It is helpful if students are able to recognize the letters of the alef bet and how to spell their names before they begin to learn to read. Being able to both differentiate between similar-appearing letters and match identical ones are two great pre-reading skills. This happens naturally in English, as children are exposed to many letters and ask questions about their word-filled surroundings. Outside of Israel, it happens less with Hebrew. Below are some fun ways to remedy that!

(These games are also useful for all the many students who, when learning to read, confuse similar-looking letters: ,ו/ז, ה/ח, ד/ר, ך/ר, מ/ט, ך/ף, etc. These games will help reinforce the different shapes of each letter.)

Note: If you refer to the letters by their names while playing these games, students will also learn what the letters are called, which will be very helpful when they later learn to read!

Dominoes | Memory | Alef Bet Blocks | Alef Bet Puzzles | Alef Bet Cookies | Other Games & Activities

Dominoes

Three separate files, each with a non-overlapping set of Hebrew letters, are posted below.

The instructions for assembling and playing the game are on the first page of each PDF and also here.

You can also add the student's name or a favorite Hebrew word to these dominoes!

Note: Each game can be played separately at first, to make it simpler. The only way to link the dominoes from one set to another set is through the cards with a blank line for adding a student's name or favorite word.

1. א-י

2. כּ-ק

3. ר-ת and אותיות סופיות (the 5 final-form letters)

Memory

Memory, a game where you set out an array of cards face down and have to find matching pairs by turning over two at a time, is excellent for reinforcing the names and shapes of each letter. Many of the commercially-available sets of Memory also include a word that starts with that letter, but there is no need to emphasize that at first. It is enough for an adult or more advanced student playing with the learner to say the name of the letter ("Oh, look, you turned over a mem! And that's an ayin!"). Children will naturally learn the names of the letters and their shapes through playing memory.

I did not create my own Memory, because there are many alef-bet memory games available commercially. Look for them at your local Judaica store or at an online retailer!

Tip: All memory games can also be played as "Go Fish" (or, in Hebrew, שלישיות/רביעות)-style games. Distribute cards as one would for Go Fish and have each player try to assemble as many pairs as possible by asking for letters by name. This is harder than memory, since you need to know what all of the letters are called to play. Start with regular Memory and work up to Go Fish-style games!

If you or your learner wants to play alone or online, Akhlah has a simple version of alef bet memory on their website.

Alef Bet Blocks

Get building blocks with the alef bet printed on them. These are available commercially at various price points. The most inexpensive ones I have found are available here and include the vowels, which is wonderful.

Alef Bet Puzzles

Alef bet puzzles are available commercially and range in size from very small to large, floor-sized puzzles. They range in difficulty from 23-piece puzzles to puzzles with 200 or more pieces. Images of some examples are included below, so you know what to look for in Judaica stores or online.

Alef Bet Cookies

The next time you bake cookies, make them in the shapes of letters! You can do this by hand or purchase cookie-cutters in the shape of the alef bet.

Other Games & Activities

Other ways to familiarize children with the letters of the aleph bet include the following games and activities:

• Put your children's names in Hebrew on their bedroom doors so that they recognize them before they can read.
• Play the "alphabet (alef bet) car game" in shul or at home. Each person takes a turn looking for the next letter in the alef bet. This will only work if you have Hebrew casually strewn about your home (such as in artwork and books) or can easily locate books with Hebrew in them, like siddurim, birkonim (benchers), Chumashim, etc.
• Buy and play with alef bet magnets. They can be played with on a refrigerator, microwave, cookie sheet, or magnetic white board, among other metallic surfaces.