Hebrew/Yiddish question ...

[bluecat <bluecat...>]

Could someone remind me? ... I have it confused in my head:

Was Hebrew a conversational spoken language before it was established as the 
official language of the new state of Israel?  If so, who was speaking it 
before that?  Or was it like Latin for the Catholic Church, used only in 
religous contexts like prayers, torah study, etc.  Was it "standardized" for 
Israel?  If so, who did that?

Also, I am recalling there was controversy over using Yiddish as the official 
language ... some felt it was a language of oppression, and as such, not a good 
one for Israel.  Is this so?  Who decided?

zay gezunt,
bj