Why should you be considering adding such a program?
Jewish connection
Without physical travel. Enhance Israel awareness and create that connection even during Covid without any of the risk. Even when the world is in lockdown mode, the students at the school would not miss on this crucial aspect of their Judaism.
Understanding from afar
Many schools head on the trip to Israel on the last year, as seniors. On a year like this you don't have to release the students into the next school without bestowing important information that would allow them to deal better with anti-Israel movements by understanding the subjects at hand better.
Authentic
By using locals and hearing from locals the students will feel as if they are in Israel even when done remotely. Yes, you can teach the material yourself at school but an additional voice or voices will make a huge difference.
customized sessions
everything you want to know about israel
Ancient History
2 sessions
Session 1 - Introduction
City of David (1st Temple Era) - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A).
Session 2 - Davidson Center (2nd Temple Era) - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Temple Mount (No more Temple) - Live in 360 (if) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Kotel (Judaism adjusts) - Live in 360 *Notes sent ahead of time. Followed by
“Hands-on” exploration of 3-D model of the Temple.
Development of Today’s Judaism
5 sessions
Session 1 - Masada & Qumran (?) - the destruction of the old Jewish Center - Live in 360 (if
possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A).
Session 2 - Tzipori - Mishnah - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 3 - Jaffa - Immigration from the diaspora - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 4- Tzfat - Short tour + Kabbalah with Local Speaker - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 5 - Summary + shift from old to modern history - Zoom (Discussion + Q&A)
Modern History
4 sessions
Session 1 - Yad Vashem - Live in 360 (if possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 2 - Ben Gurion’s Desert Home + Ayalon Institute - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 3 - Mt. Hertzl - Live (not 360, if possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 4 - Summary + shift from Modern History to Borders & Security - Zoom (Discussion +
Q&A).
Geography
3 sessions, introduction to Israel’s border regions
Session 1 - Dead Sea + Jordan River - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 2 - Desert +Mitzpe Ramon - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 3- Galil + Hula Valley - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Borders and Security
10 sessions
Session 1 - Wars - Zoom (Discussion + Q&A)
Session 2 - Palestinians - Who, when, why, 5 types, preconceived notions vs. reality - Zoom
(Discussion + Q&A)
Session 3-West Bank + Allenby Bridge - Jordan and Palestinians -
Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 4 - Good Fence - Palestinians & Hezbollah - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 5 - Gaza - First Intifada & The creation of Hamas - Pre-Recorded + Live - Meet Local Speaker.
Session 6 - Mt. Bental - Syria and Isis - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 7- Rabin Square (The peace negotiations) + Security Wall (Second Intifada, 2 states
vs. one state solutions) - Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A). Followed by Rabin Square
art - Pre-Recorded + Discussion led by Lisa Levi.
Session 8 - Machane Yehuda Market (Post Intifada) - Live in 360 (if possible) or
Pre-Recorded + Cooking Workshop with a local expert.
*Followed by food delivery to school.
Session 9 - Bethlehem - The other’s perspective - Live (not 360, if possible) or Pre-Recorded +
Zoom (Q&A) - Meet Local Speaker at Bethlehem (possible). Followed by Banksy’s
art & Hotel in Bethlehem - Pre-Recorded + Discussion.
Session 10 - Temple Mount - The most conflicted holy site on earth - Live in 360 (if) or
Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A). *Rocks from Temple Mount handed to kids at the
end of the session.
Diversity
5 sessions, can be split up and spread throughout the program
Session 1 - Old City (Via Delarosa, Holy Sepulchre, Arab Market) - Pre-Recorded + Zoom
(Q&A)
Session 2 - Bedouins - Live from home
Session 3 - Druze - Live from home
Session 4 - Orthodox Family - Live from home
Session 5 - Shabbat experience (Beit Tefillah?) - Live (if possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom
(Q&A)
Arts & Culture
2 sessions, can be split up and spread throughout the program
Session 1 - Tel Aviv culture/city tour - Live (if possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Session 2 - Graffiti tour of Jerusalem - Live (if possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
Other
2 sessions, can be split up and spread throughout the program
Session 1 - Mifgash with israeli teens - Live *Followed by email and Facebook exchange.
Session 2 - Perez center/innovation - Live (if possible) or Pre-Recorded + Zoom (Q&A)
We have currently on this list 33 sessions but this can be changed to have more or less in order to better suit the school’s needs.
The structure is designed as 4 hours total per day:
1st hour - introduction activity at the school led
by school staff (discussion or activity)
2nd hour - online curriculum
3rd hour - online curriculum
4th hour - summary activity at the school led
by school staff (discussion or activity)
Once we agree on the sessions, dates and structure, I will gladly build a list of suggested activities for each session for before and after if you wish.