Israel Education: A Critical Imperative in Response to Today’s Realities

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There are several definitions and understandings regarding the term “Israel Education.” The term may refer to the education system in Israel or it can be defined as how and what is being taught globally and/or locally regarding Israel.

This blog focuses on the later…namely, how we teach about Israel; what we teach about Israel; as well as where and when we teach about Israel.

Since the cold-blooded catastrophic massacre of October 7th and by extension, the seismic explosion of global antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred, Jewish communities throughout the world, we are now in a quandary regarding the most appropriate and effective ways to combat and confront this vile and ugly phenomenon.

Antisemitism and Jew-hatred are at an all time high. To be sure, they have increased to the highest level since the Holocaust. This daunting reality is fueled and supported by increased anti-Israel and anti-zionist violence, brutal attacks on members of our Jewish community; and a level of antisemitism which has created a wave of  hatred towards Israel now permeating virtually every aspect of our lives and community.

This reality has inspired thousands of articles, posts, podcasts, blogs and the like, that endeavor to respond and confront this horror either directly or indirectly.

One of the most prevalent and widespread recommendations presented in these publications and platforms is the imperative for more intensive and extensive education. 

Virtually everyone is in agreement that more education must become a top priority in the belief that increased literacy through education would help combat or minimize Jew hatred by creating a more sensitive, knowledgeable and aware society. It is suggested that the lack of education creates ignorance which fuels the flames of hatred and may in part be responsible for the antisemitic and anti-Israel movement now sweeping the globe.

Whether this hypothesis is correct or accurate may be subject to discussion, review and debate.

Having said that, the one undeniable reality which feeds today’s narrative and growing level of antisemitism is that today society is experiencing a complete and total lack of knowledge, understanding or literacy regarding the history of Israel, its geopolitical characteristics and impact, including the remarkable contributions Israel has made to society. This reality has attracted growing hatred, jealousy, acrimony and centuries old antisemitism.

Today, at hate rallies, whether they take place on university campuses or in town squares of America, participants have absolutely no idea or concept as to what or why they are demonstrating. Even ugly terms such as  “Free, Free Palestine” or “From the River to the Sea” ring hollow when protesters are challenged to explain or describe what these derogatory and disgusting buzz phrases actually mean or suggest, or whether they are even familiar with geopolitical or biblical history of Israel – the only true legitimate democratic country in the Middle East.

This total lack of informed knowledge about Israel, is exacerbated by increased misconceptions and biased perceptions regarding Israel’s role and impact on the world stage, including its monumental accomplishments which have benefited society.

The second challenge we face relates to the centrality of Israel in our own Jewish community. This is a topic of great concern and magnitude with tremendous ramifications and diverse implications.

Unfortunately, the centrality of Israel in our own backyards continuously ebbs and flows. This reality is greatly dependent upon the matzav in Israel and the nature and scope of political and communal leadership.

At any one point in time, Israel can be the center of gravity for our community’s attention through our unswerving public support. But we also know that this support can be tenuous at best. This is evidenced by study after study which supports the contention that Israel may no longer occupy a central part of our lives and that our existential danger is at times the glue that keeps many in our Jewish communities focused or determined to support and defend Israel on the world stage.

According to many political scientists, scholars, historians and analysts, our Jewish community’s relationship with Israel can change on a dime and is influenced by internal and external leadership and political exigencies. In other words, our support and affinity for Israel is fickle at best.

It is not within my purview to suggest why this is the case. But one thing is certain…..we are not winning the case in support of Israel, irrespective of the terribly disgusting and vile outcomes of October 7th.

This frightening reality is also very evident by the explosion of anti-Israel and pro-Hamas demonstrations and rallies, violent attacks against members of our Jewish community and a meteoric increase in Jew hatred in the workplace, our communities and in our public and private institutions.

Finally, it is essential that we continuously focus upon the centrality and importance of Israel Education in our local communities, as well as its potential impact on our lives throughout diaspora Jewish communities.

Our Jewish Educational Institutions

As a consultant, teacher, former principal, head of school and executive coach, I often visit and meet with middle and high school yeshiva and day school teachers and students in order to take the temperature regarding their knowledge, understanding, commitment and  attitude towards specific challenges and topics influencing our community.

One of the topics which has profound and significant implications is the centrality of Israel in the lives of our students.

Much to my disappointment, I have found that there is a tremendous deficit and growing vacuum in how we teach our students about the importance of Israel. This is also evidenced by the lack of knowledge on the part of students regarding some of the most basic and rudimentary facts about eretz yisrael. 

Unfortunately, this reality exists irrespective of the growing and impressive  plethora of outstanding state of the art curricular materials, study guides, teacher training programs or other teaching modalities which have been produced and disseminated by colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations and agencies and even  in partnership with various governmental departments of the State of Israel.

It is important to note that I fully understand, honor and respect a school’s hashkafa regarding this topic that their various approaches to teaching about Israel. I am also very respectful of the manner in which many of our yeshivot either celebrate or not the significance of Israel-based holidays and celebrations.

This reality is a non-starter and any criticism of this reality is like descending into a deep and complex rabbit hole leading to nowhere, except disappointment, and an erosion of communality and achdut.

Having said that, it is nevertheless very difficult for me to fathom the total and complete lack of knowledge on the part of day school and yeshiva students and even faculty regarding the most fundamental and basic rich and profound importance and significance of eretz yisrael, medinat yisrael and am yisrael. Nevertheless, this vacuum and growing gap exists and is even growing in many of our day schools and yeshivot.

It is important to note at this juncture that there are indeed many Jewish day schools and yeshivot that do in fact integrate the teaching of Israel and Zioniut as part of their curricula. They not only integrate the topic into their curricula, but also demonstrate an impressive array of public and communal support for Israel through celebration, advocacy, programs and Jewish educational/communal activity. But as we know, they are becoming fewer and fewer and occur with less frequency.

This tremendous lack of knowledge on the part of many of our middle and high school day school and yeshiva students is profoundly disconcerting.

This reality may be evidenced when students are challenged to respond to questions such as – why and how Israel is central to our lives? When was the State of Israel established? What precipitated the Six-Day War? When and how did it occur? Who is the current Prime Minister and President of Israel? What is the Knesset? Why is yishuv eretz yisrael a mitzvah? Which war resulted in the reunification of Yerushalayim? And finally, in what city was the Beit HaMikdash built and destroyed?. Finally, the question of why our support for Israel is important is one which more often than not goes unanswered. In fact many of the middle and high school students I have encountered have a very difficult time trying to respond to this question or struggle for responses.

These questions, and many others posed to students over the years, may not suggest high, low or medium knowledge regarding Israel and/or Israel engagement. But rather a very disappointing reality regarding their depth of and breadth of knowledge and understanding about Israel.

I attribute this lack of knowledge and understanding to several of the following potential factors – the information is not being taught or taught effectively in our schools; students are not exposed to these important conversations in school or at home; Israel no longer occupies a top personal priority in their lives or in the lives of their friends and parents; or a combination of all the above.

Moreover, at the risk of presenting a generalization, for many day school and yeshiva graduates aspiring to spend their post high school year studying and touring Israel, many view this experience as a Disney wonderland experience with abundant touring, hiking, great food and an opportunity to bond with other students. Lacking however is a deep dive into the educational and spiritual domain of this experience and a true rich level of educational engagement supported by text study and outstanding teachers and scholarship.

What makes this chicken or egg reality even more significant and disheartening is that these students represent the next generation of potential Jewish leaders who will be relied upon by our community to support, defend and protect Israel in a world permeated with antisemitism, Jew- hatred and anti-Israel vitriol. Not a very promising prognosis for the future.

As indicated, fighting antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred will require a herculean effort on the part of our community. But, the first line of defense must be to increased and enhance educational exposure and Israel educational engagement.

The inability to promote, market and provide our community with high quality Israel educational opportunities in an effort to confront our detractors  is difficult and very challenging. To be sure, it is like  moving a cart with one wheel or constructing a building with no foundation. It’s just not feasible.

Moving Forward

In light of the aforementioned  concerns and realities, it is proposed that our educational community reset or reinvent its Israel Education agenda through the following ten-step plan:

1.  The review, creation and integration of new, innovative and creative state-of -the- art Israel curricula;
2. The design and creation of experiential and programmatic initiatives which positions  Israel education at the top of a school’s curricular pyramid;
3. Increased Judaic text study which focuses upon the importance and historical  and biblical significance of Eretz Yisrael as our homeland and covenantal birthright;
4. Special student educational trips, missions and excursions to Israel and exposure to Israel’s rich ancient and modern history;
5. Increase subsidies for middle and high school students to participate in six month to a full year of  learning and study in Israel’
6. The creation and application of specially designed Professional Development opportunities for Judaic and General studies day school and yeshiva faculty and administrators;
7. The establishment of  Teen Leadership Ambassadors programs focusing on Israel Education leadership training and development interventions and engagement opportunities;
8. Guest speaker, lectures and scholars program which expose students and faculty to the most inspiring cutting edge thinkers and scholars relating to Israel;
9. The creation and use of AI  technology  in order to help teach our students about the critical importance and impact of Israel on our lives; and
10. The creation of school-based Strategic Action Plans which focus and emphasize the relevance and centrality of Israel to the lives.

Where Do We Go From Here?

In order to help combat the growing flames of anti Israel hatred, Jew-hatred and antisemitism, it is essential for our Jewish educational communities to view these existential challenges through the prism of education.

Efforts must therefore be made to redouble our efforts and energies in this critical area. This includes the need for strong and creative leadership and a shared vision for the future as well as a sense of urgency.

Finally, it is imperative to note and acknowledge that no piece of curriculum will ever replace or eclipse the importance of  limmud torah – the teaching and learning of Torah in our schools. In fact, the Torah is the cornerstone for our understanding and appreciation for whatever we endeavor to accomplish with our students.

This includes the impact of Torah precepts and laws on our understanding and appreciation for the undeniable centrality of Eretz Yisrael.

May HaShem provide our communities and our educational institutions with the wisdom and strength to inspire our students in order help us combat and confront antisemitism and Jew-hatred through greater knowledge, understanding and education.

In doing so, we not only enrich our knowledge, understand and support for Israel, but we also help to create a closer bond with one another – eventually leading to true achdut.