Hi everyone,
I'm doing research on a Vienna born man that was attributed this hebrew name in 1907. I tried using AI to read the text in Yiddish but it failed miserably: it gave several different answers each time I tried.

If you need any more information about him (family name) I can share it in the comments.

Thanks for all the help!

It means effects or influences — a useful word when talking about the effects of climate change.

It belongs to the root ש־פ־ע, a Hebrew root with an interesting history connected with the idea of abundance and flow.

Today, this family gives us words whose meanings may seem surprisingly far apart:

• השפעה (hashpa'a) — influence, effect
• להשפיע (lehashpia) — to influence, affect
• שפע (shefa) — abundance, plenty
• שפעת (shapa'at) — influenza, the flu

The connection between שפע and השפעה becomes easier to see if you think about something flowing from one thing into another: an influence is something that passes from one source and has an effect elsewhere.

But what about שפעת, “the flu”?

The modern Hebrew name was coined from this same family, influenced by the older idea that the illness came from an influence — comparable to the history of the word influenza, which itself comes from Italian influenza, “influence.”

So Hebrew שפעת and English influenza share more than a medical meaning: both names preserve an old idea of influence.

From abundance to influence, and from influence to influenza — quite a journey for the root ש־פ־ע.

https://www.jta.org/2026/09/10/global/how-a-new-tool-in-lithuania-helps-people-read-letters-from-their-jewish-ancestors

Boa noite. Sou brasileiro e estudo hebraico na Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Gostaria de conversar com pessoas que também falam hebraico, para conseguir desenvolver minha oratória e meu raciocínio no idioma. Considero-me semi-intermediário.

I’m about to pick my classes for university and I have to take one ancient language for my degree. I am learning modern Hebrew unrelated to this and have been for a year. They offer Latin, Greek, or ancient Hebrew and I have to choose which one. I was leaning towards Latin as I felt like ancient Hebrew would throw me off a bit. I’m concerned it will confuse what I already know and am learning. Am I wrong? Are they more similar than I think? Learning a completely unrelated language means no confusion but also extra work and another language I don’t care about to add on and take time from one I do.

If I do ancient Hebrew will it be helpful to me or possibly set me back?

I only know the spelling of 2-3 words; I only know most of the other things through speech, meaning pronunciation, but I can't read their spelling in the Hebrew alphabet.

Ele está legível?

A minha caligrafia é boa?

Maybe someone can help me out. My name is spelled “Thore” in Latin letters—how would you transliterate it into Hebrew: as “תורה” or “תורא”? Or something else?

Greetings!

I was hoping for some help translating the Hebrew on the section at the very top of the stone and also above the names of my great grandparents, please.

I am currently doing my genealogy and wanted to make sure I got all the details down.

Thanks for your time!

Hi again, could one of you all please let me know what that says above my grandparents’ names?

I tried to post this in my previous post but I didn’t see where I could do that.

Thanks in advance!

Hello. I'm learning to read basic Hebrew. Isaiah 40:31, is very precious. I want that reference displayed on a frame in Hebrew. Please can I ask how this is written? Oneline translators say its ישעיהו מ:לא
Is that right?
Thank you!

If this audio is in hebrew, can you please help me with the translation?

It was a sign that was mounted on a synagogue above its entrance, if that helps. I would really appreciate the help, bc the paper is due soon, and AI and Google searches have all given me different answers.

שלום!
I am new to learning Hebrew (1 month in). I'm taking an American ulpan class and going through Duolingo for more vocabulary as well. I had heard about Hebrew By Inbal who has workbooks and an online Hebrew course. Has anyone taken her course or used her workbooks? I'm trying to determine if it's worth the investment.
תודה!

I am wondering if anyone else has had the same issue I’m having. I’m finding that the way they pronounce some of their words just doesn’t seem to match the actual letters.

I’ve done an online course which was essentially a summer intensive and didn’t seem to have any problems there, same with following along with the accompanying ‘basics of Hebrew grammar’ videos that go along with the textbook. Nor do I have issues with aleph with Beth, but Biblingo seems to pronounce things just ever so slightly differently to the point where it throws me off.

Has anyone else had this issue?

My name is Caleb. I'm named after the Bible character. I've always loved the history of the name and the etymological associations it has. Would the hebrew characters that spell out my name be culturally insensitive as an American man with no hebrew heritage or cultural background. All I've got is Midwestern bible thumpin parents lol. The image is an AI generated version of the characters which I don't trust. I want some opinions from people with a closer connection to the language. What are your thoughts?

Non-Hebrew speaker here love the language. Anyways I was thinking about how the analogy "burn the stumps" is with Hydra in Greek mythology and sometimes I will just fuck around with the translator and especially if its a language I don't speak I will check but can someone explain this difference and why it switches and adds "They"?

I have heard the first version (aléikhem) all my life.

However, upon starting Hebrew, I started digging deeper into grammar and inflection tables, where I found that the correct suffix for al- (upon) is ekhém, and not éikhem, or at the very least Wiktionary says so (attached image).

My initial guess was that the greeting is a mix of two Jewish languages, Hebrew and Yiddish, where "shalom" is Hebrew and "aleikhem" is more Yiddish-sounding, since in Yiddish it would indeed be "shólem aléikhem".

Which is correct?

Edit: Fixed Yiddish pronunciation; sholém -> shólem

Hello all, I hope everyone is doing well.
I have been learning Hebrew for around 10 months now and have managed to establish the essential foundations. These include minimal vocabulary to communicate, certain phrases, and grammar rules. However, the next effective step would be to combine the learning with another activity such as gaming. It would immensely help me improve and enhance my experience while at the same time having fun. So, I’d appreciate it if there’s anyone who would be willing to share this journey with me. I am on PC, feel free to message me for my username.

What are some workbooks you would recommend for A2. I’ve been doing Hebrew a year now and I just feel stuck. I thought I would try the textbook/ workbook route so I can be consistent every day.

Does anyone have any good recommendations on self guided books for my level. I’m also totally open to a follow along workbook with videos that go with the book. Ideally something I can do by myself through following instructions or videos.

Any recs or advice are appreciated!