You may already know why to teach Israel – because Israel is a vital organ in the Jewish body, integral to Jewish memory, Jewish identity and Jewish destiny. Once we have agreement that teaching Israel is vital, the central question is what to teach and how to teach. All of us engaged in Jewish education are often bewildered by what “we should" teach about Israel, whether our setting be the classroom, camp, a youth movement, etc.
What Is “Curriculum”?
The word “curriculum” is a central term in contemporary American and Jewish education. In the words of the American educator Elliot Eisner, “the field of curriculum resides at the very core of education.” However, it is an elusive field whose parameters we need to define before we enter it generally and the field of Israel education particularly.
Responses
Katzew raises the important question of where Israel lives in the curricular framework of a given educational setting. For example, is an Israel “unit” offered in the spring of every year for all grades as part of the celebration of Yom HaAtzma’ut (Israel Independence Day)? Is there a special Israel course? Is Israel taught in Judaic studies courses or in Hebrew classes.
I would like to suggest that when thinking of “interdisciplinary” learning we continually consider how Israel can be part of all subject areas. The study of Bible, the Jewish holidays, Jewish history and Hebrew, for example, all provide rich soil for engaging with Israel. Nearly every Jewish holiday is intricately connected to Israel. The study...