Understanding Language Use in Israel
The Status of Hebrew in Israel Hebrew is the official language of Israel, serving as a unifying cultural and national identity symbol. It traces its origins to ancient biblical times. Revived in the late 19th century, it has become the principal language for daily communication, government, and education. The revitalization effort was spearheaded by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who is often known as the father of modern Hebrew. From a historical perspective, Hebrew’s role as the national language reestablished a crucial cultural link for the Jewish people. Today, Hebrew is spoken by over 80% of the Israeli population as their primary language....