Rachel Korazim | Windows to Israel through Literature

Rationale

As Israel’s 70th approaches, Jewish education programs for adults and teens will be looking for educational activities to mark the event.

Zot Hashira goes beyond celebration and happy birthday parties for Israel. It offers an opportunity for an in-depth conversation about Israel through the study of iconic Israeli texts.

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The Story

There are many ways to tell Israel’s story. Often its series of wars are the guide lines, sometimes the waves of immigrations that reached its shores; others prefer the destruction-to-revival narratives. It is hard to agree on one story that will capture it all.

Zot Hashira – Does not talk about Israel – It listens. It listens to the authentic voices of Israeli writers who give poetic expressions to the stories of revival, the struggles for security and peace, the shortcomings of discrimination and the effort to find a balance between contradictory aspirations. It is not the only way to tell the story but it is an interesting one. Participants will be invited into some of the inner Israeli discourse and learn its vocabulary.

Structure

Zot Hashira has seven units– each focusing on a decade in the history of the state.

Each unit includes 2-3 poems addressing the most important of Israel’s achievements in a given decade and 1-2 poems addressing major challenges or dilemmas the state was addressing during the same period of time.

The literary choices will be accompanied by:

• Historical background materials providing a context for their composition.

• Musical renditions of the poems when applicable.

• A detailed teachers’ guide.

Who is it for?

Zot Hashira can be used and studied in high schools, adult learning groups as well as post Bar/Bat Mitzva programs or other young adult groups.

When, How, How Often?

Depending on community frameworks, Zot Hashira could be spread over almost a whole academic year leading from the end of November marking the 70th anniversary of the Partition Decision to Yom Hatzmaut in April.

It could also create a concise Israel Learn In opportunity where participants move from one station to the other over one or two school days, around Yom Haatzmaut.

Pedagogical Support System

Professional development for educators teaching the program:

• Face2Face – Invite Rachel Korazim to run a professional development training in your community. Collaborate with other institutions to make this more accessible.

• On- Line Distance Learning professional development via Skype or similar applications

• On-Line consultation with the author of the program to fine tune your teaching as you go.

The First Decade 1947 – 1958

Achievements:

1. The Creation of the Defense Force

2. The Ingathering of the Exiles

Challenges and Dilemmas:

1. The Arab Minority and the Refugees

2. The Discrimination among Olim

To Download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Second Decade 1958 – 1968

Achievements:

1. The Arab Minority and the Refugees

2. The Discrimination among Olim

Challenges and Dilemmas

1. The Ideological split: Greater Eretz Yisrael

2. Ideological Split: Early Anti War Voices

To download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Third Decade 1968 – 1978

Achievements:

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1. The 1977 Transfer of Power

2. The Struggle for Peace following the Yom Kippur War

Challenges and Dilemmas:

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1. The Yom Kippur War

2. Social Justice

To Download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Forth Decade 1978 – 1988

Achievements:

1. Settlements

2. The Evacuation of Yamit
    

Challenges and Dilemmas:

1. Settlements

2. The First Lebanon War and its Aftermath

To download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Fifth Decade 1988 – 1998

Achievements:

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1. Let My People Go - The massive immigration from the FSU. Israel and

2. Beta Yisrael - The Immigration from Ethiopia

Challenges and Dilemmas:

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1. The First Intifada and The Oslo Accords

2. Rabin’s Assassination

To Download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Sixth Decade 1998 – 2008

Achievements:

1. The Start up Nation

2. New Israeli Humour
    

Challenges and Dilemmas:

1. Riots of Israeli Arab Citizens

2. The Disengagement

To download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Seventh Decade 2008 – 2018

Achievements:

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1. New Voices

2. Feminism, LGBT and more

Challenges and Dilemmas:

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1. Split with Diaspora Jewish Communities

2. Split within

To Download the Materials

Contact Me >

or

The Shalom Hartman Institute

RLI Havruta Program

Rabbi Mari Chernow

of Temple Chai Phoenix Ar

Rabbi John Linder

of Temple Solel Phoenix Ar

Rabbi David Wiener

of Knesset Yisrael Pittsfield Ma

Rabbi Steven Lowenstein

of Temple Am Shalom Glencoe Il

Rabbi David Seth Kirshner

of Temple Emanu - El Closter NJ

Rabbi Laurie Phillips

of Beineinu

David J. Gelfand
and Cantor Irena Altshul

of Temple Israel of NYC

Rabbi Howard Stecker

of Temple Israel of Great Neck

Rabbi Shira Stern

of Temple Rodeph Torah

Rabbi Donald Weber

of Temple Rodeph Torah

Rabbi Bennet Miller

 of Anshe Emet Memorial Temple

Rabbi Yoni Regev

of Temple Sinai Oakland California

Rabbi Richard Steinberg

of Congregation Shir Hamaalot

Rabbi Lester Bronstein

of Bet Am Shalem Synagogue

Rabbi David Steinhardt

Bnei Torah Congregation

Rabbi Mark Cohn

of Temple Emanuel of  Winston-Salem NC

Rabbi Wesley R. Gardenswartz

of  Temple Emanuel Newton Ma