Free Hebrew classes begin here next month

This year, 900 host locations on this continent will offer more than 1,400 Hebrew reading classes. Last year, about 700 locations hosted 1,100 classes during the five-week program.

Three levels of Hebrew are offered:

*Learning the letters and how to pronounce words.

*More practice reading and learning prayers associated with holidays and Shabbat.

*A one-day brush-up course.

Not all sites are offering the three different classes.

Bay Area participants include the following: Temple Beth Jacob in Redwood City; South Peninsula Hebrew Day School in Sunnyvale; Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose and Congregation Shir Hadash, both in Los Gatos; Congregation Beth David in Saratoga; Jewish studies program at First National Mortgage and Temple Emanu-El, both in San Jose; Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto; Chabad of Contra Costa in Walnut Creek; Chabad of Berkeley; Techiah Foundation and Congregations Beth Israel-Judea and Chevra Thilim, all in San Francisco; Temple Beth El in Salinas; Congregation Bet Haverim in Davis; and Mosaic Law Congregation in Sacramento.

NJOP estimates that 80 percent of North American Jews are unable to read Hebrew.

Participants "will be able to usher in the new millennium with a renewed sense of Jewish connection," said Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, founder and director of the New York-based NJOP.

For more information, call one of the participating organizations or visit the program's Web site at http://www.njop.org