Teaching Israel Lectures, Sessions, Workshops and Seminars
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Modern Israel and Zionism
Religion and State
This peilut explores various issues related to religion and state, or Knesset and Beit Haknesset, in Israel including kashrut, personal status and Shabbat. Participants will play the role of Knesset legislators and High Court Justices in determining the "correct" path of Israel.
Knesset Game
This peilut introduces participants to the workings of the Israeli parliamentary system. In groups, participants will stand as candidates for election to the Knesset, vote in the Knesset, and build parliamentary coalitions.
"The Legacy of Rabin" - how do we remember?
This textual analysis "shiur" will explore the concept of the legacy of Rabin, achdut Yisrael, and the notion of memory and ideology.
Jerusalem If I Forget You - Jerusalem's Seam Lines
This session explores the points of friction between various groups in Jerusalem - Arabs, Haredim and secular. The Sheikh Jarrah evictions, the Karta Parking Lot riots and the eruv mehudar in Kiriyat Ha'Yovel, along with conceptions of different Jerusalems, will be explored.
Israeli Culture Workshop
This workshop explores Israeli society and culture through an examination of songs, films, short stories and/or photos by leading Israeli artists.
Saving Gilad Shalit - Was it a good deal?
This shiur examines the different Jewish legal approaches to ransom payment - and risking one's life - for the freeing of Jewish hostages. Participants will be asked how to apply the principles that they have learned to the case of Gilad Shalit.
Introduction to Zionist thought and theory
This peilut introduces participants to the basics of Zionist ideology through chavruta learning opportunities, and values clarification exercises. Participants will be asked to develop their own definition of Zionist thought.
Israel and Jerusalem in Jewish sources
This shiur deals with the theme of Israel and Jerusalem in Biblical, and Talmudic and other Rabbinic literature, discussing whether any lessons regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict today can and should be learned from ancient Jewish sources of yesteryear.
Aliyah U'Klitah (Immigration and Absorption) - Melting Pot and Multiculturalism
This session deals with Ashkenzi-Sefardi/Yemenite tensions through film, literature and art. The notion of "Israeli elites" will be examined, as will the question of whether a "melting pot" (homogenous) or multicultural (heterogeneous) model of society is more appropriate for Israel.
Poverty in the City
This lecture deals with Jewish viewpoints on socio-economic issues, and will introduce participants to the state of the Israeli economy and social gaps in Israeli society through examining essential economic facts and figures. The question of Haredi and Arab participation in the workforce will also be explored.
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
This lecture will outline each Israeli-Arab war (background the war, the war itself, and the results of the war).
The Arab-Israeli Peace Process
This lecture will outline the Israeli-Arab peace process from Sadat's visit to Israel to today.
Israel Updates
This can either be run as a news and current affairs update, or as sessions that enable participants to gain an understanding of the conceptual framework of the key spheres of Israeli news and current affairs (security and defense, economics, and society and culture).
Jewish World
Jewish Unity
This peilut explores the similarities and differences between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox streams of Judaism, in the areas of kashrut, tefilah, conversion, marriage and burial. Participants will be educated towards an embrace of Jewish Unity and the notion of respectful, brotherly dialogue.
Jewish History
Introduction to Medieval Jewish History
This lesson deals with the emergence of Ashkenazi and Sefardi Jewry, examining some of the key personalities, texts and events of the period.
Educators/Jewish Leaders
Education v Indoctrination - How Should We Act as (Halachic) Educators?
This peilut explores the thin line that exists between education and indoctrination in informal educational settings, and would be ideally suited for educational leaders working in Halachic educational settings.
Education v Indoctrination - How Should We Act as Zionist Educators?
This peilut explores the thin line that exists between education and indoctrination in informal educational settings, and would be ideally suited for educational leaders working in Zionist educational settings.
Jewish Leadership - Case Studies from the Bible and Midrash
This shiur focuses on the Biblical characters of Nachson Ben Aminadav, Miriam, Yitro, Avraham, Joshua and Caleb, Moshe, and Hur. It is suitable for leaders of all ages and types of institutions.
Shabbat Menuchah - A Sabbath of Rest
Based on an article by Rabbi Saul Berman, this shiur examines notions of rest in Judaism - Shabbat, Pesach and Yom Kippur and Shnat Shemitah (the sabbatical year) - and how these parts of our Jewish tradition may affect our conceptions of self-worth and the value that we see in others. Important pedagogical questions related to these issues will also be raised.
Jewish thought
Jewish Mysticism
This shiur examines the notion of "Ma'aseh HaMerkavah" and the development of early Jewish mysticism. Links to the work of Franz Kafka will also be explored.
Cain and Abel
This shiur examines the notion of midrash, textual gaps, lower Biblical criticism, higher Biblical criticism and ancient Near East textual parallels, in an attempt to understand the Bible story more fully.
Jewish Law Game
This peilut explores the development of Jewish oral law, specifically the Talmud. Participants will write their own page of Talmud. The simulation game will be followed by a sikkum, explaining briefly the legal development process.
Israel and Jerusalem in Jewish sources
This shiur deals with the theme of Israel and Jerusalem in Biblical, and Talmudic and other Rabbinic literature, discussing whether any lessons regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict today can and should be learned from ancient Jewish sources of yesteryear.
Shabbat Menuchah - A Sabbath of Rest
Based on an article by Rabbi Saul Berman, this shiur examines notions of rest in Judaism - Shabbat, Pesach and Yom Kippur and Shnat Shemitah (the sabbatical year) - and how these parts of our Jewish tradition may affect our conceptions of self-worth and the value that we see in others.
Saving Gilad Shalit - Was it a good deal?
This shiur examines the different Jewish legal approaches to ransom payment - and risking one's life - for the freeing of Jewish hostages. Participants will be asked how to apply the principles that they have learned to the case of Gilad Shalit.
Shoah
Shoah and Theology
This seminar explores Jewish theological responses to the Shoah, through a values clarification exercise.
Shoah and Memory
This seminar explores the notion of commemoration of the Shoah and the idea of developing a Holocaust ritual. It also deals with the concept of Israel and the Shoah, facilitating an understanding amongst participants of how the new Israeli state grappled with the tragedy of the Holocaust in its early years and beyond.
Shoah Denial in the Australian context
This seminar explores how Holocaust deniers operate, what they believe, and how they affect us.
Please contact Teaching Israel Director, Ilan Bloch, at [email protected] for further information or to book a lecture, session, workshop or seminar, which is not listed here.
Religion and State
This peilut explores various issues related to religion and state, or Knesset and Beit Haknesset, in Israel including kashrut, personal status and Shabbat. Participants will play the role of Knesset legislators and High Court Justices in determining the "correct" path of Israel.
Knesset Game
This peilut introduces participants to the workings of the Israeli parliamentary system. In groups, participants will stand as candidates for election to the Knesset, vote in the Knesset, and build parliamentary coalitions.
"The Legacy of Rabin" - how do we remember?
This textual analysis "shiur" will explore the concept of the legacy of Rabin, achdut Yisrael, and the notion of memory and ideology.
Jerusalem If I Forget You - Jerusalem's Seam Lines
This session explores the points of friction between various groups in Jerusalem - Arabs, Haredim and secular. The Sheikh Jarrah evictions, the Karta Parking Lot riots and the eruv mehudar in Kiriyat Ha'Yovel, along with conceptions of different Jerusalems, will be explored.
Israeli Culture Workshop
This workshop explores Israeli society and culture through an examination of songs, films, short stories and/or photos by leading Israeli artists.
Saving Gilad Shalit - Was it a good deal?
This shiur examines the different Jewish legal approaches to ransom payment - and risking one's life - for the freeing of Jewish hostages. Participants will be asked how to apply the principles that they have learned to the case of Gilad Shalit.
Introduction to Zionist thought and theory
This peilut introduces participants to the basics of Zionist ideology through chavruta learning opportunities, and values clarification exercises. Participants will be asked to develop their own definition of Zionist thought.
Israel and Jerusalem in Jewish sources
This shiur deals with the theme of Israel and Jerusalem in Biblical, and Talmudic and other Rabbinic literature, discussing whether any lessons regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict today can and should be learned from ancient Jewish sources of yesteryear.
Aliyah U'Klitah (Immigration and Absorption) - Melting Pot and Multiculturalism
This session deals with Ashkenzi-Sefardi/Yemenite tensions through film, literature and art. The notion of "Israeli elites" will be examined, as will the question of whether a "melting pot" (homogenous) or multicultural (heterogeneous) model of society is more appropriate for Israel.
Poverty in the City
This lecture deals with Jewish viewpoints on socio-economic issues, and will introduce participants to the state of the Israeli economy and social gaps in Israeli society through examining essential economic facts and figures. The question of Haredi and Arab participation in the workforce will also be explored.
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
This lecture will outline each Israeli-Arab war (background the war, the war itself, and the results of the war).
The Arab-Israeli Peace Process
This lecture will outline the Israeli-Arab peace process from Sadat's visit to Israel to today.
Israel Updates
This can either be run as a news and current affairs update, or as sessions that enable participants to gain an understanding of the conceptual framework of the key spheres of Israeli news and current affairs (security and defense, economics, and society and culture).
Jewish World
Jewish Unity
This peilut explores the similarities and differences between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox streams of Judaism, in the areas of kashrut, tefilah, conversion, marriage and burial. Participants will be educated towards an embrace of Jewish Unity and the notion of respectful, brotherly dialogue.
Jewish History
Introduction to Medieval Jewish History
This lesson deals with the emergence of Ashkenazi and Sefardi Jewry, examining some of the key personalities, texts and events of the period.
Educators/Jewish Leaders
Education v Indoctrination - How Should We Act as (Halachic) Educators?
This peilut explores the thin line that exists between education and indoctrination in informal educational settings, and would be ideally suited for educational leaders working in Halachic educational settings.
Education v Indoctrination - How Should We Act as Zionist Educators?
This peilut explores the thin line that exists between education and indoctrination in informal educational settings, and would be ideally suited for educational leaders working in Zionist educational settings.
Jewish Leadership - Case Studies from the Bible and Midrash
This shiur focuses on the Biblical characters of Nachson Ben Aminadav, Miriam, Yitro, Avraham, Joshua and Caleb, Moshe, and Hur. It is suitable for leaders of all ages and types of institutions.
Shabbat Menuchah - A Sabbath of Rest
Based on an article by Rabbi Saul Berman, this shiur examines notions of rest in Judaism - Shabbat, Pesach and Yom Kippur and Shnat Shemitah (the sabbatical year) - and how these parts of our Jewish tradition may affect our conceptions of self-worth and the value that we see in others. Important pedagogical questions related to these issues will also be raised.
Jewish thought
Jewish Mysticism
This shiur examines the notion of "Ma'aseh HaMerkavah" and the development of early Jewish mysticism. Links to the work of Franz Kafka will also be explored.
Cain and Abel
This shiur examines the notion of midrash, textual gaps, lower Biblical criticism, higher Biblical criticism and ancient Near East textual parallels, in an attempt to understand the Bible story more fully.
Jewish Law Game
This peilut explores the development of Jewish oral law, specifically the Talmud. Participants will write their own page of Talmud. The simulation game will be followed by a sikkum, explaining briefly the legal development process.
Israel and Jerusalem in Jewish sources
This shiur deals with the theme of Israel and Jerusalem in Biblical, and Talmudic and other Rabbinic literature, discussing whether any lessons regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict today can and should be learned from ancient Jewish sources of yesteryear.
Shabbat Menuchah - A Sabbath of Rest
Based on an article by Rabbi Saul Berman, this shiur examines notions of rest in Judaism - Shabbat, Pesach and Yom Kippur and Shnat Shemitah (the sabbatical year) - and how these parts of our Jewish tradition may affect our conceptions of self-worth and the value that we see in others.
Saving Gilad Shalit - Was it a good deal?
This shiur examines the different Jewish legal approaches to ransom payment - and risking one's life - for the freeing of Jewish hostages. Participants will be asked how to apply the principles that they have learned to the case of Gilad Shalit.
Shoah
Shoah and Theology
This seminar explores Jewish theological responses to the Shoah, through a values clarification exercise.
Shoah and Memory
This seminar explores the notion of commemoration of the Shoah and the idea of developing a Holocaust ritual. It also deals with the concept of Israel and the Shoah, facilitating an understanding amongst participants of how the new Israeli state grappled with the tragedy of the Holocaust in its early years and beyond.
Shoah Denial in the Australian context
This seminar explores how Holocaust deniers operate, what they believe, and how they affect us.
Please contact Teaching Israel Director, Ilan Bloch, at [email protected] for further information or to book a lecture, session, workshop or seminar, which is not listed here.
