Language and Education Bring Communities Together at Hebrew Olympiad

Michal Lev, director of the Hebrew program in the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures and teaching assistant professor in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS), believes that education and language have the power to bring people together. On April 29, 2026, she helped foster community and collaboration at the annual Hebrew Olympiad, hosted for the first time at the University of Denver (DU).  

The Hebrew Olympiad is an international competition organized by the Hebrew Consortium at Brandeis University in partnership with Tel Aviv University for students in grades 7–12 from Israel and around the world. The competition focuses on Hebrew, logic, and creative thinking through unique language challenges that students typically do not encounter in regular classes. The exam includes word meanings, idioms, codes, language patterns, and problem-solving questions that encourage students to think about Hebrew in deeper and more creative ways. 

Lev said that seeing students on DU’s campus engage with Hebrew in exciting and meaningful ways aligns with her goal of “creating a meaningful experience to help students feel more connected to the language, together with the Jewish and Israeli community.” 

Hosting the final stage of the Olympiad at DU helped demonstrate that students' hard work and accomplishments are valued and appreciated. Giving back to the community is important to Lev because of the power of education and language to bring people together, create meaningful memories, and build confidence. 

“Events like this help strengthen connections among students, schools, universities, and the Jewish and Israeli community while encouraging students to continue learning Hebrew and celebrating their achievements,” she said.  

Lev’s efforts continue to inspire young learners while positioning the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at the forefront of community engagement through education.  

To learn more about the Hebrew Olympiad and its impact, visit here.