In the school in Rishon L’Tziyon, Israel’s first settlement, only Hebrew is spoken. Even the little queen tries to follow this rule. After all, she made a promise to her adored teacher. But what will she do tomorrow when Baron Rothschild comes to visit? A historic story about the first Israeli school to teach strictly in Hebrew, and about a love of the language.
Age Group: Preschool (4-6)
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InspirationWhat was it like to attend the first Hebrew-speaking kindergarten and Hebrew-speaking school, while speaking another language at home? Life’s complexities during this exciting time, when the Hebrew language was revived, are revealed through young Milka’s dilemma, as is the determination needed to grapple with it.
“My soul was alight with the fire of love for the Hebrew language, which the vast floods of flowing life that followed could not quench”
(Eliezer Ben Yehuda, in The Dream and its Fulfilment – Selected Writings on Linguistics)
The First Hebrew-Speaking School
The school in Rishon LeZion was bult in 1886 and, in 1888, following the initiative raised by teacher David Yudilovitz, all subjects were taught in Hebrew. Thus, through the schoolchildren, Hebrew took root in the moshava’s everyday life. The schoolteachers instilled the love of Eretz Yisrael in their students, teaching them Hebrew songs, and writing school textbooks in Hebrew. This school is now known as the Haviv School.
Publishing:
כנרת
Year of Distribution:
Tashpah 2024-2025
