you learn something new every day

These cognate languages are going to be the end of me...
Akadian, Ugaritic, Aramaic -- they are so close to Hebrew, but far
away in other respects.
The grammatical structure and vocabulary are essentially the same.
However, they all have an alphabet to be learned that
is distinct from the Regal block script of modern Hebrew. Ugaritic
and Aramaic (i.e., the Assyrian style alphabet) are do-able.
The Akkadian alphabet is not realistic to learn (with some 850 characters in it),
so you have to learn the grammar, then keep a reference tool handy for the
alphabet.
Then, within the highly similar grammar, there are distinctions and differences
(an ending here, a prefix there), and this adds to the difficulty.
Finally, there is vocabulary that is distinct between them.
But it's a shame not to learn them, since all things considered they are
basically the same language.