In most people's perception Hebrew and Yiddish are names of two languages used by Jews. Hebrew to them is the official language of Israel whereas Yiddish is a mere embarrassing jargon once alive, but now practically extinct and should therefore be preserved only in archives for posterity.

In fact, such opinions should amaze anyone who cares to think. Hebrew which survived for thousands of years, against all odds, is a mirror of the miraculous survival of the people who claimed it as their sacred heritage. Is there any other ancient language which is alive today? If Abraham or one of the ancient prophets came to visit us today, they would be able to understand and participate in our conversations, bar the technical foreign additions. How is it that the language survived when the people who cherished it were scattered to all corners of the world, surrounded by foes who wished to obliterate them and their culture, or, at best, to absorb and assimilate them, both physically and culturally. Wondrously, the Jewish people survived. To a great extent we owe our existence as a people today, to those languages.

What is it that gives Hebrew this unique status among all other languages? Hebrew, we believe, is the language of God and the angels. "In the beginning" -as the story of the creation tells us "void and darkness ruled upon the face of the earth". When out of this chaos, TOHOO VA- VOHOO (listen to the phonetics which indicates void and chaos), God created the world. He did it not by "manual labour" but by utterance only: "And God said: let there be light...and God called the light day and the darkness He called night". "He said: let there be a firmament and He called the firmament Heaven" and following that, man himself called everything by a name, for without a name there is no existence. Thus at the very start, even before man was created, God Himself used a language, planning and executing His task.

In Jewish belief there is no doubt as to what that language was and the hypothesis is easily proved. Take, for instance, Adam - the first man - was thus called because he was made of earth. This statement does not make sense in any other language except in Hebrew, in which Adam (man) was made of Adamah (earth). We can continue to discover the magic of the Hebrew language, staying with the name "A-DAM". The word itself suggests the nature of man: the letter "Aleph"(the A in Adam) indicates the spiritual dimension, as it is also the first letter of God's name. "Dam" - blood - introduces the physical aspect of our being. Thus every human being (Adam) combines the spiritual and the physical side: a whole philosophy encapsulated in one short word! A great many words in Hebrew have similar significance.

Hebrew throughout the centuries was a language of communication between the Jews of East and West, North and South. It was this common tongue which created trust, bond of loyalty and unity. It enabled Jews to become international merchants. When doors were closing because of persecutions, there was often a ruler who could make use of the Jewish network created through the use of their languages and offered them and their co-religionists protection.

Hebrew was not only cherished by Jews. Countless Christians throughout history studied Hebrew. During the Middle Ages major universities introduced Hebrew as an obligatory subject.

As for Jews, they were always aware that using Hebrew in their social, economic, legal and cultural life was a prerequisite, without which the framework of their national existence could collapse. In the past, if one entered a Jewish home in Eastern Europe or in the Sephardi diaspora, one would have heard a Jewish language spoken and bookshelves would display Hebrew books. Alas, today this is no longer the case.

The other day good friends of ours dined at a restaurant in London. They were served by a young Arab. The couple looked distinctly Jewish and the waiter showed off his fluent Hebrew. But our friends were lost. The waiter was a Moroccan who had picked up Hebrew in a Jewish neighbourhood. Our friends were typical Anglo-Jews who had never made the effort. "Why bother, everyone speaks English these days". Incidentally, many of our current students are not Jewish and we are full of owe for their dedication, love of the language and progress.

Why do Jews in this country - when the cry of continuity is heard - reject such a tested key to Jewish survival? Is it due to apathy? Ignorance? Fear of failure or short-sightedness?

And what about Yiddish, which Jews created to protect the sanctity of Hebrew, and which became a unique language, conveying in a vivid and colourful way both the sorrows and joys of the individual and the Jewish community at large?! It is a language that expresses simple desires, great aspirations and deep philosophy, presented in an attractive way and understood and enjoyed by all who use it. A language of elevation, helped by folk tales, beautiful songs and magnificent literature, expressing the triumph of the spirit over earthly troubles.

The Hebrew and Yiddish teachers and writers, actors, singers with whom I was fortunate to work over the past four decades are professional, enthusiastic and innovative people whose love for "MAMME LOSHEN" (Yiddish: Mother Tongue) is contagious. They have been commended by acknowledged educational authorities for operating the best language and cultural programmes in the diaspora.

All of us now wish to share with you the joyous secrets of these languages through our painless teaching methods. With 500 words you can make yourself understood and become part of your people and we can promise you, once you start you will be hooked on them for the rest of your lives.

We all try to commemorate the Holocaust victims by building tangible monuments. Would it not be better or at least as important to immortalise the victims by making sure that their languages and culture remain alive?!
Let us help you to grasp your responsibility and become a link between the past and the future to take advantage of being heirs to a uniquely ancient yet still a vibrant civilisation. As individuals, families and communities let us take up this challenge so that we will do our bit to ensure Jewish continuity by involving ourselves in the learning of Hebrew and Yiddish.

Special programmes for children of all ages, parents and grandparents and all others would be tailor-made for your needs if you approach us with your requests. Outreach programmes for any group can be offered. Just enquire!

We have run a recent two weeks intensive Ulpan for "graduates" of North West London Jewish Day School. It was the initiative of Governor Graham Morris and Head of religious studies and Ivrit Rabbi Ronen Broder at the school (http://www.spiroark.org/blog/827/year-6-leavers-get-taste-of-adult-learning-with-spiro-ark-at-lsjs/). In the past we ran language courses for parents and grandparents in which they have learned the language through lullabies and young children stories, these courses were extremely successful and created a greater bond with their children and grandchildren as well as creating in them a sense of love for those languages and for awakening their sense of Jewish identity.

Do join us in our exciting classes and bring any special requests for our consideration. We promise to take them all seriously.