Teaching Hebrew in Central and Eastern Europe: Teachers’ Goals, Achievements, and Challenges

The study examined Hebrew language education in five Central and Eastern European countries formerly under Soviet rule, focusing on teachers’ professional background, instructional goals, perceived achievements, and challenges. Most teachers are locally based with some relevant education, yet only one-third have formal training in language education. Their primary goals are to develop students’ linguistic knowledge and to strengthen their Jewish identity. Teachers’ perceived achievements align with their goals, suggesting high self-efficacy. Challenges relate primarily to teachers’ professional preparation and support. Overall, Hebrew teachers perceive themselves both as language agents and as gatekeepers of Jewish identity in small post-communist communities.