I grew up in a Christian home in rural Georgia with zero connection to Israel or the Middle East.

So how in the world did I end up starting something called Hebrew Haven?

I’ve always been drawn to different languages and the way they create bridges between people and culture. I studied Linguistics in undergrad as a way to explore that curiosity.

…I’ve also always had a bit of a travel bug.

While in college, I took my first trip to Israel with a student group.

I had no idea how much that trip would impact the trajectory of my life.

I fell in love with the land.

I already loved the Bible, but after seeing the land where those stories really took place—where Jesus walked—it came alive in a way I never could have anticipated.

Hearing Hebrew spoken on buses, in cafés, and in the middle of ordinary conversations on the street.

The language of the Bible—and the people of the Bible—aren’t just something preserved in ancient texts.

They are alive.

It was as if seeing the real dust and stones drove home for me that the stories I’d grown up hearing weren’t just stories.

They were real history.

And they were evidence of the Great Story that God is telling.

The faith I’d grown up with suddenly felt more solid, like I had a hook on which to hang all the pieces I’d been holding.

That experience stayed with me long after the trip ended, and to my delight, my studies and work have taken me back to Israel again and again.

Sharing my passion for Israel is one of my greatest delights.

The history of that region runs deep, and the modern reality is equally complex.

Any meaningful engagement with the language and context of the Old Testament needs to hold both things together—deep respect for the Jewish people and their ongoing story, and an honest awareness of the modern State of Israel as it exists today.

I also speak Arabic (poorly!) and have friends on different sides of the current war in the Middle East.

No matter our cultural background or political views, it’s incredibly important to remember that there are humans in the middle of this mess with their own stories.

Over the years I’ve seen that many Christians love the Old Testament, but very few have ever been invited into the language behind it in a way that feels approachable.

Hebrew often gets framed as something highly academic.

But the language is far more accessible than most people expect.

Hebrew works through patterns.

Roots repeat. Letters carry meaning.

Once those pieces start to make sense, reading becomes less mysterious, and much more enjoyable.

Teaching people to experience the moment when the text suddenly begins to open up is one of my favorite things.

Whether it’s in the classroom or on the dusty streets of Jerusalem.

I believe there is a reason that God chose Hebrew as the language through which to record his story.

We are all invited into a story that is much greater than ourselves.

I hope you’ll join me on the journey!