View source for Hebrew Braille

{{Short description|Braille alphabet for the Hebrew language}}
{{Infobox writing system
| name = Hebrew Braille
| altname = {{Script/Hebrew|ברייל עברי}}
| type = [[Abjad]]
| typedesc = 
| time = 
| languages = [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]

| fam1 = [[Braille]]
| fam2 = [[English Braille]]
| print = [[Hebrew alphabet]]
| creator = 
| sample = Hebrew Braille chart.jpg
| imagesize = 
| note = none
}}
'''Hebrew Braille''' ({{langx|he|ברייל עברי}}) is the [[braille]] alphabet for [[Hebrew]]. The International Hebrew Braille Code is widely used. It was devised in the 1930s and completed in 1944. It is based on [[unified international braille|international norms]], with additional letters devised to accommodate differences between [[English Braille]] and the [[Hebrew alphabet]].<ref name=Candle/> Unlike Hebrew, but in keeping with other braille alphabets, Hebrew Braille is read from left to right instead of right to left,<ref name="MackenzieMackenzie1954">{{cite book|last1=Mackenzie|first1=Clutha Nantes|author2=Sir Clutha Nantes Mackenzie|title=World Braille Usage: a survey of efforts towards uniformity of braille notation|year=1954|publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> and unlike English Braille, it is an [[abjad]], with all letters representing consonants.

==History==
Prior to the 1930s, there were several regional variations of Hebrew Braille, but no universal system.<ref name=Candle>{{cite news | title = I Shall Light a Candle | last = Okin | first = Tessie | date = August 15, 1952 | access-date = October 19, 2010 | work = Canadian Jewish Chronicle | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5rMqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6631,2004612 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1930, the [[JBI International|Jewish Braille Institute of America]], under the direction of the [[Synagogue Council of America]], assembled an international committee for the purpose of producing a unified embossed code to be used by sightless people throughout the world. The committee membership consisted of Isaac Maletz, representing the Jewish Institute for the Blind, Jerusalem; Dr. Max Geffner, of the Blindeninstitut of Vienna; Canon C. F. Waudby, of the National Institute for the Blind, Great Britain; Leopold Dubov, of the Jewish Braille Institute of America; and Rabbi Harry J. Brevis, representing the New York Board of Rabbis. Rabbi Brevis, who had lost his eyesight in his mid 20s, and who had developed a system of Hebrew braille for his personal use as a rabbinical student while attending the Jewish Institute of Religion from 1926 and 1929, was named chairman of the committee, and Leupold Dubov, the executive director of the Jewish Braille Institute of America, was appointed secretary. In 1933, the committee voted unanimously to approve and sponsor Brevis' system for adoption as the International Hebrew Braille Code. Brevis published a selection of readings from the Bible, Mishnah, and contemporary literature using this system in 1935 under the title ''A Hebrew Braille Chrestomathy''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://americanjewisharchives.org/publications/journal/PDF/1969_21_02_00.pdf|title=The Story of Hebrew Braille|last=Brevis|first=Harry|year=1969|website=americanjewisharchives.org/publications/journal/PDF/1969_21_02_00.pdf}}</ref> Among the greater challenges faced by the committee was the accommodation of the Hebrew vowel points. In 1936,<ref name=Candle/> the first Hebrew Braille book was published with sponsorship from the [[Library of Congress]]: a volume of excerpts from the ''[[Talmud]]'' and other sources.<ref name="Blumenthal1969">{{cite book|last=Blumenthal|first=Walter Hart|title=Bookmen's Bedlam: an Olio of Literary Oddities|year=1969|publisher=Ayer Publishing|isbn=978-0-8369-1022-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookmensbedlamol0000blum/page/175 175]|url=https://archive.org/details/bookmensbedlamol0000blum/page/175}}</ref> The code underwent further refinements for the better part of a decade until its completion in 1944.<ref name=Candle/>

==Basic alphabet==
Because Hebrew Braille derives from English Braille, there is not a one-to-one match between Hebrew letters in print and in braille. Most obviously, four consonants with the ''[[dagesh]]'' point in print have distinct letters in braille, but three others require a ''dagesh'' prefix {{bc|45}} in braille. The different placements of the dot on the print letter ''shin'' also correspond to two different letters in braille. On the other hand, the distinct final forms of some letters in print are not reflected in braille.

In the table below, the braille letters corresponding to basic letters in print are in the top row, while those derived by pointing in print, and which have a distinct pronunciation in Modern Hebrew, are in the second row.

{| class="wikitable<!-- Unicode-->" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2 {{verth|va=middle|mw=22px|Basic}}
! Braille
| {{Braille cell|type=image|a}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|v}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|g}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|d}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|h}} 
| {{Braille cell|type=image|w}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|z}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|x}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|t}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|j}} 
| {{Braille cell|type=image|ch}}
|-
! Print
|[[Aleph|{{Script/Hebrew|א}}]] ’||[[Bet (letter)|{{Script/Hebrew|ב}}]] ''v''||[[Gimmel|{{Script/Hebrew|ג}}]] ''g''||[[Daled|{{Script/Hebrew|ד}}]] ''dh''
|[[He (letter)|{{Script/Hebrew|ה}}]] ''h'' || [[Waw (letter)|{{Script/Hebrew|ו}}]] ''w'' || [[Zayin|{{Script/Hebrew|ז}}]] ''z'' || [[Heth|{{Script/Hebrew|ח}}]] ''ḥ'' 
|[[Teth|{{Script/Hebrew|ט}}]] ''ṭ'' || [[Yodh|{{Script/Hebrew|י}}]] ''y'' || [[Kaph|{{Script/Hebrew|כ ך}}]] ''kh''
|-
! rowspan=2 {{verth|va=middle|mw=22px|Dagesh}}
! Braille
| rowspan=2| || {{Braille cell|type=image|b}} || rowspan=2 colspan=3| || {{Braille cell|type=image|346}}|| rowspan=2 colspan=4| || {{Braille cell|type=image|k}}
|-
! Print
| {{Script/Hebrew|בּ}} ''b<br>bb'' || {{Script/Hebrew|וּ}} ''û<br>ww'' || {{Script/Hebrew|כּ ךּ}} ''k<br>kk''
|}

{| class="wikitable<!-- Unicode-->" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2 {{verth|va=middle|mw=22px|Basic}}
! Braille
| {{Braille cell|type=image|l}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|m}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|n}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|s}} 
| {{Braille cell|type=image|1246}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|f}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|2346}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|q}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|r}} 
| {{Braille cell|type=image|sh}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|th}}
|-
! Print
|[[Lamed|{{Script/Hebrew|ל}}]] ''l'' || [[Mem|{{Script/Hebrew|מ ם}}]] ''m'' || [[Nun (letter)|{{Script/Hebrew|נ ן}}]] ''n'' 
|[[Samech|{{Script/Hebrew|ס}}]] ''s'' || [[Ayin|{{Script/Hebrew|ע}}]] ''‘'' || [[Pe (Semitic letter)|{{Script/Hebrew|פ ף}}]] ''f'' ||[[Tsade|{{Script/Hebrew|צ ץ}}]] ''ts'' || [[Kuf|{{Script/Hebrew|ק}}]] ''q'' ||[[Resh|{{Script/Hebrew|ר}}]] ''r'' ||[[Shin (letter)|{{Script/Hebrew|ש שׁ}}]] ''sh'' || [[Taw|{{Script/Hebrew|ת}}]] ''th''
|-
! rowspan=2 {{verth|va=middle|mw=22px|Dagesh}}
! Braille
| rowspan=2 colspan=5| || {{Braille cell|type=image|p}} || rowspan=2 colspan=3| || {{Braille cell|type=image|156}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|1256}} 
|-
! Print
| {{Script/Hebrew|פּ}} ''p<br>pp'' || {{Script/Hebrew|שׂ}} ''ś''<br><ref>Placed here for convenience only; not actually a letter with ''dagesh''</ref> || {{Script/Hebrew|תּ}} ''t<br>tt''
|}

For other pointed print consonants, such as ''gimel'' with ''dagesh'' {{Script/Hebrew|גּ}}, the braille prefix is used: {{bc|45|g}}. Historically, this sequence has two values: a 'hard' gee {{IPA|[ɡ]}} (cf. plain ''gimel'' {{bc|g}} {{IPA|[ɣ]}}), and a double/long gee {{IPA|[ɡː]}}. However, it is not distinct in Modern Hebrew. It is not clear if the prefix can be added to letters that have partners in the bottom row of the table above to distinguish, say, dagesh hazak ''kk'' from dagesh kal ''k'', or ''ww'' from ''û''.

When transcribing completely unpointed print texts, only the top row of braille letters is used.

==Vowel pointing==
Apart from those written with {{Script/Hebrew|ו}} and {{Script/Hebrew|י}} and thus obligatory in print, vowels are optional in braille just as they are in print. When they are written, braille vowels are full letters rather than diacritics.

{| class="wikitable<!-- Unicode-->" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Braille
| || {{Braille cell|type=image|i}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|34}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|e}} 
| {{Braille cell|type=image|c}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|126}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|ow}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|u}} 
|-
! Print
| || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ִ}} ''i'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֵ}} ''e'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֶ}} ''ẹ'' 
| {{Script/Hebrew|◌ַ}} ''a'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ָ}} ''ọ'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֹ}} ''o'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֻ}} ''u'' 
|-
! Braille
| {{Braille cell|type=image|6}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|in}} || {{bc|type=image|34|j}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|en}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|25}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|345}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|o}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|346}} 
|-
! Print
| {{Script/Hebrew|◌ְ}} ''ə'' || {{Script/Hebrew|יִ}} ''î'' || {{Script/Hebrew|יֵ}} ''ê'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֱ}} ''ĕ'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֲ}} ''ă'' || {{Script/Hebrew|◌ֳ}} ''ŏ'' || {{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}} ''ô'' || {{Script/Hebrew|וּ}} ''û''
|}

Print digraphs with {{Script/Hebrew|אְ}} schwa ({{Script/Hebrew|אֱ}} ''ĕ'', {{Script/Hebrew|אֲ}} ''ă'', {{Script/Hebrew|אֳ}} ''ŏ'', bottom row), and the ''[[matres lectionis]]'' ({{Script/Hebrew|וּ}} ''û'', {{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}} ''ô'', {{Script/Hebrew|יִ}} ''î'') are derived in braille by modifying (lowering or reflecting) the base vowel. {{Script/Hebrew|יֵ}} ''ê'' does not have a dedicated braille letter, and is written as the vowel {{bc|34}} ''e'' plus {{bc|j}} yod.

==Numbers==
{| class="wikitable Unicode" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Braille
|{{Braille cell|type=image|3456|1}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|12}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|14}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|145}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|15}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|124}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|1245}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|125}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|24}} || {{Braille cell|type=image|3456|245}}
|-
! Print
| 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 0 
|}

==Punctuation==
The punctuation used with Hebrew Braille, according to UNESCO (2013), is as follows:

{| class=wikitable
|- align=center
|{{Braille cell|type=image|2}} <br>, 
|{{Braille cell|type=image|3}} <br> ’
|{{Braille cell|type=image|23}} <br> ;
|{{Braille cell|type=image|25}} <br> :
|{{Braille cell|type=image|256}} <br> .
|{{Braille cell|type=image|235}} <br> !
|{{Braille cell|type=image|236}} <br> ? {{gray|&nbsp;}} “
|{{Braille cell|type=image|356}} <br> "
|{{Braille cell|type=image|36}} <br> –
|{{Braille cell|type=image|34}} <br> /
|colspan=2|{{Braille cell|type=image|35|35}} <br> * 
|- align=center
|colspan=3|{{Braille cell|type=image|gg}}...{{Braille cell|type=image|gg}} <br> ( &nbsp;&nbsp; ... &nbsp;&nbsp; )
|colspan=4|{{Braille cell|type=image|6|gg}}...{{Braille cell|type=image|gg|3}} <br> [ &nbsp;&nbsp; ... &nbsp;&nbsp; ]
|colspan=2 | {{Braille cell|type=image|36|36}} <br> —
|colspan=3 | {{Braille cell|type=image|3|3|3}} <br> ... 
|}

==Jewish Heritage for the Blind==
'''Jewish Heritage for the Blind''', although organizationally unrelated to ''Jewish Braille Institute'',<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
   |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/27/classified/paid-notice-deaths-gallard-rosalind.html
   |title=Paid Notice: Deaths  GALLARD, ROSALIND
   |date=July 27, 1998
   |access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref><!---	Contributions in her name may be made to Jewish Heritage for the Blind, Brooklyn, NY, or Alzheimer's Association.--> has a related mission: to provide Braille<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Post]]
|url=https://nypost.com/2008/01/21/real-bum-teers   |title=Real Bum $teers
|author=Jeane MacIntosh |date=January 21, 2008  |access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref> and Large Print texts,<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[New York Post]]
   		|url=https://nypost.com/2008/12/01/dollars-to-dough-nuts
        |title=Dollars to Donuts
		|author=Jeane MacIntosh |date=December 1, 2008  |access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- to publish “Braille and large-print materials.” --> in particular for religious services.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/21/automobiles/getting-rid-of-that-heap-while-saving-a-heap-of-trouble.html
|title=Getting Rid of That Heap, While Saving a Heap of Trouble
|author=Constance L. Hays  |date=October  21, 1998 |access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
* UNESCO (2013) [https://www.pharmabraille.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/World-Braille-Usage-Third-Edition-1.pdf World Braille Usage], 3rd edition.

== External links ==
*[https://stwww1.weizmann.ac.il/communication/?p=151 Braille script (כתב ברייל)]

{{Braille}}
{{Hebrew language|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:French-ordered braille alphabets]]
[[Category:Hebrew alphabet]]
[[Category:Character encoding]]
[[Category:Braille]]
[[Category:Writing systems introduced in the 1940s]]