Curriculum for Israel Education
We have developed a new Israel education curriculum, so as to facilitate an educational journey for our chanichimot as they grow up through the movement. We are collaborating with several educators, who each hold decades of experience teaching about Israel and progressive Zionism. This new curriculum is centred around these key aims:
- To identify Liberal Jewish values in the history of the Land of Israel
- To promote a progressive Zionist vision of Israel as a haven of equality, peace and justice for Jews and the many others who call it home.
- To develop a nuanced understanding of the Jewish and Palestinian connections to the Land of Israel
- To explore Jewish, Palestinian and other group's cultures and nationhood.
Ananim
Year 3-4
Our youngest participants (age 8-9) will begin by focusing on Israel as a place of biblical stories and tales, deepening their Jewish understanding of the land. They will learn about how Israel contains major holy sites for three religions, and how Israelis and Palestinians are connected to the region. They will be introduced to ideas of a state and nation, and asked what makes an ideal society.
Plagim
Year 5-6
Plagim will learn about the founding principles of the State of Israel as one one ‘based on liberty, justice and peace (...) guaranteeing full freedom of consciences, worship, education and culture’ and what this looks like in theory and practice. Through this they will be introduced formally to the concept of Zionism and the history of this movement.
Nechalim
Year 7-8
Ages 12-14 will build upon these early Zionist ideals, stated in the Declaration of Independence. They will learn about the differences and similarities in the multitude of cultures and identities throughout Israel and Palestine. Through engaging in these different cultures and perspectives, they will be introduced to the history of conflict in the region, giving them a foundation for the next stages of their education. We will point to pro-peace organisations and initiatives, highlighting examples of coexistence and collaboration in the face of conflict.
Yamim
Year 9
At this age our participants, some of whom often don’t engage in much Jewish life outside of LJY-Netzer, are absorbing information from many different sources about Israel/Palestine, including the news and social media. Throughout their LJY Journey, our participants will have understood the aspirational founding of Israel as a state built upon ‘liberty, justice and peace’. The journey will now look at the reality of life in the country today, and the evolving political situation. They will look at ways of pursuing the ideals that Israel was founded upon, engaging with interfaith and activist organisations that are working towards a peaceful resolution.
Chalutzim
Year 10
In their final year of Kadimah, and the year before Israel Tour, our chalutzim (pioneers) will deepen their knowledge of the history and current society in Israel and Palestine. This will include looking Israel's Progressive Jewish community, and considering the significance the Jewish homeland holds for us as Liberal Jews. They will develop a more nuanced view of Israel's political sphere, exploring Palestinian perspectives alongside Israeli ones, with particular focus directed towards peace-building and social justice initiatives.
Israel Tour and Kayitz
Year 11 & 12
At this stage in their learning journey, we will cultivate a passionate and critical engagement in current events. Chanichimot will experience the multifaceted reality of the Jewish homeland and how expereiences differ between its inhabitants (eg. Orthodox Jews, proressive Jews, Ethiopian Jews, Palestinians...). Time will be taken to understand our own identity and relationship to the land - as progressive Jews, many of us with Israeli family. We will hold and value a multitude of perspectives on Israel, Palestine and the conflict.
Galimot and Bogrimot
Age 17+
Galimot and Bogrimot take on a variety of leadership roles in LJY, including delivering education on Israel/Palestine. At this stage we hope that members will have a broad and detailed knowledge of the conflict, engaging in political discussion, and campaigns both within LJY and with external organisations such as Yachad. Many of our Galimot and Bogrimot experience or are involved with I/P politics on campus and at school. Our aim is that they are equipped and impassioned to enter into conversations with empathy, as well as confidence and conviction in their knowledge and identity.