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- Article: American Jewish Public Affairs And Israel: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
By Martin Raffel
An article exploring the organized American Jewish community's public affairs involvement with Israel. Taken from the Israel at 50 issue of the The Reconstructionist, Spring 1998.
- Article: Guidelines For Successful Israel Education
By Susan A. Ticker
This page presents some findings about the design of successful Israel education programs in North America. Each of its thirteen guidelines, such as Articulate and Integrate, are words which end in "-ate". They are an English language wordplay on the Hebrew word "et", meaning "time", which figures so prominently in the opening quotation from Kohelet. The overall theme is that "taking the time to make it real" can pay off in more compelling Israel educational programming.
- Article: Interpreting Jewish History In Light Of Zionism
By Rabbi Jacob Staub
An examination of how Zionist readings of Jewish history affect the way that the meaning of the Jewish past and present is interpreted. Published as a part of the Israel at 50 issue of The Reconstructionist, Spring 1998.
- Article: Israel And Identity Building: Educating American Jews About Israel
By Elan Ezrachi
An article examining the role Israel plays in American Jewish identity construction. Ezrachi argues that American Jews are deeply attached to Israel on an emotional level, yet are detached from Israel on cognitive and behavioral levels. He suggests that it is likely that as time passes this emotional attachment will wane and it is to the benefit of both Israelis and Americans to develop ways to create and strengthen American connections to Israel in both emotional and behavioral realms. Taken from the Israel at 50 issue of The Reconstructionist, Spring 1998.
- Article: Israel And The Diaspora: A Reconstructionist Reconsideration Of Zionism
By Dr. David Teutsch
An exploration of a contemporary Reconstructionist understanding of Zionism, from the Israel at 50 issue of The Reconstructionist, Spring 1998.
- Article: Religion And Democracy In Israel
By Rabbi Jack Cohen
This article, taken from the Israel at 50 issue of The Reconstructionist (Spring, 1998), is an altered form of a paper that was delivered in 1995 before the Rainbow Club, a Jewish-Christian theological discussion group that meets monthly in Jerusalem.
- Article: The Balcony
By Ruth Calderon
Throughout 2005, in honor of the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America, Israeli Ruth Calderon shared her observations about living as an Israeli in America and her perceptions on the complexity of American Jewish identity. Moving acrostically through the alphabet, Calderon offers American Jews an opportunity to view their everyday experiences through an Israeli prism. The following excerpts on "America," "Flag," "Jerusalem," and "Zionism," are reprinted with permission from Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility.
- Article: Zionism After Israel: Some Modest Proposals
By Deborah Dash Moore
An article envisioning how we might redefine Zionism for the 21st century. Taken from the Israel at 50 Issue of The Reconstructionist, Spring 1998.
- Audio Interview: Reconstructionist Education
By Rabbi Linda Holtzman, Rabbi Jeffrey Schein, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Dr. Jeffrey Schein and Rabbi Linda Holtzman examine the key components and processes that are integral for effective education according to Reconstructionist philosophy and values. An episode of Heart, Mind and Spirit, the first regularly scheduled Reconstructionist radio show in the history of the movement.
- Bibliography: Israel And Zionism Selected Bibliography
By Israel Policies Task Force
An extensive bibliography on Israel and Zionism, excerpted from the JRF Israel Policies Task Force Report (2004).
- Class Activity: Flag And Graffiti: A Photo Lesson About Israel
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
Students study a photo taken in Jerusalem of a street sign whose Arabic letters have been crossed out by graffiti. Tough questions help students to consider difficult questions about living in a Jewish state.
- Class Activity: Hebrew Slaves And Israeli Foreign Workers
By Rabbi Amy Klein
Torah text and newspaper articles draw connections between contemporary Israeli foreign workers and ancient Hebrew slaves. Includes discussion questions and links to Israeli human rights organizations' websites.
- Class Activity: Israeli Women's Social Change Organizations
By Rabbi Amy Klein
After reading through a selection of Israeli social change organizations that demonstrate how diverse Israeli women are advancing the status of their peers, students are invited to learn about what's happening close to home by interviewing representatives of local organizations.
- Class Activity: Laws Protecting Women's Rights In Israel And In Your Country
By Rabbi Amy Klein
This activity gives a couple examples of progressive legislation that protects women's rights in Israel and asks students to research laws that were recently passed in their own countries, as well as proposing some of their own.
- Class Activity: The Te'udat Zehut - Identification Card
By Rabbi Amy Klein
This lesson gives students a picture of one aspect of daily life in Israel and asks them to think about discrimination and the concept of nationality, as well as other issues related to national indentity cards.
- Community Discussion Guide: A Guide To Talking About Israel In Your Congregation
By Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Recognizing that communal dialogue about Israel can often be challenging, this guide aims to help congregations engage in open and honest conversations about Israel. The guide addresses the kinds of issues and concerns that make these conversations challenging, suggests how to overcome some of these issues, and provides several sample exercises to use to help facilitate these conversations.
- FAQ: "How Can I Support Israel When I Don't Like The Way Israel Has Treated The Palestinians?"
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin, Rabbi Moti Rieber, Rabbi Jeffrey Schein
Answers this common question by explaining the importance of continuing to love someone (or something) who sometimes does things we don't like. Can also apply to issues of religious pluralism or other areas where we are disappointed with what happens in Israel.
- FAQ: Reconstructionists Educators' Frequently Asked Questions On Israel
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin, Rabbi Moti Rieber, Rabbi Jeffrey Schein
Excerpts from the Reconstructionist Educators' Frequently Asked Questions. Provides sample answers to questions related to Reconstructionist attitudes towards Israel, and as well as questions dealing with Palestinian - Israeli relations.
- FAQ: What Is The Reconstructionist Attitude Toward Israel?
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin, Rabbi Moti Rieber, Rabbi Jeffrey Schein
A description of the Reconstructionist perspective on Israel, from the Reconstructionist Education's Frequently Asked Questions.
- Lesson Plan: Herzl Play, Monologue And Activities For Grades 4-7
By Gabrielle S. Kaplan-Mayer
A monologue, dramatic scene, and activities on the life of Herzl to make the heroes of Israel's history come alive, commissioned by the JRF-NY Israel Education Project.
- Lesson Plan: Jewish Planes: A Photo Lesson About Israel
By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
A lesson adaptable for grades 1 to adult that asks students to examine emotionally and intellectually the existence of a Jewish national airline which displays the Star of David prominently
- Policy: Zionism And Communal Covenant: A Reconstructionist Approach To Essential Jewish Principals
By Israel Policies Task Force
This piece is an excerpt from the JRF Israel Policies Task Force Report (2004). The section presented outlines the task force's call for a recommitment to Zionism on the part of the JRF. It explores defining Kaplan's 'New Zionism' for the 21st century, as well as how we might use the concept of communal covenant to strengthen the relationships between the Reconstructionist community, Israel and the broader Jewish community.
- Program Description: Israel In Our Lives: Life-Long Learning About The Land Of Israel
By Steve Burnstein
A curriculum for Israel education from early childhood through old age. Burnstein encourages people of all ages to connect to the Land of Israel through language, liturgy, song, trips and relationships.
- Program Description: Proposal For A Reconstructionist Day School
By Shira Stutman
Shira Stutman imagined this model of a Reconstructionist high school that she named Lab Yeshiva. She proposes block scheduling, integrated secular and Judaic studies and service learning to Jewishly educate students who are not being served by traditional college-prep academies.
- Ritual: Israeli Independence Day Ceremony
By Rabbi Rebecca Lillian
A service for Yom Ha'atzma'ut with celebratory and memorial components through readings, poetry and song.
- Ritual: Three Alternative Versions Of The Prayer For The State Of Israel
By Rabbi Amy Klein
The traditional Prayer for the State of Israel troubles many people with its messianic references. Here are three alternatives from JRF, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and the Shtibl Minyan of Los Angeles.
- Text Compilation: Kaplan On Zionism And Other Key Texts
By Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
Brief examples from the Zionist writings of: Theodore Herzl, A.D. Gordon, David Ben-Gurion, Mordecai Kaplan, and Jack Cohen.
- Text Study: Israel's Proclamation Of Independence
By Rabbi Amy Klein
An invitation to an in depth study of Israel's Proclamation of Independence in the weeks leading up to Yom Ha'atzma'ut according to the tradition of studying Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) from Pesah until Shavuot.
- Teaching Liturgy
- Teaching Modern Hebrew
- Teaching Reconstructionism
- Teaching Text
- Text Study
- Youth Group
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