National Center for the Hebrew Language (NCHL), records

The records of the National Center for the Hebrew Language represent its work to promote the learning of Hebrew by adult Jews in the United States, especially in reading and speaking. Its structure, mission, and activities are documented in both early meeting notes and papers pertaining to the formation of NCHL (its prehistory) and, once it was formally set up, in various files of NCHL meeting minutes, reports, budget proposals, lists of goals for the future, and action plans which augment the meeting notes and minutes. Its efforts to network with other organizations are implicit in this material, rather than being a clearly-defined separate body of data. Its advocacy for learning Hebrew is reflected in paper copies of key website pages, and in NCHL press releases and general promotional literature. Its publications files and education activities files document NCHL efforts to provide resources for studying Hebrew. Its public program activities are represented by programs of the Ulpans, and announcements of the "Lit thru Lunch" events and of the Hanukkah concerts; there are also two files of photographs, which contain several group photos of what appear to be various Hebrew language classes. Reaction to the activities of the National Center for the Hebrew Language is reflected in the media coverage files.

Some folders contain material which is not evident from their labels. These include Folder 1, which has a signed letter from the novelist Herman Wouk; Folder 10, which contains NCHL's Documentation of Incorporation as a Non-Profit on May 13, 1996; Folder 27, which includes sheet music for various Hebrew songs, including Hatikvah); Folder 34, which holds extensive biographical information on the writer Abraham B. Yehoshua; Folder 37, which provides the NCHL Vision Statement, along with text on NCHL accomplishments as they are described on the organization's website (URL: www.ivrit.org); Folder 40, which has publication information in addition to a list of issues on the NCHL newsletter Ivrit Now, namely, that it ceased publication with the v. VII (2) Spring-Summer 2004 issue, and that its usual frequency was 3 times a year; and Folder 44, whose photographic material consists of slides and negatives.

Other notes pertaining to material in the folders with print material (Folders 1-41) include the following: The material is in English, unless otherwise noted. In the events folders for GA meetings (Folders 25-30), the organization meeting is the General Assembly ("GA") of the Council of Jewish Federations. In Folder 20, the book by Alvin Schiff was originally paired with one by the NCHL Executive Director, Joseph Lowin, entitled Hebrew Talk: 101 Hebrew Roots and the Stories They Tell (Oakland, CA: EKS Publishing Co., 2004). This latter title was removed from the NCHL archives and was added to the American Jewish Historical Society Library.

The types of material found in this collection include books, documents, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, reports, and one serial, Ivrit Now.

The collection is in English and Hebrew.

The collection is arranged in two series.