Yes, there actually is a “Jerusalem Edition” of the Monopoly board game.

It’s essentially the same as the American edition, except the properties are all renamed to tourist locations in Israel.  Does it make sense to put a four houses or a hotel on “David’s Tomb”?  I don’t know, but in this game you can.

All players start on ‘GO’ and roll the dice. Each player makes decisions about when to buy and when to sell property. One player acts as the banker, paying out funds and assessing penalties as the game goes on. Landing on a property someone owns – a Jerusalem tourist attraction – means paying out rent. You can also build houses and hotels on property you own, which ups the required rent payments. When a player runs out of money, they go bankrupt!

Locations include:

David’s Tomb
Teddy Stadium
Presidential Residence
Mamilla
Tower of David, Ammunition Hill, Mount Herzl
The Western Wall Tunnels
The Western Wall
The Kotel
The First Station
Montefiore Windmill
Old City Walls Promenade
Mea She’arim
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Lion’s Gate
The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
Chords Bridge
The Knesset
The Israel Museum
Mount of Olives
Mahane Yehuda Market
City of David.

This board game can bring Biblical locations to life. It also teaches some basic math and counting skills through all the wheeling and dealing among players. Monopoly: Jerusalem Edition can also be an effective Hebrew School teaching aid for children ages 8+.

All game boxes include: Game-board, 6 player tokens, 16 Community Chest Cards, Money Pack, 32 Green Houses, 12 Red Hotels, 2 Dice, Banker’s Tray, fact sheet on Jerusalem sites and Game instructions.

Available at online Judaica stores.

Title of WP-RestAPI post

Orest posted this blog by wordpress rest api

Today, I wish to explore a unique and fun way for your teenagers to immerse themselves in the richness of another language through a classic board game – Scrabble – but with a twist. They’re not going to be squabbling over whether “Qi” is a real word in the English language today. Instead, I am introducing Scrabble in Hebrew, a wonderful yet complex language that offers a profound journey into a world of semantics and semiotics.

Like any language, Hebrew has its unique features, nuances, and intricacies. It exhibits true ingenuity and intellectual stimulation, and when combined with the strategic game of Scrabble, it becomes even more fascinating. So, how does one play in Hebrew, you might wonder? For starters, yes, you would need a special edition of the game.

Scrabble in Hebrew is readily available from online platforms like Amazon and eBay or specifically orientated Jewish or Israeli sites such as Jerusalem Gift Shop. Some kits will also come with a nifty rule book (written in English), which will guide you on the effective play of the game.

This version is just similar to the conventional Scrabble set, but instead of English alphabets, the tiles have Hebrew letters on them, and the words to make are also in Hebrew. Now, there’s an exciting challenge for your young ones!

Hebrew Scrabble stretches their thought process and creativity far beyond the familiar landscapes of English vocabulary. The game, as a result, brings out a rare mix of educational and entertainment value, subtly disseminating linguistic knowledge as they rack their brains over a grid of tiles, strategizing, and calculating points.

Talking of points, each Hebrew letter carries a specific score, often determined by the rarity of its usage. The standard edition of the Hebrew Scrabble game set comes with a total of 100 tiles where you will find different distribution for individual letters according to their prevalence in the language.

For instance, ‘Aleph’, the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, is worth one point and is in higher frequency while letter ‘Tzade’ is worth ten points due to its lesser usage. Players must utilize the letters wisely to yield the highest possible points. Remember, in Scrabble, strategy usually outplays vocabulary!

According to Wikipedia, four different Hebrew language distributions were published by the owners or licensees of the Scrabble brand. In these sets the final form (the only one we will discuss here), the letters ך, ם, ן, ף and ץ are not available and the normal form is used.

The most recent edition for Hebrew was published in 2008 by J. W. Spear & Sons, a subsidiary of Mattel UK with 100 tiles in the following distribution:

• 2 blank tiles (scoring 0 points)
• 1 point: ו‎ ×12, י‎ ×10, ה‎ ×8, ת‎ ×8, ר‎ ×8
• 2 points: א‎ ×6, ל‎ ×6, מ‎ ×6, ש‎ ×6
• 3 points: ב‎ ×4, ד‎ ×4
• 4 points: נ‎ ×3, פ‎ ×3
• 5 points: ח‎ ×3, כ‎ ×2, ק‎ ×2
• 8 points: ע‎ ×2, ג‎ ×1, ז‎ ×1, ט‎ ×1, ס‎ ×1, צ‎ ×1

One added complexity in Hebrew Scrabble is the use of final or sofit [final] letters. Sofit letters are unique to the Hebrew language. They are essentially five Hebrew letters (‘Mem’, ‘Nun’, ‘Tzade’, ‘Peh’, ‘Kaf’) that change their form when they come at the end of a word. The transformation is crucial and cannot be overlooked in the game play. Your adolescents will have to improve their knowledge of these particular letters to maximize their points and pull off a win.

Teens often get fascinated by such mind-testing games that offer them a tough but satisfying challenge. Scrabble (especially in a new language like Hebrew) cultivates problem-solving ability, improves cognitive skills, and of course, enhances their word power, making it a perfect pastime with added educational benefits.

Parents, on the other hand, will love the fact that their children are opening doors to a new culture and building a robust linguistic foundation, not to mention the thrill of watching an intense word showdown between the budding linguists.

Hebrew Scrabble is more than just a game; it’s an invitation to delve into the world of rich Semitic languages, a tour through the ancient wisdom of Jewish heritage, and a celebration of cognitive joy!

So stock up on some good snacks, gather around the coffee table, and rake those Hebrew letters for a cozy family game night. Let’s play on, dear Teenagers, one Hebrew tile at a time!

Title: Indoor Games Children Play in Israel

In the beautiful and historical land of Israel, where age-old customs and traditions gracefully intermingle with modernity, the world of play for children is just as vibrant and diverse. Indoor entertainment is particularly essential due to the hot Mediterranean climate. Combining fun with education, especially learning the Hebrew language, is a unique characteristic of many indoor games enjoyed by children in Israel. Here are some popular ones:

1. “Taki”: One of the most popular card games amongst Israeli children is “Taki”. Similar to UNO, the aim is to get rid of all your cards first. The fascinating aspect of the game “Taki” is that the commands and instructions on the cards are written in Hebrew. Hence, children can learn new Hebrew words and improve their reading skills while engaging in a fun, high-pace game.

2. Hebrew Guess Who: Familiar with the game “Guess Who?” How about playing it in Hebrew? Children in Israel love the Hebrew version of this classic game. While setting up their boards and drafting questions, they frequently use Hebrew, making it a wonderful tool to improve language skills.

3. Rummikub: This game, invented in Israel in the 1940s, has become a global phenomenon. It’s a tile-based game that requires strategy and mental agility. Though it doesn’t exclusively focus on language skills, Rummikub encourages strategic thinking and logic. However, while explaining strategies or rules, the interaction often occurs in Hebrew, giving children a natural context to practice the language.

4. Hebrew Scrabble: Similar to English Scrabble, the Hebrew version allows children to form words on a board using randomly picked letters. It’s a fantastic way for them to spend time indoors while enhancing their vocabulary and learning new Hebrew words.

5. “Derech HaOtzar” (The Treasure Path): This board game is specifically designed to teach children the Hebrew language. Players move their piece around the board, landing on squares with Hebrew letters and words, and then form sentences to progress. It’s a fun-filled educational resource for children, loved in Israel and beyond.

6. Hebrew Bingo: This is another entertaining game that children engage in to learn the Hebrew language. Each player has a board with Hebrew letters, and as each letter is called out, children learn pronunciation and familiarity with the letters, which forms an excellent basis for growing their Hebrew language skills.

In conclusion, Israeli children opt for indoor games that do more than just entertain. These games foster creativity, intellectual growth, and in many cases, practical ways to learn the Hebrew language. A fact worth considering is how this practice underscores the foundational importance of education in Israeli society. It’s interesting to see how fluidly fun and learning are combined in these indoor games – truly a triumphant merger of entertainment and knowledge growth.

Shalom! In every corner of the world, children gleefully partake in games that are both engaging and help them connect with their culture, language, and traditions. For this blog post, we’ll be journeying to the heart of the Middle East; Israel. The children here are no different, playing games that are thrilling, educational, and contribute to their understanding of their mother tongue, Hebrew. Let’s dive in and explore a few games Israeli kids adore to play in Hebrew.

1) “Teken” (Catch)

Teken is a popular and straightforward game amongst Israeli children. Translated literally as “catch” in English, the objective is as simple as its name suggests. The game usually involves two players or more, with one person being “it.” This person then chases the others around, aiming to touch or “catch” them. The fun comes when the children incorporate Hebrew words for directions during the gameplay like ‘yemina’ (right), ‘smola’ (left), ‘kadima’ (forward), ‘ahora’ (backward). Children often use this gameplay to practice their direction-giving skills in Hebrew, simultaneously enhancing their vocabulary and understanding of the language.

2) “Kugelach” (Five Stones)

Kugelach, or “five stones,” is a traditional game known to improve hand-eye coordination and counting skills. It originated in the ancient Jewish community over 2000 years ago and still exists today! The game involves five small stones or similar items and requires quick reflexes. Players throw all five stones in the air and aim to catch as many as possible on the back of their hand. Then, they toss them up again and catch as many (or all!) in their palm. The twist? The whole counting and coordination is done in Hebrew! It’s a unique and effective way for children to learn numbers and counting in Hebrew outside the traditional classroom setup.

3) “Kadima!” (Forward!)

This delightful and dynamic game called “Kadima!” works wonders for Israeli children to practice their verb recognition, memory, and speed in Hebrew. Players gather in a circle and pass around an object (like a ball or soft toy) while chanting a Hebrew nursery rhyme or song. When the song or rhyme stops, whoever holds the object shouts out a Hebrew verb starting with the last letter of the previous verb shouted. This game helps greatly in memorizing words and improvising with the language.

4) “Tiv’ol b’Kivun” (Directional Twister)

Who doesn’t love Twister? This classic game is given an Israeli twist to help children learn their body parts names in Hebrew. ‘Tiv’ol b’Kivun’ or ‘Directional Twister’ works just like the classic Twister game. But instead of using the spinner and mat with colors, directions like right, left, forward, and downward are called out, coupled with body parts name in Hebrew. For instance, you may hear commands like ‘Yad yemina al regel smola’ literally meaning ‘right hand on left leg’. This game not only brings a truckload of laughter and hilarity but also serves as an enjoyable way for children to learn and remember various body parts in Hebrew language.

5) “Eifo Danny?” (Where’s Danny?)

Our final entry is the Israeli version of the universally loved Hide-and-Seek game – ‘Eifo Danny?’. This game helps children to learn different place names and prepositions in Hebrew. The hider would give subtle yet challenging clues about their hiding place. The clues are always given in Hebrew and could be something like ‘Ani m’ahorei ha delat’ (I am behind the door) or ‘Ani l’mata me ha shulcahn’ (I am under the table). Older kids can come up with more complex clues, expanding their vocabulary and comprehension abilities of the Hebrew language.

Summary

Through these immersive games, Israeli children not only engage in fun and laughter but also strengthen their grasp of the Hebrew language. They learn through active participation and social interaction – arguably the best way to pick up any language. So if you’re thinking of integrating Hebrew language learning for children, don’t forget to add these games into your mix! Onwards to a playful learning experience! Shalom and happy gaming.