The current crisis in Israel has educational ramifications for Jewish educators everywhere. We encourage you to explore some of the big issues with your students and constituents, from a Peoplehood perspective.
Here are some topic ideas, based on some reflections in our recent blog posts:
1. Big Questions. Read Shlomi Ravid's recent blog post about the core Peoplehood questions that are arising from the current situation in Israel. Choose one to explore more fully with your students. For example, if you want to consider the questions of universal versus particular values, take a look at our resources on this topic in the Peoplehood Education Toolkit and the edition of the Peoplehood Papers dedicated to this subject.
2. Notions of Solidarity. Read Elan Ezrachi's recent blog post and the original post from 2012. Consider some of these questions with your students/congregants/work colleagues:
- Where and how do you see Jewish solidarity at this time?
- Do you agree with Elan Ezrachi that the current form of Jewish solidarity that we are seeing is undesirable?
- What do you think are the roots of solidarity between different types of Jews? What would you like it to look like?
3. Family Feelings. Read Clare Goldwater's recent blog post about Jewish Peoplehood as family ties. Watch the videos on this topic by Avraham Infeld.
- Think more deeply about the family metaphor. What does it imply about our relationships with each other? How do your students feel about this metaphor? Does it help them feel more or less connected to other Jews?
- Ask your students if they have ever had a "family" experience with other Jews they didn't know.
- Think about Avraham Infeld's distinction between "uniform" and "unified". As he asks – Is it possible for us to be unified without being uniform? On what basis?
We'd love to hear more ideas, and feedback from you about how you have raised some of these issues with your learners.