Hebrew @ Wesleyan Biblical Hebrew was taught at Wesleyan for the first time in 1838. On January 2, 1838, the faculty of Wesleyan University recommended that "a department be established in Hebrew language and sacred literature" and that the Rev. William M. Willett be the Hebrew teacher  "with the aim ...that he should become permanently connected with the University as Professor of Hebrew." In 1842 President Bang expanded the number of University departments from seven to eleven and added the Hebrew department . The following paragraph, which is taken from Classic of March 1842,  describes the Hebrew department: This department numbers more students than at any former period. It is due to those who, in addition to their regular studies, voluntarily undertake the Hebrew, to say that they are earnest scholars..... (Wesleyan First Century by Carl F. Price page 66) Also at  that year Rev. Willett became professor of Hebrew and the founder and president of the Newbury Biblical Institute in Vermont. The addition of Hebrew and ecclesiastical history to the curriculum was probably made in order to establish Wesleyan as theological school. Following Rev. Willett, other clergy professors taught Hebrew at Wesleyan. Upon examination of Wesleyan Alumni Records one can establish a continuity of teaching Hebrew from 1838 until 1880. No records are found regarding teaching Hebrew after 1880. Perhaps this change is due to Wesleyan's shift in curriculum and the University moving towards a more secular academic environment and therefore placing more emphasis on Science and modern languages. The teaching of Modern Hebrew was initiated when the University  hired Prof. Jeremy Zwelling  for  the first tenure track position in Judaica in 1967. One of the very first things that Prof. Zwelling did is to hire a Hebrew Instructor. By 1971 the Hebrew course offering already included a sequence of 5 courses: Introductory yearly courses, Intermediate yearly courses and the Advanced Literature Course.  Hebrew was taught  ever since except that now there is an Advanced Tutorial Course which is offered to those students with Advanced Hebrew skills. Hebrew at Wesleyan today is innovative, dynamic and geared towards the cultural and literature enrichment of the language. Well known scholars and writers from Israel come each semester and participate in conversations with the students. In February 2002 Wesleyan faculty passed unanimously the proposal to implement a Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate program. Any 2 Hebrew courses taken at Wesleyan are counted towards the course requirements for this Certificate. Home Intro Contact Courses Events Programs History Links