A record 9,286 students from Israel and abroad participated in the fifth Hebrew Language Olympiad this year, according to Tel Aviv University.
The initiative, run by Tel Aviv University’s Department of Hebrew Language and Semitic Linguistics, offers students Hebrew-language puzzles, code-breaking exercises, idioms and word meanings.
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The international track is held in collaboration with Brandeis University for students outside Israel
(Photo: Hebrew Consortium at Brandeis)
Participation rose from 5,668 students last year to 9,286 in 2026. The international track, held in collaboration with Brandeis University for students outside Israel, also grew sharply, from about 200 participants last year to around 800 this year.
Students in the international track came from countries including the United States, Britain, Egypt, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, Cyprus and Russia. Most participants in the international track were born outside Israel and learned Hebrew through schools, supplementary education, youth movements, family environments and community frameworks
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Students from Florida participated in the olympiad
(Photo: Hebrew Consortium at Brandeis)
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Students from Denver participated in the fifth Hebrew Language Olympiad
(Photo: Hebrew Consortium at Brandeis)
The competition is held in two stages: an online qualifying round followed by in-person finals at Tel Aviv University and partner universities around the world.
Milette Shamir, Tel Aviv University’s vice president for international affairs, said the Olympiad reflects the “curiosity, enthusiasm and sense of connection” Hebrew inspires among young people worldwide.
She said the program exposes students not only to modern Hebrew, but also to “its origins, its place within the Semitic linguistic sphere, and its role within the broader family of world languages.”