A question about learning Hebrew

Ronald Quick

I am just starting to learn the alphabet and Futato in Beginning Biblical Hebrew recommends learning to write the letters.

However, his book has the block letters and The First Hebrew Primer has block and script (which looks very different on some letters.)  I am assuming that the block is what is printed in the BHS so I don't know often I would see the script?  Do I need to learn to read and write both the block and script?

Thanks.

Ronald Quick

Here is a screen shot.

 

Kevin Becker

You probably won't encounter script unless you want to read modern hand-written Hebrew or translate directly from some scrolls/manuscripts. Focus on learning the block shapes. If you discover you are encountering the script in your studies you can pick up those letters then, but I doubt you'll need too. Someone with more Hebrew expertise may chime in here but I haven't ever needed the script, knowing the block/print forms has served me well.

Eric Weiss

For Biblical Hebrew I've only used block lettering, as it is a simplified rendering of Biblical Hebrew letters as printed in Hebrew Bibles. Script, which I've not learned but know I ought to, is how modern-day Israelis write Hebrew, though their newspapers, etc., are printed with the Block lettering (but without the vowel points). When I visited Israel a few years ago, I realized it would have been helpful to have been able to read Script so I could phonemically read some of the signs I saw.

Ronald Quick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/425716#Comment_425716

That's what I thought, but it's nice to have some confirmation.

TCBlack

It depends on what you want to do. 

On the one hand, today all the produced resources are using the block form. So if you stick to learning jut the block you should be alright. 

On the other hand, (you have fingers), If you're going to get involved with written correspondence, learn the script too.