MADREGOT
by Asher E. Rivlin. Jerusalem: Department of Education and Culture in the Diaspora, World Zionist Organization, 1986. A Review, submitted by Nancy M. Messinger, Director of Educational Resources, Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education of Greater Philadelphia.

Madregot is a series of six Hebrew reader/workbooks for students in grades three through nine in North and South America who are learning Hebrew as a second language. Each book has an accompanying teacher's guide (in Hebrew) which includes a short lesson plan for each chapter. And English/Spanish/Hebrew dictionary is included at the back of each book, while a separate Madregot dictionary containing 1250 basic words is available. It includes special lists of numbers, colors, abbreviations and grammatical constructions.

Each lesson is presented in a three-part format. It begins with a literature selection, a short story, poem, parable or legend. These selections highlight Jewish holidays, Israel, family life, home, and school. Some of the stories have pencil-drawn illustrations for some aspect of the content. The selection is then followed by several grammatical exercises and a listing of new vocabulary words. (The new word list should be presented BEFORE the students read the new text). The length of the story and its grammatical difficulty increases with each volume. This is the strength of this series. However, the content does not relate to the American students' lives and the community in which they live. The three-part format presentation does not vary. There is an assumption that in order to make these stories come alive the teacher will have to be extremely creative, especially with oral language drills. It is suggested that class discussions be conducted around transparencies that have to be made of the pictures in the book. There are words throughout the texts which are not vocalized but even at the end of the last volume most of the story is vocalized. These books are most appropriate for day school Hebrew language classes because the basic assumption for the entire series is that Hebrew is taught as a second language, a spoken living language, not only for prayer and ritual.

HEBREW THROUGH PRAYER
Behrman House Series by Terry Kaye, Karen Trager and Patrice Goldstein Mason. West Orange, NJ: Behrman House, 1994. A review submitted by Dr. Shoshana Silberman, Consultant for Hebrew and Prayer, Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education of Greater Philadelphia.

Hebrew Through Prayer is a comprehensive program that consistently follows a plan set out by its authors. Behrman House literature states that the goal of Hebrew Through Prayer is to make students "bimah-literate." By this they mean that students, after completing Hebrew Through Prayer, will be able to read fluently, understand major prayers, understand the structure of the Shabbat morning and Friday evening service, as well as connect the values expressed in the Siddur to students' lives. (For example, How does reciting the Motzi teach us to treat the earth with respect?)

It is expected that students will learn key vocabulary words and will be able to apply key prayer roots (e.g., barukh) to any prayer. A prerequisite for the program is good phonetic reading.

Words are presented clearly and there is ample opportunity for reading practice. The print is good-size and the font simple and easy to read. In addition to important background information, the series features gender-neutral translations and excellent photographs of children praying and doing Mitzvot.

Interesting activities are included, as well as points to ponder. The goals cannot be accomplished, however, if the teacher skips the sections dealing with the meaning of the prayers.

Supplementary materials which encourage reinforcement include a workbook, word cards, a holiday curriculum, anew game book, and a comprehensive guide for Educational Directors on implementation of the program. The teacher's edition of the texts contains activity sheets for families and suggestions for special programs.

Since Hebrew Through Prayer is a reading program that bases its material solely on Jewish liturgy, prayer tapes, made by the cantor, would be a helpful addition.