About JCBT
The Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators (JCBT) is a non-profit educational ministry which focuses on training mother-tongue Bible translators, consultants-in-training and consultants. This training, under the auspices of the Rothberg International School for Overseas Students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, serves to allow increasing numbers of people to access to the Biblical message in their mother-tongue created from a quality translation referencing the original Hebrew text.
whom we serve
The JCBT/Hebrew University program is designed specifically for Bible translators. JCBT has served translators and consultants from several Bible translation agencies, including Biblica, Bible League, IBT, NBTT, SIL, TSCO, UBS, Word for the World and Wycliffe, as well as sign language agencies like Deaf Missions and D.O.O.R. Students have come from 47 different countries.
HOW WE SERVE
JCBT offers several courses and programs to serve translators and consultants:
- Spring Semester program which focuses on teaching the TEXT of the Bible in the CONTEXT of the living Hebrew language and in Israel as the land of the Bible.
- Several two-week “LAND OF THE BIBLE” courses that introduce the physical and cultural context of the Biblical text. Additionally, one-month programs are available for advanced levels of HEBREW – like studying specifically the book of Psalms or the general structures of Hebrew Poetry.
Short term courses have been taught in English, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Sign Language as we attempt to serve translators from a variety of cultures (including some instruction in Hebrew).
FOUNDERS & directors
Halvor Ronning
Mirja Ronning
Bob Carter
OR NAKIREKANTI
REINIER DE BLOIS
Distinctives
JCBT Semester program:
- Unique program developed over 30 years and fully accredited by the Rothberg International School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since our inception in 1995
- Designed by Bible translation consultants for Bible translation consultants and consultants-in-training:
- JCBT Executive Director: Bob Carter – 42 years in Bible translation, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Seed Company Senior Translation Consultant
- JCBT Academic Director: Dr. Reinier de Blois – 42 years in Bible translation, United Bible Societies Global Translation Consultant and Director of Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship
- Four core courses in Semantics of Biblical Hebrew, Discourse Analysis of Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew Poetry, and Historical Geography of the Land of the Bible are taught by specialists in those fields from the Bible translation world
- Semantics of Biblical Hebrew: Dr. Reinier de Blois, Editor-in-Chief Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and author of publications on Semantics: https://nidainstitute.academia.edu/ReinierdeBlois
- Discourse Analysis of Biblical Hebrew: Dr. Lénart de Regt, United Bible Societies Global Translation Consultant, 11 years of teaching at the Free University of Amsterdam and 28 years in Bible translation. Since 2014 he has also taught as invited professor at the Pontifical Urbaniana University at the Vatican, in the program for the Diploma in Bible Translation. He is author of books and articles on Discourse Analysis: https://independent.academia.edu/L%C3%A9nartdeRegt
- Biblical Hebrew Poetry (alternating years):
- Ernst Wendland, UBS Global Translation Advisor-Retired (30 years); Prof. and PhD supervisor at Stellenbosch University, South African Theological Seminary, and Oxford Centre for Mission Studies; Adjunct Prof. at Dallas International University and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary; author of books and articles on Hebrew poetry: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ernst-Wendland/research
- Murray Salisbury, Translation Consultant with SIL's Global Consultant Pool, with 35 years of experience training over 2000 consultants and translators at 155 courses around the world in Hebrew poetry and other Old Testament topics
- Historical Geography of the Land of the Bible: Bob Carter, Seed Company Senior Translation Consultant and Executive Director JCBT, 11 years of experience leading courses in Israel together with licensed guides
- A fifth core course in Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible is taught by Dr. Itai Kagan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem https://huji.academia.edu/ItaiKagan/CurriculumVitae
- Our Semester Program has served 236 students from 65 countries representing many languages around the world https://bibletranslators.org/courses-programs/#semester
Other JCBT programs:
- We were originally named “Home for Bible Translators” to provide a smaller, more intimate environment to accommodate students from a variety of cultures and languages: Africa, Asia, Pacific, Europe, South America, North America. This is still the heart of our programs, but we have expanded to include the following:
- Biblical Hebrew for Consultant Training (BHCT), partnering with Jerusalem Seminary/Hebrew for the Nations, Seed Company, and SIL to provide training in Biblical Hebrew and the Land of the Bible for Translation Consultants and Consultants-in-Training who are working full-time. https://bibletranslators.org/courses-programs/#bhct
- One-Book-at-a-Time courses – Three-week intensive courses for more advanced Hebrew students on various books of the Bible. Examples of past courses: Leviticus (in French), Psalms, Proverbs, Joel, Micah, and Habakkuk. Upcoming course on Psalms: https://bibletranslators.org/courses-programs/#psalms
Two-week Land of the Bible courses – These courses focus on introducing Translation Consultants to the Land of the Bible through 12 intensive days of field trips throughout Israel https://bibletranslators.org/courses-programs/#twoweek
Life at JCBT
Home-Like Accommodations
The Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators provides the use of five shared bedrooms (2 or 3 students to a room, maximum of 10 students), some of them with their own private bathroom. In addition, JCBT volunteers provide daily meals and linens and bedding as needed. Three basic daily meals are provided for the duration of the course for students residing at the Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators.
Student life at JCBT is more like living with a family than living in a dorm on a university campus. Students eat together, have devotions together and at times study together. They develop into a family of mutually supportive students and volunteer staff. Previous experience of living with a roommate is extremely important in terms of the humble adjustments that often need to be made!
Student Duties and Services
JCBT provides a quiet setting for study in an international community of serious students and scholars. It features a small basic library for Old Testament translators and a large common living room.
Students are required to clean their room weekly, wash their own clothes and to routinely give a helping hand to volunteer kitchen staff. Use of a washing machine, photocopier and fax are also available.
High-speed cable and wireless internet connections are available free of charge at both JCBT and at the HU University.
A phone is available for local calls. Long distance calls can be made using a locally purchased prepaid phone card or via internet phone systems, like Skype or Gtalk.
Student Life
It is important that students have the ability to work and live together in this social setting. With weekly study trips, Shabbat dinners, daily rides to the University and back there is no lack of good company. One will rarely, if ever, become lonely or bored. On the contrary, the program is exceedingly intensive, each day being packed with classes, homework and social time.
During what little free time is available–Saturdays and during the University vacation week–you can get involved with the local Christian community, take your own tours around Jerusalem, shop at the local stores or take a bus trip to Tel Aviv.
updates & news
A slide show by an alumnus of short-term consultants program, Stephen Payne (2014).
Semester Course Instructors
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- Natali Akun, Ph.D. Biblical Hebrew. (Ph.D. Hebrew University) Researcher, Hebrew Language Academy and Lecturer, Efrata College. Published author.
- Cyril Aslanov, Ph.D. Biblical Hebrew (Ph.D, Sorbonne, Paris and HDR) Professor of Hebrew and Romantic Languages, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Extensive Publications.
- Amnon Bruck, Ph.D. Biblical Hebrew (PhD. in Hebrew and Semitic Languages, Bar-Ilan University with certification to teach Hebrew as a second language. He founded an Ulpan at the Sofaer International MBA program at Tel Aviv University. Published author.
- Aaron Hornkohl. Ph.D. Discourse Analysis, Hebrew Tutoring and Hebrew Langauge Lectures. (BA, Biola University, M.A., Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Language Teaching Officer in Hebrew, Cambridge University. Instructor, Biblical Language Center. Published author, e.g in Encyclopedia of Hebrew Language and Linguistics (Brill, 2013).
- Randall Buth, Ph.D. Biblical Hebrew and Discourse Analysis (Ph.D.in Semitic Studies, UCLA) Director of the Biblical Language Center. Extensive publications.
- Danny Herman, MA. “Texts in Context” – Historical Geography and Context of the Bible. (M.A. Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Instructor in Archaeology at Hebrew University and at the Israel School of Tourism.
- Glenn Kerr, Ph.D. Discourse Analysis. Chief Translation Consultant for Bibles International. Adjunct Professor of Linguistics at Northland International University; Bible translation Consultant working primarily with in Francophone West and Central Africa.
- B. Brian Kvasnica, M.A. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem). “Texts in Context” —Historical Geography and Context of the Bible. JCBT Director of Short-Term Programs; Assistant Biblical Hebrew teacher at the Biblical Language Center; Director, Jerusalem Biblical Studies Society. Published “Parable of the Vineyard Tenants and Son” (in Jesus’ Last Week, Brill 2006) and “Early Jewish Historiography and Ethics of Plundering” in Writing and Reading War (SBL, 2008).
- Tania Notarius, Ph.D. Biblical Hebrew. Biblical Hebrew instructor at Rothberg International School, Hebrew University. Published author.
- Brian Schultz Ph.D. Historical Geography and Context of the Hebrew Bible. (BA. Briercrest Bible College, MA Jerusalem University College, Ph.D. Bar-Ilan University). Professor of Bible at Fresno University, California. Published author.
- Halvor Ronning, D.D. h.c. JCBT Co-Founder and Co-Director and instructor for Historical Geography and Context of the Bible. (B.A., St. Olaf College; B.D. Luther Seminary; M.A. from Yale University, D.D. h.c. University of California). Founding member of the Jerusalem School for Synoptic Research, Lecturer at Rothberg International School, Hebrew University, Published author.
- Smadar Barak, MA. Biblical Hebrew. Hebrew language instructor at Hebrew University. Former director of the Mazye Institute for the History of the Hebrew Language Revival.
2019 French Semester Course Instructors
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- Eyal Nahum, linguist & language instructor – Specializing in teaching Biblical Hebrew. Age: 40. M.A. in General Linguistics, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, summa cum laude. Master theme: The relative article. A study of relative pronoun attraction in Herodotean Greek.
Read More ... - Rafi Kassimov (Ph.D., Rabbi) “Texts in Context” – Historical Geography and Context of the Bible. Lecturer, Instructor of French Language and Literature, Hebrew University; Lecturer, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies; Israeli Tour guide.
- Rev. Dr Paul M. Mpindi, PhD – PhD in Biblical (OT) Hermeneutics from Calvin Theological Seminary (USA). Dissertation's title: Calvin Hermeneutics of the Imprecation of the Psalms.
Read More ... - Lynell Zogbo, Ph.D. (3x) UBS Translations Consultant; Lecturer, Faculte de Theologie Evangelique Alliance Chretienne (FATEAC); Adjunct Lecturer & Research Associate, University of the Free State; Editor UBS Handbook Series and Sycamore, a journal for Francophone translators. Published author.
- Samy Ikoa Tioyé, Global Translation Advisor with the United Bible Societies. Ph.D. in Bible Translation Studies, Africa International University, 2013. Topic: 'Eating Blood' in the Old Testament: Interpretation and Translation into Lobiri.
Read More ... - Anne Garber Kompaoré – Born February 8, 1955 in East York, Ontario, Canada. Citizenship of Canada and Burkina. Married to Pastor Daniel Kompaoré January 2, 1993 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Read More ...
LECTURERS
Lénart de Regt
Reinier de Blois
Lynell Marchese ZOGBO
Ernst R. Wendland
BOB CARTER
Executive Director
MURRAY SALISBURY
ITAI KAGAN
ronit maoz
Instructors for Bible Translation Exegesis Seminar
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- Katharine Barnwell, Ph.D. (1x). (Ph.D., Linguistics, School of Oriental and African Studies and University College, University of London). Advisor to the Senior Vice President, The Seed Company (TSC), 2013– and Certified Senior Translation Consultant, SIL International, 2012–. Extensive Publications.
- Julie Bentinck, MA (3x) Translation Consultant in Africa, SIL – Summer Institute of Linguistics. Published Author.
- Bob Carter, MA (2x). (M.A., Hebrew Bible Translation, Jerusalem University College). Senior Translation Consultant, Seed Company 2010-, and Certified Senior Translation Consultant, SIL International, 2012–.
- Noah Lee, Ph.D. (2x) Published Author.
- Dr. Krijn van der Jagt (1x) Senior Emeritus UBS Translation Consultant, United Bible Societies. Extensive Publications.
- Hanni Kuhn, MA (2x) Published Author.
- Murray Salisbury, MA (2x) Lecturer, Training Workshops and Seminars for Bible Translators and Consultants in many parts of the world; Adjunct Professor of Hebrew and OT Exegesis at the Handong Global University, Pohang, South Korea.
- Tim Wilt, Ph.D. (1x) (Ph.D. Michigan State University in Linguistics) Former Wycliffe Consultant in Africa and Assistant Professor, Middle Tennessee State University. Published author.
- Lynell Zogbo, Ph.D. (3x) UBS Translations Consultant; Lecturer, Faculte de Theologie Evangelique Alliance Chretienne (FATEAC); Adjunct Lecturer & Research Associate, University of the Free State; Editor UBS Handbook Series and Sycamore, a journal for Francophone translators. Published author.
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