Hebrew

Hebrew is a Semitic language and the official language of Israel, spoken by approximately 9.3 million people worldwide. Hebrew is unique among world languages as the most successful example of language revival — it was revived as a spoken vernacular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries after existing primarily as a liturgical and literary language for nearly two millennia.

In Australia, Hebrew speakers number approximately 22,000 according to the 2021 Census. The Jewish-Australian community, within which Hebrew speakers are concentrated, is one of Australia's oldest and most established cultural communities. Hebrew-speaking Australians include Israeli migrants and their families, as well as members of the broader Jewish community who have studied or lived in Israel. Communities are concentrated in Melbourne (particularly Caulfield, St Kilda East, and surrounding suburbs) and Sydney (Bondi, Dover Heights, and the North Shore).

Hebrew is written in the Hebrew alphabet, a 22-character abjad reading right-to-left. In its standard form, vowels are largely unwritten, though a system of diacritical marks (nikkud) can be added for clarity in educational, religious, and children's texts. Modern Hebrew has incorporated extensive vocabulary from Arabic, Yiddish, Russian, English, and other languages reflecting Israel's diverse immigrant population.

The Hebrew-speaking community in Australia is well-established, highly educated, and professionally engaged. Hebrew serves both as a community language for Israeli Australians and as a cultural and religious language for the broader Jewish community. Hebrew education through Jewish day schools and community programs maintains language knowledge across generations.

For organisations, Hebrew serves a specific cultural community and also has relevance for trade, academic, and diplomatic engagement with Israel. Healthcare, legal services, education, and community engagement benefit from Hebrew-language options.