing these lines (Thursday 12:23, ) I am off there again today. In addition to that, this week was the last week of the school summer break in Israel, meaning the children, (all 3 of them), are home. Although, my wife stays with the children most of the day, when I come back from work they all expect some sort of an outing; the swimming pool, the beach, ice-cream, the park… you name it. So that's with the family (oh, and by the way my daughter was again dehydrated this week for the second time. I really think she is beginning to like being me being up with her at the hospital all night…)
In addition to that (sorry if it sounds like I am whining, I am not. Writing is my therapy), tonight I have to present my final project in my PR class tonight. The PR plan is a year-long PR plan based on a chosen business. Any guesses about which business I will be writing my project? I know it's a hard one…
This week in Israel, things have become slightly less tense with regards to security, (not counting the terror attack in TA on Sunday night. 8 people were injured, some badly and I send my prayers to the wounded.
The school year has started today, FINALLY. My 3 toddlers will be learning in 3 different pre-school programs, according to their age. Wishing them and all students wherever you happen to be, all the very best!
Have a lovely weekend and Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Shalom! Ma Nishma?
Hoping you all had a wonderful week.
For me, this week was a week of catching up after the holidays but I am glad to say that I am now totally back in the game…☺ Here at Ulpan, after a break, we are setting up some courses for groups of young people coming to Israel for a year. Ulpan Aviv has been nominated to provide the Hebrew lessons. We have been involved in these programs for the past 2 years and I must say that there is something very different about working with these kids. They have a strong sense of patriotism and a high motivation to learn the language and about the culture. Definitely an experience…
In order to be able to run these courses we have been recruiting new staff members, and most of my time these last 2 days and next week has and will be dedicated to training.
I wrote last week about my daughter being admitted to the hospital suffering from dehydration. I am pleased to say that over the last week she has gradually recovered and gained most of her strength back (and believe me, at 18 months old she has plenty of strength…)
I was hoping to be able to tell you all of an improvement in the tense security situation here in Israel; unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Rockets are still being fired on settlements in the south and last Shabbat a man was killed as a result of the bombings. Let us all hope and pray for better days and SHALOM.
I hope that you have had a great weekend. Shavua Tov.
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
For me, this week was a week of catching up after the holidays but I am glad to say that I am now totally back in the game…☺ Here at Ulpan, after a break, we are setting up some courses for groups of young people coming to Israel for a year. Ulpan Aviv has been nominated to provide the Hebrew lessons. We have been involved in these programs for the past 2 years and I must say that there is something very different about working with these kids. They have a strong sense of patriotism and a high motivation to learn the language and about the culture. Definitely an experience…
In order to be able to run these courses we have been recruiting new staff members, and most of my time these last 2 days and next week has and will be dedicated to training.
I wrote last week about my daughter being admitted to the hospital suffering from dehydration. I am pleased to say that over the last week she has gradually recovered and gained most of her strength back (and believe me, at 18 months old she has plenty of strength…)
I was hoping to be able to tell you all of an improvement in the tense security situation here in Israel; unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Rockets are still being fired on settlements in the south and last Shabbat a man was killed as a result of the bombings. Let us all hope and pray for better days and SHALOM.
I hope that you have had a great weekend. Shavua Tov.
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, August 19, 2011
Shalom! Ma Shlomchem?
I was hoping to start this blog post by telling you about all about my vacation and how great it was. Sadly, in the light of today’s tragic incidents, (Thursday) I just feel I should start with that.
As I believe most of you have now heard on the news, there were today, a number of terror attacks next on the Egyptian/Israeli border. A large enough number of terrorists were managed to cross the border and entered Israel with one purpose in mind; hurting Israeli citizens and soldiers. Unfortunately, one soldier and seven civilians’ died during these attacks. Both myself and Ulpan Aviv, along with the entire nation of Israel, are today taking time to remember those who died under these terrible circumstances and of course the families that they have left behind.
Every time something like this happens, it feels like the first time. It is really hard to gather up the pieces and move on. I guess that is all just part of this terrible situation that we find ourselvesin.
I am so sorry that this post isn’t more up-beat, but I do want to tell you that I had a wonderful time with my family on our vacation. We went up to the north to a Moshav called Kalanit which was quiet and relaxing. Today is my first day back at work and I was welcomed by at least 40 e-mails that needed urgent attention and a million of things to take care of! No complaints there though, it is definitely good to be back even though I have been a bit distracted by our 18 month old baby who spent the last day of our holiday in hospital with dehydration and still isn’t fully recovered!!
Despite the rough news I wish you all a happy weekend and Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
As I believe most of you have now heard on the news, there were today, a number of terror attacks next on the Egyptian/Israeli border. A large enough number of terrorists were managed to cross the border and entered Israel with one purpose in mind; hurting Israeli citizens and soldiers. Unfortunately, one soldier and seven civilians’ died during these attacks. Both myself and Ulpan Aviv, along with the entire nation of Israel, are today taking time to remember those who died under these terrible circumstances and of course the families that they have left behind.
Every time something like this happens, it feels like the first time. It is really hard to gather up the pieces and move on. I guess that is all just part of this terrible situation that we find ourselvesin.
I am so sorry that this post isn’t more up-beat, but I do want to tell you that I had a wonderful time with my family on our vacation. We went up to the north to a Moshav called Kalanit which was quiet and relaxing. Today is my first day back at work and I was welcomed by at least 40 e-mails that needed urgent attention and a million of things to take care of! No complaints there though, it is definitely good to be back even though I have been a bit distracted by our 18 month old baby who spent the last day of our holiday in hospital with dehydration and still isn’t fully recovered!!
Despite the rough news I wish you all a happy weekend and Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Shalom! Ma Nishma?
Another week over and I hope everything is OK and that you are well. I know that I sure am now that I am officially on holiday. Even though we are not leaving to go on holiday until Sunday, by Thursday morning we had already started doing the things that we have been planning to do for ages such as horse riding, (the children have been asking to do this for the past 6 months), spending time on the beach, etc.
Needless to say that Wednesday, the day before my holiday began, was pretty intensive. I didn’t want to leave any loose ends before I left and it took quite a lot of time and effort to cram everything in. The one break I did take that day was to have a drink at lunchtime with a student-friend, Toda.
Tuesday was Tisha B'Av – which is a fast day in the Jewish calendar. The Ulpan was closed on that day and I was at home with the children all day. With fasting, I think I would have preferred being at work… ☺
I am pleased to congratulate two of my oldest students (actually, I think I mean most long-standing students, oops! Sorry ladies…) who are celebrating their birthdays. Tamara from Geneva, who had her birthday last week and to whom I wish best wishes and lots of success in all of her endeavors, and Ruth from Canada whom I wish Mazal Tov and "Good luck" with everything! Both Tamara and Ruth will be coming back to Israel in the very near future and I wish them both the maximum benefit of their staying. May you find much satisfaction in what you do. ☺
Well, I can’t hang around today; I’m off to pack my bag. Wishing you all Shabbat shalom and a pleasant week!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Needless to say that Wednesday, the day before my holiday began, was pretty intensive. I didn’t want to leave any loose ends before I left and it took quite a lot of time and effort to cram everything in. The one break I did take that day was to have a drink at lunchtime with a student-friend, Toda.
Tuesday was Tisha B'Av – which is a fast day in the Jewish calendar. The Ulpan was closed on that day and I was at home with the children all day. With fasting, I think I would have preferred being at work… ☺
I am pleased to congratulate two of my oldest students (actually, I think I mean most long-standing students, oops! Sorry ladies…) who are celebrating their birthdays. Tamara from Geneva, who had her birthday last week and to whom I wish best wishes and lots of success in all of her endeavors, and Ruth from Canada whom I wish Mazal Tov and "Good luck" with everything! Both Tamara and Ruth will be coming back to Israel in the very near future and I wish them both the maximum benefit of their staying. May you find much satisfaction in what you do. ☺
Well, I can’t hang around today; I’m off to pack my bag. Wishing you all Shabbat shalom and a pleasant week!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, August 5, 2011
Shalom! Ma Shlomchem?
I trust this blog-post finds you all well.
I have quite a bit to tell you all and am not sure where to start! This week was the beginning of the “nine day period”, which is the nine days between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha B'Av, (1st day of Av and 9th day of Av). My mum, (and many other Jews with her), says that it is not recommended to start a project, or in fact to start any sort of a process during these days. As our Temple was destroyed at this time of the year, it is widely believed that anything that is started at this time will not succeed, in other words, there is no blessing in anything that one does. I must say that this year, more than ever before, I am starting to believe that my mum is right. All students that were supposed to start their studies at Ulpan this week all had suddenly had various reasons that they had to cancel or postpone. Two from France were hospitalized; two from the UK now living in Netanya couldn’t come, as well as various Skype courses being cancelled at the last minute. Our newsletter that was supposed to be mailed to more than 500 subscribers only got through to 100 for some unknown reason, and G-d only knows what else. I have got to the point where I am saying; "everything is from now on in your hands. Just remember that I love you…☺"
In addition to all the hiccups that we have had, I have loads to do and get finished in the next week before going on a family holiday next Thursday. With Tuesday being Tisha B'Av, Ulpan will be closed for the day. As I said, lots to do in a short time……
BUT, who’s complaining? With everything that is going on in Israel at the moment, I am so thankful to be working and to be working in a field that I love!
I hope that you all have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
I have quite a bit to tell you all and am not sure where to start! This week was the beginning of the “nine day period”, which is the nine days between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha B'Av, (1st day of Av and 9th day of Av). My mum, (and many other Jews with her), says that it is not recommended to start a project, or in fact to start any sort of a process during these days. As our Temple was destroyed at this time of the year, it is widely believed that anything that is started at this time will not succeed, in other words, there is no blessing in anything that one does. I must say that this year, more than ever before, I am starting to believe that my mum is right. All students that were supposed to start their studies at Ulpan this week all had suddenly had various reasons that they had to cancel or postpone. Two from France were hospitalized; two from the UK now living in Netanya couldn’t come, as well as various Skype courses being cancelled at the last minute. Our newsletter that was supposed to be mailed to more than 500 subscribers only got through to 100 for some unknown reason, and G-d only knows what else. I have got to the point where I am saying; "everything is from now on in your hands. Just remember that I love you…☺"
In addition to all the hiccups that we have had, I have loads to do and get finished in the next week before going on a family holiday next Thursday. With Tuesday being Tisha B'Av, Ulpan will be closed for the day. As I said, lots to do in a short time……
BUT, who’s complaining? With everything that is going on in Israel at the moment, I am so thankful to be working and to be working in a field that I love!
I hope that you all have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
Friday, July 29, 2011
Shalom! Ma Nishma?
ope that you have had a good week and that everything is going smoothly.
Here in Israel and in Ulpan more specifically, there are loads of things to write about, to be honest, but I’ll start with the bigger things that are currently taking place in the Holy Land.
The protests against the government are growing wider and wider. More and more people have been out on the streets to protest about the high housing prices, petrol rates, children welfare, and almost anything else that you could think of. Although I can identify with the main ideas of some of the protests, I must say that in the past week, things seem really to be getting slightly out of hand. I am hoping that the Israeli government will be able to find a rapid and suitable solution so that we will all be able to go back to normal, (or at least as normal as one can get in this country… )
In Ulpan it has been another very busy week. Sivan, our new teacher who recently joined us in Tel Aviv, started teaching her first course this week having finished her training with me. Hearing her first student coming out from one of the lessons saying: "I really like her", definitely brought a smile to my lips. There is nothing like hearing students saying good things about our teachers in Ulpan.
On Thursday (YOM CHAMISHI), three of our students graduated. Two of the three live here in Israel and we hope to see them again soon and one of them went back to Spain. Congratulations to all of you and all the best. It has been a real pleasure to have as our students.
With so much going on, I don’t remember if I had told you about a recent article of mine that was posted on the engheb.com web-site. Here is the link in case I haven’t. http://www.ehebrew.org/articles/hebrew-grammar.php
I hope you have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Here in Israel and in Ulpan more specifically, there are loads of things to write about, to be honest, but I’ll start with the bigger things that are currently taking place in the Holy Land.
The protests against the government are growing wider and wider. More and more people have been out on the streets to protest about the high housing prices, petrol rates, children welfare, and almost anything else that you could think of. Although I can identify with the main ideas of some of the protests, I must say that in the past week, things seem really to be getting slightly out of hand. I am hoping that the Israeli government will be able to find a rapid and suitable solution so that we will all be able to go back to normal, (or at least as normal as one can get in this country… )
In Ulpan it has been another very busy week. Sivan, our new teacher who recently joined us in Tel Aviv, started teaching her first course this week having finished her training with me. Hearing her first student coming out from one of the lessons saying: "I really like her", definitely brought a smile to my lips. There is nothing like hearing students saying good things about our teachers in Ulpan.
On Thursday (YOM CHAMISHI), three of our students graduated. Two of the three live here in Israel and we hope to see them again soon and one of them went back to Spain. Congratulations to all of you and all the best. It has been a real pleasure to have as our students.
With so much going on, I don’t remember if I had told you about a recent article of mine that was posted on the engheb.com web-site. Here is the link in case I haven’t. http://www.ehebrew.org/articles/hebrew-grammar.php
I hope you have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Shalom! Ma Shlomchem?
I trust that my blog post finds you all BESEDER and well. BH I know this is how it finds me…
The past few months in Israel have been very interesting with regards to what is happening with our neighbors here in the Middle East. The wind of protest and liberation has been blowing around us all this time and it seems to have now arrived here.
It all started 2 months ago with a social protest against the rising petrol prices, continuing with protests against the rising cost of dairy products (historical), and is now reaching a climax with nurses and doctors protesting about their remuneration and more importantly their working conditions and the conditions for the patients in hospital and even protesting due to the price of housing in the Holyland.
People are currently out on the streets (literally), living in tents to show the government how bad things have become for them. It is all very interesting following what is happening in our world today, and I am sure that it will go down in the pages of our history books as being a period of change in the world as we know it.
Other than that, it has been another very busy week in Ulpan. Sivan has joined us on the Ulpan Aviv team and is currently training for her new role with me as a teacher. We are delighted to welcome her into our team.
Training a new teacher is a big commitment for me, including many hours with the teacher, explaining Ulpan Aviv’s ethos and values as well as our approach, both to our students and to learning. It is a time in which I love to expose new teachers to, what I call the wonders of the Hebrew language.
To conclude, I would like to share with you a link to a website run by a former student of mine, dealing with Jewish culture. Knowing Jean, I am sure that you will find some interesting issues there to read about, and I know you will find some good entertainment. http://h2hinterface.com
I hope you had a great weekend, full of joy and sun!
Shavua tov,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
The past few months in Israel have been very interesting with regards to what is happening with our neighbors here in the Middle East. The wind of protest and liberation has been blowing around us all this time and it seems to have now arrived here.
It all started 2 months ago with a social protest against the rising petrol prices, continuing with protests against the rising cost of dairy products (historical), and is now reaching a climax with nurses and doctors protesting about their remuneration and more importantly their working conditions and the conditions for the patients in hospital and even protesting due to the price of housing in the Holyland.
People are currently out on the streets (literally), living in tents to show the government how bad things have become for them. It is all very interesting following what is happening in our world today, and I am sure that it will go down in the pages of our history books as being a period of change in the world as we know it.
Other than that, it has been another very busy week in Ulpan. Sivan has joined us on the Ulpan Aviv team and is currently training for her new role with me as a teacher. We are delighted to welcome her into our team.
Training a new teacher is a big commitment for me, including many hours with the teacher, explaining Ulpan Aviv’s ethos and values as well as our approach, both to our students and to learning. It is a time in which I love to expose new teachers to, what I call the wonders of the Hebrew language.
To conclude, I would like to share with you a link to a website run by a former student of mine, dealing with Jewish culture. Knowing Jean, I am sure that you will find some interesting issues there to read about, and I know you will find some good entertainment. http://h2hinterface.com
I hope you had a great weekend, full of joy and sun!
Shavua tov,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, July 15, 2011
Shalom!
I hope all is well with you all and that you are having a great summer so far.
We have had a mad but great week here at Ulpan. More and more people have called to enquire about, and to reserve their Hebrew course. Among them both Olim Chadashim (new immigrants), and people visiting Israel both to see their families or just as a tourist. Some of our regular students are away for the summer and therefore, they will be continuing their studies with us with our on-line programs and so we’ve happily got a lot on our hands at the moment . It’s great to be able to keep in touch from so far away! Saray (the other teacher in TA) and me went to south Tel Aviv this week to look for some furniture that we needed here at the Ulpan. We had already heard about an area in south Tel Aviv where many stores are located, and so we headed on down there. After a 20 minute journey we found ourselves wandering from one store to another looking at furniture, (and a few items that I would not dare call furniture…). It was tiring and very hot but in the end we found what we had gone for; two nice and comfortable arm chairs, one green and one purple (not as bad as it sounds) to match the ulpan colors. (Have you checked out the new web site yet?)
This week I also finally found the time to organize the book display, which turned out to be real therapy for me; working with tools, measuring and banging holes in the wall. Just what the doctor ordered!
On Thursday I came to the end of an on-line course with a very dear student from England. We have known each other for the past almost 2 years and this was our second course on-line. Graduation days are always a bit bitter-sweet….
Before I finish, I must recommend a documentary that I saw this week. It was directed by a very famous Israeli journalist named Emanuel Rozen. Emanuel had heard that in the newly established state of Southern Sudan, the population is very pro-Israel and keen on having Israel as an ally. Emanuel Rozen went there to research what he had heard. It was so interesting to see and can really recommend that you watch it. (half Hebrew and half English). Here is the link:
http://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-mako/documentary-s1/VOD-6e79501bf291131006.htm
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
We have had a mad but great week here at Ulpan. More and more people have called to enquire about, and to reserve their Hebrew course. Among them both Olim Chadashim (new immigrants), and people visiting Israel both to see their families or just as a tourist. Some of our regular students are away for the summer and therefore, they will be continuing their studies with us with our on-line programs and so we’ve happily got a lot on our hands at the moment . It’s great to be able to keep in touch from so far away! Saray (the other teacher in TA) and me went to south Tel Aviv this week to look for some furniture that we needed here at the Ulpan. We had already heard about an area in south Tel Aviv where many stores are located, and so we headed on down there. After a 20 minute journey we found ourselves wandering from one store to another looking at furniture, (and a few items that I would not dare call furniture…). It was tiring and very hot but in the end we found what we had gone for; two nice and comfortable arm chairs, one green and one purple (not as bad as it sounds) to match the ulpan colors. (Have you checked out the new web site yet?)
This week I also finally found the time to organize the book display, which turned out to be real therapy for me; working with tools, measuring and banging holes in the wall. Just what the doctor ordered!
On Thursday I came to the end of an on-line course with a very dear student from England. We have known each other for the past almost 2 years and this was our second course on-line. Graduation days are always a bit bitter-sweet….
Before I finish, I must recommend a documentary that I saw this week. It was directed by a very famous Israeli journalist named Emanuel Rozen. Emanuel had heard that in the newly established state of Southern Sudan, the population is very pro-Israel and keen on having Israel as an ally. Emanuel Rozen went there to research what he had heard. It was so interesting to see and can really recommend that you watch it. (half Hebrew and half English). Here is the link:
http://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-mako/documentary-s1/VOD-6e79501bf291131006.htm
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, July 8, 2011
Shalom Lekulam! Ma Nishma?
Well summer is now well under way with the heat wave that normally arrives at the beginning of June, arriving just last week. The beaches here in Tel Aviv are sunnier than ever. As I have already mentioned in previous blogs, the Tel Aviv Ulpan is very close to the beach and so while students in Jerusalem used to come for lessons after praying at the Kotel, here in Tel Aviv they come after a swim in the sea. I have also previously mentioned that I am in the process of collecting data about the differences in teaching Hebrew in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. When I have any information, you will be the first to know… (great that English does not have number distinction in verbs and I can write "you" and mean each of you).
Sunday of this week saw the launch of Ulpan Aviv’s first Newsletter. Our intention is to publish a newsletter at the beginning of every Hebrew month, which is aimed at keeping everyone informed of what is going on at the Ulpan and to help us keep in contact with our students, (past, present and future). This month's newsletter spoke about the month of Tamuz as well as giving details regarding recent events here at Ulpan Aviv. We also launched a new campaign called: "Ask the Experts". People can write to us during the month to ask any question that they may have about the Hebrew language. Every month one question will be selected and published with the answer (we won’t publish a name if the enquirer prefers that we don’t). The sender of the published question will receive a gift of 4 Aviv On-Line lessons (via Skype). You can send any questions that you may have directly to me at: gil@ulpanaviv.com
Today here in Israel we are expecting a demonstration of approximately 50-60 people, mainly from Europe, demonstrating against Israel. On arrival at the airport they are intending to say that they are coming to visit Palestine. It is needless to say what I think of this but I would like to insist that the state of Israel has every right to be acknowledged. She is very much alive and well and if we could only open a dialogue from this starting point, then I think we may have a better chance of reaching some conclusion.
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom, and if you are planning a visit in the holy land, don’t forget to stop by…
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Sunday of this week saw the launch of Ulpan Aviv’s first Newsletter. Our intention is to publish a newsletter at the beginning of every Hebrew month, which is aimed at keeping everyone informed of what is going on at the Ulpan and to help us keep in contact with our students, (past, present and future). This month's newsletter spoke about the month of Tamuz as well as giving details regarding recent events here at Ulpan Aviv. We also launched a new campaign called: "Ask the Experts". People can write to us during the month to ask any question that they may have about the Hebrew language. Every month one question will be selected and published with the answer (we won’t publish a name if the enquirer prefers that we don’t). The sender of the published question will receive a gift of 4 Aviv On-Line lessons (via Skype). You can send any questions that you may have directly to me at: gil@ulpanaviv.com
Today here in Israel we are expecting a demonstration of approximately 50-60 people, mainly from Europe, demonstrating against Israel. On arrival at the airport they are intending to say that they are coming to visit Palestine. It is needless to say what I think of this but I would like to insist that the state of Israel has every right to be acknowledged. She is very much alive and well and if we could only open a dialogue from this starting point, then I think we may have a better chance of reaching some conclusion.
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom, and if you are planning a visit in the holy land, don’t forget to stop by…
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Shalom Lekulam! Ma Shlomchem?
I hope the past week was a good one for all. For me at Ulpan, it has been a packed and exciting week. With having our first student coming in to our new branch in Tel Aviv, where I am located permanently at the moment and upgrading our PR and advertising campaign, there was not much time left for anything else. This week our first newsletter was finally written. Our newsletter is going to be published once a month, on Rosh Chodesh (the first day of every Hebrew month). Since Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbat (02-07), it was very important for me that everything would stick to schedule so we could publish on time. Finishing up our mailing list and making a contact with a distribution company, writing the content and working on the graphics happily occupied my time for the past few days. You can all join our newsletter by subscribing on our new web site. On the home page you will find the details of how to subscribe at: www.ulpanaviv.com
Please feel free to write me any comments you may have. Of course, complements would also be welcome… (gil@ulpanaviv.com)☺.
Another thing worked on this week was to continue with our new prospectus. Everyone who expresses an interest or who comes for an evaluation will be given a guide to all our different Hebrew courses with all the relevant information and accompanied with lovely graphics made by Avishag Danino, our in-house graphic designer.
On a personal level, on Wednesday we celebrated our oldest son's 5th birthday. Friends from his Gan (kindergarten) came and Lea, my wife was in charge of all the activities whereas I was in charge of the "strategic" side (someone needs to, I am not complaining).
I wish you all שבת שלום, and invite you for a visit!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Please feel free to write me any comments you may have. Of course, complements would also be welcome… (gil@ulpanaviv.com)☺.
Another thing worked on this week was to continue with our new prospectus. Everyone who expresses an interest or who comes for an evaluation will be given a guide to all our different Hebrew courses with all the relevant information and accompanied with lovely graphics made by Avishag Danino, our in-house graphic designer.
On a personal level, on Wednesday we celebrated our oldest son's 5th birthday. Friends from his Gan (kindergarten) came and Lea, my wife was in charge of all the activities whereas I was in charge of the "strategic" side (someone needs to, I am not complaining).
I wish you all שבת שלום, and invite you for a visit!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Shalom Lekulam! Ma Nishma?
It’s official! Summer has finally arrived. Tuesday was the first day of the summer break in Israel (apart from elementary schools and kindergartens), and I assume for many other places in the world too. Over the past month there has a big effort here to shorten the summer vacation by 7-10 days, meaning that students would be going back to school around the 23rd August. Most parents, including myself, were not too happy about the last minute notice as the vast majority of us have already made all our plans for the summer and this proposal would have had a big impact on them. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with my beloved ‘littlies’ going back to school a bit sooner, (nor does my dear wife who has to keep them occupied and out of trouble all summer!). We will be happy to support the decision next year…
This past week has been ‘SHVUA HASEFER’ ("Book Week") both in Israel and also in our Ulpan. It is one week in the year that reminds us all of the importance of literacy, of reading books and printed material and not just watching the television and listening to talkbacks on the web. I personally think that 2 weeks would be more appropriate, considering the poor literacy levels that are currently found in the teenage and adult population both in Israel and world-wide.
This week was also our first official week in our new branch in Tel Aviv. As I have already told you, I was "exiled" from the main branch in Jerusalem and sent off to spread Ulpan Aviv’s "Torah" here, in the wild city ☺! It has been a very intensive week with our first students arriving to study with us. Needless to say how much I’ve enjoyed it!
I wanted to finish this week’s blog by letting you all know that OUR NEW WEBSITE HAS FINALLY BEEN LAUNCHED! A lot of work and effort has been put in to it and I would like to thank everyone involved, especially Tamara Mann, our friend and student who was worked hard to adapt my Israeli English…
Take a look at the new website (www.ulpanaviv.com) and feel free to send me any comments that you may have. (Compliments are also always welcome! ☺ ) gil@ulpanaviv.com
Wish you all שבת שלום , and hoping to see you soon!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
This past week has been ‘SHVUA HASEFER’ ("Book Week") both in Israel and also in our Ulpan. It is one week in the year that reminds us all of the importance of literacy, of reading books and printed material and not just watching the television and listening to talkbacks on the web. I personally think that 2 weeks would be more appropriate, considering the poor literacy levels that are currently found in the teenage and adult population both in Israel and world-wide.
This week was also our first official week in our new branch in Tel Aviv. As I have already told you, I was "exiled" from the main branch in Jerusalem and sent off to spread Ulpan Aviv’s "Torah" here, in the wild city ☺! It has been a very intensive week with our first students arriving to study with us. Needless to say how much I’ve enjoyed it!
I wanted to finish this week’s blog by letting you all know that OUR NEW WEBSITE HAS FINALLY BEEN LAUNCHED! A lot of work and effort has been put in to it and I would like to thank everyone involved, especially Tamara Mann, our friend and student who was worked hard to adapt my Israeli English…
Take a look at the new website (www.ulpanaviv.com) and feel free to send me any comments that you may have. (Compliments are also always welcome! ☺ ) gil@ulpanaviv.com
Wish you all שבת שלום , and hoping to see you soon!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, June 17, 2011
Shalom Lekulam!
I hope you are all fighting fit and that your plans for the summer are going well. As far as for my (our) plans go, I think we started to make our plans a little bit later than we should have. Last year all the family, (around 20 in total), went on holiday together and we wanted to do the same thing this year. Having called many resorts all over Israel, I have come to the conclusion that we maybe should have started planning right after Pessach (Mid April)… I really hope that we will find a big enough place and be able to go on holiday together.
This week at Ulpan was one big “déja vu”. It took me back to 2 years ago when we opened Ulpan Aviv’s (first) branch in Jerusalem. Electricians, furniture suppliers, carpenters, dust everywhere, and of course, a lot of work and suspense. We will be opening doors for the first time on Sunday morning to our very first students who learn Hebrew with us here in Tel Aviv. To start off there will be two teachers, and then when things get going we will of course need more. I will be teaching full time at the Tel Aviv branch with the other teacher, Sarai Pentzak. Yes, you are right, that name does sound familiar. Sarai is in fact is my younger sister. Our mother is an Ulpan teacher and so it doesn’t come as a great surprise that, (as we say in Hebrew), 2 of the apples did not fall very far away from the tree.
I am sure that teaching Hebrew in Tel Aviv will be a different experience from teaching it in Jerusalem and as anyone who knows anything about the two cities knows, they are very different, almost unrecognizable as sisters. The two cities are a great representation of the Hebrew language which has on one hand strong roots in the history of our nation, (all the way to the biblical era), but on the other hand has been and is going through such great changes to adapt itself to modern day culture. Teaching and learning in the two cities is bound to be different but the same. I guess it is hard to explain really…...
In any case, wish you all שבת שלום , and hoping to see you here soon!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
This week at Ulpan was one big “déja vu”. It took me back to 2 years ago when we opened Ulpan Aviv’s (first) branch in Jerusalem. Electricians, furniture suppliers, carpenters, dust everywhere, and of course, a lot of work and suspense. We will be opening doors for the first time on Sunday morning to our very first students who learn Hebrew with us here in Tel Aviv. To start off there will be two teachers, and then when things get going we will of course need more. I will be teaching full time at the Tel Aviv branch with the other teacher, Sarai Pentzak. Yes, you are right, that name does sound familiar. Sarai is in fact is my younger sister. Our mother is an Ulpan teacher and so it doesn’t come as a great surprise that, (as we say in Hebrew), 2 of the apples did not fall very far away from the tree.
I am sure that teaching Hebrew in Tel Aviv will be a different experience from teaching it in Jerusalem and as anyone who knows anything about the two cities knows, they are very different, almost unrecognizable as sisters. The two cities are a great representation of the Hebrew language which has on one hand strong roots in the history of our nation, (all the way to the biblical era), but on the other hand has been and is going through such great changes to adapt itself to modern day culture. Teaching and learning in the two cities is bound to be different but the same. I guess it is hard to explain really…...
In any case, wish you all שבת שלום , and hoping to see you here soon!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Shalom Lekulam!
I think that we would struggle to find anyone in Israel complaining about working this week, me included. Not that I don’t like my job, on the contrary, but having a week that starts with two days at work (Rishon, Sheni) and then two days holiday (Chag Shavuot) and back for just one day before the weekend (Chamishi), what more can a man ask for J ?
The Chag was really fantastic. Being with all the family, eating all the delicious traditional dairy dishes. We (my brothers and I) were up the whole night studying the customary texts for the night of Shavuot.
At Ulpan things are continuing to progress well, thank G-d, and I am writing this blog for the first time from the new branch in Tel Aviv! Bit by bit it is becoming more and more like Ulpan Aviv. Hopefully all the renovations will be finished by the end of the week (today…) or by Sunday at the latest and after that there remains the last pieces of furniture to be delivered the phone lines and internet to be connected, and then off we go.
I promise to send some pictures once everything is up and running and of course, you are all invited to come and visit when you are in the vicinity or even better, to study here!
שבת שלום!
Hope to see you soon,
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- director
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Shalom Lekulam!
I hope you all had a pleasant and successful week. My week was packed full of events with my new little nephew’s Brit Mila (circumcision) on Tuesday and International Child Day on Wednesday. Also on Tuesday was my younger son’s third birthday celebration. For many sections of the Jewish community the third birthday is a special one. At three years of age boys have their very first hair-cut and begin to wear a kippa. It was very exciting time for my wife Lea and me. They grow up so quickly….
Talking of happy occasions, the renovations for Ulpan Aviv’s new branch in Tel Aviv are almost complete. There are only a few little things left to do and today, Yigael, one of the co-directors and I, went to do all the shopping necessary for the new location. It was great to be out of the Jerusalem office and on site at the Tel Aviv centre, although my back may need a day or two to recover from carrying desks, chairs, pictures, cupboards, plants and stationary!
On Wednesday it was YOM YERUSHALAYIM. Yom Yerushalayim is the day on which we celebrate the unification of the city if Jerusalem which took place in 1967. At this time Jerusalem was liberated from Jordanian rule and after almost 2000 years, returned to the Jewish nation. There was a march through Jerusalem involving thousands of people who came to give support to the city whose future is all so often at stake. It was a very moving sight.
Tonight (Thursday) is Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan (Hebrew calendar) which means that next week on Wednesday it will be Chag Shavuot, the day we received the Torah on Mt. Sinai.
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom veChag Sameach!
Hope to see you soon,
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, May 27, 2011
Shalom Lekulam!
I hope this post finds you all well, happy, and starting to make your plans for this coming summer. Here in Israel, we are starting to feel the summer approaching with a heat-wave expected in the next few weeks and forecast temperatures of up to 40 degrees in Eilat this weekend! Any of you who need some sun, now is the time.
I was just saying to Yigael, co-director of the Ulpan, this week that I am feeling a bit like Noach (Noah) before the Mabul (the heavy rain). Noach was preparing himself for a reality that he had had no way of experiencing before and had no way of being totally ready, and I am feeling a bit the same way. (Indulge me if I am being a bit dramatic!)
As I told you all before, we are now working (hard!) on a quite a few big things; a new website, opening a branch in Tel Aviv, new advertising campaign, new staff members coming in, and so forth. Don’t get me wrong, I love the hard work creating and renewing, but like I said, I am feeling a bit like Noah…
Today, Thursday, we will hopefully sign contract with the new premises in Tel Aviv and starting renovating them at the beginning of next week. I promise to post some pictures once the renovations are done and we are up and running.
This week amongst other things, we also launched a short film clip about the Ulpan on YouTube. Take a look and let me know what you think at gil@ulpanaviv.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEARwMli0g
Hope you all have a beautiful weekend and a restful Shabbat!
Shabbat Shalom le kulam!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- director
I was just saying to Yigael, co-director of the Ulpan, this week that I am feeling a bit like Noach (Noah) before the Mabul (the heavy rain). Noach was preparing himself for a reality that he had had no way of experiencing before and had no way of being totally ready, and I am feeling a bit the same way. (Indulge me if I am being a bit dramatic!)
As I told you all before, we are now working (hard!) on a quite a few big things; a new website, opening a branch in Tel Aviv, new advertising campaign, new staff members coming in, and so forth. Don’t get me wrong, I love the hard work creating and renewing, but like I said, I am feeling a bit like Noah…
Today, Thursday, we will hopefully sign contract with the new premises in Tel Aviv and starting renovating them at the beginning of next week. I promise to post some pictures once the renovations are done and we are up and running.
This week amongst other things, we also launched a short film clip about the Ulpan on YouTube. Take a look and let me know what you think at gil@ulpanaviv.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEARwMli0g
Hope you all have a beautiful weekend and a restful Shabbat!
Shabbat Shalom le kulam!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- director
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Shalom!
Well, although we haven’t had any festivals, holidays etc., it has been an exciting week here at the Ulpan.
I’ve been out and about, giving lessons in the Wohl Rose Garden, next to the Knesset in Jerusalem, and today at the Independence Museum in Tel Aviv. It is always great fun to see the Hebrew that we have seen in the classroom setting, ‘coming to life’, when we are out and about.
Another really exciting development this week for Ulpan Aviv is that we have found permanent premises for our Tel Aviv branch. As soon as the renovations are done and the new furniture and equipment etc., is bought, I am proud to be able to announce that we will be opening the doors of the new Ulpan which will be in Beit Isra-Airl, on Ben Yehuda Street. I love the location (which is only meters from the beach) with Eliezer Ben Yehuda, being the father of Modern Hebrew!
In addition to all that, our web site is virtually ready to be launched and should be, G-d willing, sometime next week and I’ve been asked to write another article for the "engheb.com" web site!
Well, that’s my news for this week. Better be off. No time to waste…
Shabbat Shalom le kulam!
I’ve been out and about, giving lessons in the Wohl Rose Garden, next to the Knesset in Jerusalem, and today at the Independence Museum in Tel Aviv. It is always great fun to see the Hebrew that we have seen in the classroom setting, ‘coming to life’, when we are out and about.
Another really exciting development this week for Ulpan Aviv is that we have found permanent premises for our Tel Aviv branch. As soon as the renovations are done and the new furniture and equipment etc., is bought, I am proud to be able to announce that we will be opening the doors of the new Ulpan which will be in Beit Isra-Airl, on Ben Yehuda Street. I love the location (which is only meters from the beach) with Eliezer Ben Yehuda, being the father of Modern Hebrew!
In addition to all that, our web site is virtually ready to be launched and should be, G-d willing, sometime next week and I’ve been asked to write another article for the "engheb.com" web site!
Well, that’s my news for this week. Better be off. No time to waste…
Shabbat Shalom le kulam!
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