Seekers Updates 5/4-5/5: Yom Ha'atzmaut
This week, in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, all classes spent time learning about Israel as the Jewish homeland. Students were encouraged to consider:
What is a home? How does it make us feel? What makes us feel at home?
Is it possible to have more than one "home"? What does it mean to have a "homeland"? What does it mean to have a "home" that is not the place where we live? What does it mean to be critical of our home?
After some Hebrew learning for the younger classes, the lesson began by reading a selection of quotes about home, or looking at pictures that represent the idea of home. Students were asked to read these aloud/look at them, and choose which ones they identified with most and why. Students then discussed what is a home for them, whether we have obligations to our home, and what is the relationship between home and identity.
Older students then listened to a song by an Israeli pop group HaDag Nahash, with translation on the screen, about some of the challenges that Israel faces-- such as political corruption, and violence. Students then discussed what it means to be critical of your home or homeland. Some brought it back to America, saying that some parts of the United States or New York City frustrate and anger us, but it is where we belong, and part of who we are. Teachers wrapped up the lesson by explaining that an important part of Jewish identity is the idea of Eretz Israel as the Jewish homeland; and that in order to develop a connection to Israel, American Jews should learn more about it and consider what is their relationship to Israel--individually and collectively.
Next week, we will continue along this thread by delving into Jerusalem as the Jewish capital.
What is a home? How does it make us feel? What makes us feel at home?
Is it possible to have more than one "home"? What does it mean to have a "homeland"? What does it mean to have a "home" that is not the place where we live? What does it mean to be critical of our home?
After some Hebrew learning for the younger classes, the lesson began by reading a selection of quotes about home, or looking at pictures that represent the idea of home. Students were asked to read these aloud/look at them, and choose which ones they identified with most and why. Students then discussed what is a home for them, whether we have obligations to our home, and what is the relationship between home and identity.
Older students then listened to a song by an Israeli pop group HaDag Nahash, with translation on the screen, about some of the challenges that Israel faces-- such as political corruption, and violence. Students then discussed what it means to be critical of your home or homeland. Some brought it back to America, saying that some parts of the United States or New York City frustrate and anger us, but it is where we belong, and part of who we are. Teachers wrapped up the lesson by explaining that an important part of Jewish identity is the idea of Eretz Israel as the Jewish homeland; and that in order to develop a connection to Israel, American Jews should learn more about it and consider what is their relationship to Israel--individually and collectively.
Next week, we will continue along this thread by delving into Jerusalem as the Jewish capital.
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