Hebrew Wikipedia

Language and presentation

Content is written in the Hebrew script and the site uses right-to-left layout conventions that accommodate Hebrew typography and directionality. Articles typically use standard modern Hebrew orthography; biblical or liturgical forms appear where context requires. The interface and community tools have been adapted so that menus, editing boxes and navigation respect Hebrew reading order.

History and development

The Hebrew edition was started in July 2003 as one of many language editions that followed the original English project. Over its history it has grown through the efforts of volunteers who create, translate and improve articles. By February 2012 the edition had surpassed notable milestones reported at that time: more than 130,000 articles, over 534,000 total pages and tens of thousands of uploaded files. As of October 2015 it was ranked among the larger Wikimedia language editions by article count.

Community, governance and structure

The site is governed by a community of contributors who follow core principles shared with other Wikipedias, such as neutral point of view, verifiability and free licensing. Local policies and guidelines adapt those principles to Hebrew-language practice. Roles within the community typically include regular editors, administrators who handle technical and policy enforcement tasks, and various informal groups organizing improvement efforts.

• Volunteer editors who create and maintain content
• Administrators and stewards overseeing site operations
• Working groups and WikiProjects focused on subjects like Israeli history, Judaica or science

Quality assessment and recognition systems, such as featured articles and quality lists, help highlight polished content while encouraging ongoing improvement.

Uses, significance and challenges

Hebrew Wikipedia serves as an accessible reference in Hebrew for readers inside Israel and across the Hebrew-speaking diaspora. It supports education, public information and the preservation and development of modern Hebrew terminology. Like other language editions, it faces challenges including coverage gaps, potential systemic bias, vandalism and the need for sustained editor recruitment. The project remains a living, community-driven resource that evolves as contributors add new material and refine existing articles.

For more information or to contribute, readers can visit the Hebrew-language site and the broader Wikimedia documentation available through the project links above.