From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 1, 2025
International Hebrew Language Olympiad gets underway online
Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.
The fifth Hebrew Language Olympiad has launched its new global competition, inviting students ages 12 to 18 from around the world to compete to solve Hebrew linguistic puzzles.
The annual competition, run by Tel Aviv University’s Department of Hebrew Language in partnership with the Consortium for Hebrew Teaching at Brandeis University, begins today with a set of unique challenges ranging from those involving ancient Semitic language patterns to wordplay and idioms.
Teachers are encouraged to register classes or groups of students. Participation is free for students with an intermediate or high level of Hebrew proficiency.
A record 5,668 students participated in last year’s Olympiad, including nearly 1,000 Hebrew learners whose first language is not Hebrew. Competitors came from diverse communities in Israel — including Arab, Bedouin and Druze areas — as well as Jewish and non-Jewish students from the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, the organization says.
Launched in 2021 at Tel Aviv University as an initiative directed at Israeli Jews, the contest is now expanding its horizons worldwide. Those who complete the first round will be eligible to continue with additional rounds in early 2026.
The Times of Israel Community.