Bringing Cultures Together Through Language
Hebrew and Arabic are both languages of the Semitic family, but their remarkable similarity is masked by their different scripts and sounds. With Dreams of Peace, students learn Hebrew and Arabic simultaneously, using a simple yet ingenious method – introducing one letter at a time to learn cognate words that sound alike in both languages. While students already familiar with Hebrew or Arabic will easily grasp the fundamentals of the other language, this method makes both languages accessible even for the beginner.
Praise for Dreams of Peace
“As a bilingual native speaker and instructor of both Arabic and Hebrew, I know through experience how language creates a window into culture and allows an opening for a new perspective. The innovations of this dual language primer demonstrate the similarities between the two languages, and may be one small step towards both facilitating language acquisition and fostering further understanding.”
Ibrahim Miari, Lecturer, Department of Near Eastern Languages, University of Pennsylvania
“The Quran (30:22) likens the diversity of languages to the multiplicity of colors, a testimony to God’s creative power. The Prophet of Islam encouraged his companions to learn languages other than their own to reduce the harm that could come from mutual ignorance or mistrust about one another. What a joy it would be for Muslims and Jews, both children of Abraham, to continue to discover the similarities between our respective traditions that are highlighted by the similarities of our two sacred languages. Our success in building understanding between the two communities can have global impact, and Dreams of Peace is a big leap in that direction.”
Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances,
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
“Our students were thrilled to take a step into the world of their Muslim counterparts. I see wonderful potential for Dreams of Peace to build bridges, one language student at a time!”
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Director, Department of Multifaith Studies and Initiatives,
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
“Political barriers to human contact between Jews and Arabs in Palestine/the Land of Israel are perhaps higher than they have ever been. But aside from the land, these two peoples share deep cultural roots and will, someday, all need to be fluent in each other’s language. Dreams of Peace brilliantly leverages their common linguistic heritage so that even in the process of learning to understand one another, Israelis and Palestinians can learn to understand themselves.”
Ian Lustick, Bess W. Heyman Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania
Barry Mann is Chief Academic Officer of the Main Line Health System in suburban Philadelphia and Professor of Surgery at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. His interest in Hebrew, Arabic, and peace in the Middle East prompted him to design this course.
Accompanying audio lessons at http://www.dreams-of-peace.com
