Framing Jewish Peoplehood through historical/conceptual phases, while not an exact science, can be helpful in our attempts to better understand and address current challenges. Each of the periods defined below brought about dramatic changes that required paradigmatic shifts in constructing a meaningful purpose, ethos and practical focus for the Jewish collective enterprise. It is time…
The past year has been a very productive one for the Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education and we’d love to share some of the highlights from the past 12 months: Two new editions of the Peoplehood Papers: #13 on Jewish Peoplehood: What does it mean? Why is it important? How do we Nurture It?; #14, inspired by the…
We are delighted to introduce you to the latest edition of the Peoplehood Papers. This 14th edition is dedicated to Sustainability and Jewish Peoplehood. We decided to provide the Siach Network a public platform to grapple with the challenge of sustainability through the Peoplehood lens. With focus on shmita (the Sabbatical year – which has just begun)…
With the onset of the new year, we are delighted to announce some fantastic new resources from the CJPE. First, check out www.jpeoplehood.org – the new website of the Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education. Re-organized, with a new look and now fully accessible on mobile devices, the CJPE website is here to serve you…
The recent war just like any war before also raises issues relating to the Jewish people as a whole. Below are a few questions and issues I have been grappling with in these difficult days. We would love to hear your insights: Solidarity – when Jews are in trouble their sense of solidarity rises to…
There are many ways in which to understand why and how Israel is significant for Jews. Some argue that it is the Promised Land; it is a refuge from persecution; it is the realization of secular Jewish nationalism; it is the hub for Jewish culture and innovation. Each of these approaches reflect a set of…
One of the most powerful statements about the importance of Jewish Peoplehood comes to us every year through the story of the Wicked Son in the Passover Hagaddah. What does the Wicked Son (‘Ha’Rasha’) say? “What is this [Passover] to you?” To you, and not to him. And since he excludes himself from the community…
Goldwater and Ravid focus their response broadly on education. They introduce the Toolkit for Peoplehood Education, acknowledging that there is an identity crisis requiring a holistic educational approach, facilitated by educators as key change agents for assuring a strong and rich Jewish collective future. It reflects their conviction that the response should be practical, proactive…
For Israelis, the natural collective identity is Israeli, and being part of a national majority in the Jewish State is not conducive to a Jewish Peoplehood conversation. Jewish Peoplehood is not really part of their identity. They recognize the importance of the world Jewry in times of crisis, but they lack a general interest in…
