Written By: Keri Rosenbluh
This past July, a select group of graduate and doctoral students from the Faculty of Humanities’ Department of Arabic Language and Literature traveled to Germany for a unique academic experience — an advanced workshop in Arabic dialectology, developed in partnership with the Institute of Semitic Studies at Freie Universität Berlin.
The week-long program was spearheaded by Prof. Ori Shachmon, a specialist in Arabic dialectology at the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at Hebrew University. It brought together some of the department’s brightest students for immersive lectures, practical training, and cross-cultural exchange in Berlin.
“We were delighted to welcome such a talented group from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,” shares Prof. Dr. Shabo Talay, Chair of the Institute for Semitic Studies and Dean of the Department of History and Cultural Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. “Over the course of the workshop, students explored the richness of Semitic dialectology — from fieldwork with native speakers to advanced techniques like phonemic transcription and corpus-based research.” According to Talay, the workshop’s success “clearly demonstrates the potential for future collaboration between our universities.”
For Shachmon, the initiative was the culmination of many years of partnership with colleagues from several German universities. “When the call for joint seed funding between Hebrew University and Freie Universität Berlin was published, the colleagues from Berlin reached out right away,” she recalls. “Our department has a long-lasting professional connection with Prof. Talay. Beyond being a leading scholar and dialectologist, he is a wonderful partner to work with. Together with Dr. Assaf Bar-Moshe and Prof. Dr. Maciej Klimiuk, two other colleagues at Freie Universität, we built the workshop from the ground up.”
The team secured funding from three sources — the HUJI–FUB Joint Seed Fund, Hebrew University’s International Office, and the Faculty of Humanities — to support both program development and participant travel.
A “Dream Team” of Students
The program drew participants who had already gained some knowledge in Arabic dialectology through HUJI courses in recent years, and have shown a serious interest in the field. The final cohort included ten Hebrew University students — joined in Berlin by two of Shachmon’s former students — as well as several advanced students from Freie Universität’s Institute for Semitic Studies.
The group reflected diverse academic paths, including students of Prof. Ofra Tirosh-Becker, Shachmon’s colleague and an expert in North African dialects. “This was truly a dream team,” notes Shachmon. “Although the course counted for academic credit, it was clear the students weren’t simply checking a box—each is deeply invested in the field. Four are already in the advanced stages of their theses, and we hope to see several more continue their studies in this field.”
Learning from Leading Experts
The workshop opened with a keynote lecture — The Current State of Arabic Dialects — delivered via Zoom by Prof. Dr. Otto Jastrow, one of the most influential figures in the field. “Prof. Jastrow is the spiritual father of our discipline,” says Shachmon. “For students who have studied his work for years, meeting him, even virtually, was an unforgettable moment.”
Each day that followed focused on a different region of the Arabic-speaking world, led by an expert: Mesopotamian Arabic Dialects with Dr. Assaf Bar-Moshe, Arabic Dialects in Turkey with Prof. Dr. Shabo Talay, Arabic Dialects in the Northern Levant with Prof. Dr. Werner Arnold, and Maltese within Western Arabic Dialects with Prof. Dr. Maciej Klimiuk.
“The workshop was truly fascinating,” reflects a student named Nur. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore dialects and regions I hadn’t yet encountered in my studies. Each lecture opened up an entirely new world to me.”
Shachmon herself had planned to present on the Arabic varieties of Yemen, which she describes as “one of the most fascinating places for linguists in general, and Arabic dialectologists in particular.” When personal circumstances required her urgent return to Jerusalem, Prof. Arnold stepped in with a session on Neo-Aramaic, adding an unexpected and enriching dimension to the program.
Hands-On Dialectology
Workshop mornings were devoted to lectures, while afternoons centered on practice. Each day, students received audio recordings from the region studied and, using the tools introduced that morning, worked in groups to pinpoint the speaker’s origin and characterize key dialectal features.
“This kind of applied analysis sharpened their practical skills,” says Shachmon. “It took them beyond theory, allowing them to engage directly with authentic speech samples from distinct dialects and from different parts of the Arabic-speaking world.”
The schedule was intensive, with sessions running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while evenings were left open for socializing and informal networking. Prof. Klimiuk and Dr. Bar-Moshe took the initiative to show students around, organizing both social activities and a guided city excursion.
One participant, Nir, reflects: “It was an incredible week — the sessions were engaging, and the daily dialect work let us put what we were learning into practice. Each day left me inspired and wanting more. Since it was my first time in Germany, exploring Berlin every evening made it even more special, especially with the close bond that formed in our group."
Academic Growth and Professional Exposure
A highlight for many was the opportunity for four advanced-stage students to present their own research, with papers on Judeo-Arabic in Tunisia, the Bedouin dialects of the Galilee, the Druze dialects of the Golan Heights, and the dialects of the Gaza Strip. This gave them the chance to share and discuss their work in an academic forum — and in English. For these emerging scholars, it was a formative step in developing the confidence and clarity needed to present at international conferences.
“It was an incredible opportunity to gain exposure to some of the high-level research projects being conducted by fellow students,” shares a participant named Matan. “Their presentations were outstanding and I feel motivated to pursue similar work myself.”
According to Shachmon, this was precisely the goal: to foster active participation, spark intellectual curiosity, and encourage students to test their knowledge in a rigorous academic setting.
Beyond the Classroom
The workshop was as much about community as it was about scholarship. Students bonded over shared interests, explored Berlin together, and carried their traditions with them. A particularly moving moment came on Friday night, when the group lit Shabbat candles and recited kiddush, the blessing over wine, in the heart of Berlin — a symbolic gesture of connection to home.
Another snapshot captured the group in a Berlin pub, beers in hand, reading from a book Shachmon authored on Yemeni Arabic. “The image says it all,” she smiles. “Dialectology isn’t just what we study. We carry it with us; it’s part of who we are.”
Looking to the Future
Although the scale and funding requirements make an annual workshop unrealistic, Shachmon envisions repeating it every few years and exploring new avenues of collaboration. Possibilities include structured student exchanges, a joint MA in Semitic studies, and reciprocal research visits. Currently, she is preparing to host her Freie colleagues in Jerusalem for a follow-up workshop focused on drafting a joint research proposal — and giving Hebrew University students another chance to learn from them firsthand.
Mutual Benefits
For both institutions, the workshop demonstrated the value of sustained, personal academic partnerships. Hebrew University students gained exposure to rare dialects and advanced methodologies not typically covered in their home courses. Freie faculty and students, in turn, benefited from insights into the diverse dialects under study in Jerusalem.
“Our collaboration with Freie Universität Berlin has been remarkably productive,” says Shachmon. “I’m excited to see it fuel future projects.”
Prof. Talay echoes that sentiment, noting that “The combined expertise in Arabic, Hebrew, and Neo-Aramaic positions the two universities to create unique opportunities for advancing the study and teaching of Semitic dialectology.”
Though the week in Berlin was short, its impact was lasting — broadening scholarly horizons, deepening international ties, and reaffirming the importance of collaborative, field-based research.