~ Aleph Champion ~
The story behind the idea that transformed Hebrew reading into a journey of achievement.
It All Began in 2003...
A long, long time ago, back in the year 2003, a young and energetic Chabad Hebrew School Director decided to expand her recreational activities by joining a local Torah Dojo Karate class. Under the tutelage of "Sensei Diane," she began learning the techniques of Karate.
Then Came the Connection...
One fine morning, it dawned upon her that learning Karate was quite similar to the reading program at the Hebrew School she was running. The parallels were incredible.
Once-a-week classes.
Both systems ran once a week, leaving too much time between classes for substantial progress.
Little practice at home.
At home, few parents were really clued in to what their child was learning. A parent might want to help with Hebrew reading but couldn't tell a kamatz from a kubutz — much like trying to tell whether a Karate student was practicing a front, side, or roundhouse kick.
Different levels in the same class.
Students of all different levels were learning together at the same time.
But There Was One Big Difference...
In Karate, students were motivated to progress. They practiced for test dates with their friends and graduated from level to level quite quickly.
Hebrew reading at the Hebrew School, however, looked quite different. Students were learning to read year after year, without much motivation to progress — and some were still struggling to read properly by the time they needed to prepare for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
So What Could Be Borrowed From Karate?
When a student steps into a Karate class, it is very clear what level everyone is on. The teacher is a Black Belt. Students who have been studying for years may be Purple or Brown Belts. Beginners wear White Belts, with a whole range of coloured belts in between.
It was clear what students needed to know in order to pass each level — and the reward was simple:
If only there was some way to divide Hebrew reading into a clear, colour-coded system with levels that were easily defined and attainable...
A program in which students would be excited about learning to read Hebrew and motivated to advance to the level of their teacher...
