ISRAEL: IN TIMES OF CRISIS
Especially in time of crisis, it is upon Jewish educators to consider the ways we can help our students and families join with the larger Jewish community in supporting Israel and its citizens. For those who have unambiguous connections to Israel, this probably has been an ongoing conversation at home and with others, with clearly defined actions of reaching out and giving. However, for those whose connections to Israel are more tenuous, it is incumbent upon Jewish educators to find ways of bridging American Jewry with Israel.
This section offers three ways for Jewish educators to help their students connect to Israel:
Without a personal, even emotional connection to Israel, information on current events, will flow over the heads of our Jewish students. Without understanding the situation, even in its simplest terms, personal actions will not take place. The following is offered to parents as a way to open conversation with their children about Israel - the four questions may easily be adapted by teachers:
Follow your child’s lead and answer their questions honestly and with simple facts. If you are not sure how to answer their questions, tell them that you’re not sure and then get back to them after you check the facts. Carefully screen any photos or video footage before you show them to your child.
Note that the general nature of this curriculum guide doesn't offer background and guidance for specific and current situations. The RESOURCES section of this website provides websites and other media links that will help educators stay up to date on any developing situations. Click the RESOURCES tab, above.
ISRAEL: SIX LENSES - A Response Curriculum
This response curriculum is designed to help educators consider age-appropriate ways to place Israel front and center in our lessons and special events planning. It focuses on six big ideas:
This section offers three ways for Jewish educators to help their students connect to Israel:
Without a personal, even emotional connection to Israel, information on current events, will flow over the heads of our Jewish students. Without understanding the situation, even in its simplest terms, personal actions will not take place. The following is offered to parents as a way to open conversation with their children about Israel - the four questions may easily be adapted by teachers:
Follow your child’s lead and answer their questions honestly and with simple facts. If you are not sure how to answer their questions, tell them that you’re not sure and then get back to them after you check the facts. Carefully screen any photos or video footage before you show them to your child.
- Have you heard about Israel in the news recently? I’d like to talk about what has been going on there this week.
- Sometimes scary things happen in our world. These events are not happening in America, but I want you to hear about this because it is something I am thinking about right now…
- I know you are hearing us worry about Israel and I want to talk about some of what the children in Israel are experiencing…
- You know Israel is so important to our family and right now there are some special things we can do to help Israel. Let’s talk about what is going on and how we can help.
Note that the general nature of this curriculum guide doesn't offer background and guidance for specific and current situations. The RESOURCES section of this website provides websites and other media links that will help educators stay up to date on any developing situations. Click the RESOURCES tab, above.
ISRAEL: SIX LENSES - A Response Curriculum
This response curriculum is designed to help educators consider age-appropriate ways to place Israel front and center in our lessons and special events planning. It focuses on six big ideas:
- Israel is a special place for Jews worldwide.
- Just as we stand by a friend in times of trouble, the Jewish community stands by Israel at this difficult time.
- It is important to be "critical consumers" of media, carefully evaluating the veracity and slant of the news about Israel.
- Israel anchors the Jewish people as a spiritual, national, and cultural center.
- To equate the actions of the Israeli army with those of Hamas terrorists, draws a moral equivalency that does not exist.
- There are specific actions we as American Jews can do to support Israel.
israel_six_lenses_jecc.pdf | |
File Size: | 937 kb |
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ISRAEL: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS - This document offers parental guidance for helping their children in the face of the news that they are hearing about Israel. It may be downloaded from the link, below:
israel_parents_2015.pdf | |
File Size: | 208 kb |
File Type: |
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Jewish Education Center of Cleveland
http://www.jecc.org
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland
http://www.jecc.org