‘Roaring Like Lions’ and the Centrality of Israel: Educational Implications |
As we know, Israel has always occupied a central place in our Jewish community’s existence.
Today, a growing number of our Jewish day schools and yeshivot promote, support and teach about Israel as an integral part of their curriculum. In fact, in most of our schools, support and love for the Eretz Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael and Am Yisrael is deeply anchored and embedded in their school curriculum and culture.
As we know, there are many schools that are not one-hundred percent committed to making Israel central or core to their mission, educational philosophy or curricula. They are devoid of any educational or hashkafic relationship to Israel, as a state or as a nation, except within the context of textual learning about Eretz Yisrael, and the land of Israel as referenced in the Torah. And there are many schools that place the teaching of Israel at the very core of their mission, vision and educational philosophy.
Over the past several years, we have witnessed a significant shift in the manner in which our communities support, teach and promote the centrality of Israel. This shift is even more pronounced since October 7th with diminishing public support for Israel on college campuses, and the growing violent anti-Israel and anti-Semitic agenda inspired by the progressive left.
More recently, we are sadly witnessing an additional distancing and alienation of America Jewish communal and philanthropic leadership support for Israel as a result of internal Israeli politics and religious divides as well as domestic unrest ….all of which are having a most negative impact on the country.
Recently, we have also experienced a dramatic and profound lack of internal achdut in Israeli society resulting in part to the deep divide regarding the proposed mandatory induction of yeshiva students into the IDF and select judicial reform proposals.
Unfortunately, these societal conflicts have created a less than positive public image of Israeli society and an internal reality which pits people against one another.
.All of these harsh internal realities are now exacerbated by the current existential war with Iran and its terrorist proxies.
Reality dictates that as diaspora Jews, we have very limited impact or control over Israel’s domestic crises or existential threats.
Our role at best is to publicly advocate for Israel’s support on the world stage through clear communication, public information and education.
Although it is not within my purview to suggest definitive solutions to these challenges, as educators, we do have a variety of options at our disposal.
Impact of the War with Iran
Now more than ever, as barrages of Iranian missiles and drones rain down on Israeli population centers, we are compelled to put our political and ideological differences to aside.
We also now think about survival through achdut and unity........