Home / Rights & Programs / Advanced Ulpan (Bet / Gimmel) — Hebrew Beyond Basics
Advanced Ulpan (Bet / Gimmel) — Hebrew Beyond Basics in Ashkelon
Continued Hebrew studies beyond basic ulpan. Ulpan Bet (everyday), Gimmel (academic). Free / subsidized via Ministry of Aliyah. Every immigrant is eligible during the first 10 years.
About Ashkelon
Ashkelon absorbed significant waves of Israeli-Ethiopian community members from the 1990s onward and is today a major southern community hub. Community members are spread across multiple neighbourhoods in the city, alongside a growing presence of local businesses, educational institutions and community-led initiatives.
Who is eligible?
- Every oleh — even veteran community members who immigrated as children can apply (10 years from aliyah)
- Academic-degree candidates — Ulpan Gimmel teaches at academic level
- Workers wanting career advancement — Ulpan Bet for professional Hebrew
Available levels
- Ulpan Bet: 5 months, daily. Grammar, daily vocabulary, writing. Free via community center / municipal HS
- Ulpan Gimmel: 4 months, advanced. Journalistic, literary, academic Hebrew. 50% subsidy via Ministry of Aliyah
- Specialized ulpan: for professions (law, medicine, education) — dedicated programs
- Online study: Hebrew Online, eTeacher — suitable for working adults
How to start
- Level assessment: test at a municipal ulpan (10-min conversation + short text)
- Registration: municipal HS, or via Ministry of Aliyah
- Timing: Ulpan Bet starts September and February; Gimmel starts October and March
- Combine with Ulpan Otzma: tailored for workers — evening/morning hours
🔗 Ministry of Aliyah — Ulpan: gov.il/integration_program
Related rights
Vocational Training Vouchers for New Immigrants
New immigrants are entitled to vocational training vouchers worth up to ₪12,000 for accredited courses — to acquire a trade and integrate into the Israeli labour market.
Daycare Subsidy for Working Families
Subsidized daycare (ages 3 months – 3 years) for families where both parents work. Amount calibrated by combined income.
Direct Absorption — Falash Mura 2026 Pilot
2026 pilot — Falash Mura olim placed directly into housing rather than absorption centers. Rolling out in cities with established community support frameworks. First direct-absorption deployment for the community.
Hesegim Scholarships — Academic Excellence
Stipend scholarships for Ethiopian-Israeli undergraduate students at multiple universities, with personal mentoring and excellence workshops. Distinct from ISEF (graduate+) — Hesegim focuses on undergraduates.
