ISRAEL mini course 6th and 7th grade CIE project Part 2.arlyne · Third Aliyah (1919 – 1923) –...
Transcript of ISRAEL mini course 6th and 7th grade CIE project Part 2.arlyne · Third Aliyah (1919 – 1923) –...
ISRAELCURRICULUM
EnduringUnderstanding
ConnectiontotheLandofIsraelisacorecomponentofJewishidentity.IthasbeenapartoftheJewishconsciousnessthroughoutourhistory.
DaletandHay(6thand7thgrade)–Series2
Overview:Bymeansofamini-course,wewillcoverabasichistoricaloverviewofthelaterPre-StatethroughdeclaringIndependence.
Overview
Session#1
- Ideaofadreamandwherediditcomefrom
- ConceptofaliyahtoIsrael
- Briefoverviewofimmigrationwaves/aliyottoPalestine
Session#2
- Obstaclesandworkethicoftheearlysettlers
- Postergalleryvisit–providinganoverviewonthefollowingtopics:
Ø Immigrationissues/illegalimmigration
Ø PoliticalsituationinPalestine–ConflictswiththeBritishandtheArabs
Ø Needfordefense
Ø Workingtogether–settlements,Kibbutzim
Ø ImportanceandjourneyofHebrewasthelanguageoftheland
Session#3
- PartitionPlan
- UNvote
Session#4
- StudyofMegillatHaAtzmaut
- DeclarationoftheState
Session#1indepth
(Note:ThecurrentHaystudentswereintroducedtosomeoftheseconceptsinlastyear’sprogram.Alittlemorebackgroundmaybenecessaryforthe6thgradestudents.)
Pre-Class:Writethefollowingtermsontheboard:
- Zion- Zionists/Zionism- TheodorHerzl- Palestine- BritishMandate- Halutz/Halutzim
1. Teacherwritesontheboard:ImTirtzuEinZoAgada–“Ifyouwillit,thisisnotadream.”[Teachercansingsongifdesired.]
2. Whatdreamisthisreferringto?[with7thgradestudents,canseeiftheyrememberthatthestatementcomesfrom]Withallstudents,seewhattheyknowaboutterms/namesoftheboard.
3. Studentsread“Yearning for Zion,”adaptedfromMyIsrael.Canbereadsilentlyoraloud.Makesurestudentsunderstandmainideasandcananswerquestionssuchas:
- WhataresomeproofsthattheJewishpeopleneverforgotIsrael?
- CanthestudentsthinkofanyotherprayersthatshowourconnectiontoIsrael?(V’Havienu, Or Hadash, Ki Mitziyon Tetze Torah, Ose Shalom, L’Shanah HaBa’aatendofSeder)
- CanthestudentsthinkofanyothercustomstoremindusofourconnectiontoIsrael?(AronHaKoesh,facingeasttowardsJerusalem,plantingtreesinIsraelforTu Bishvat,readingandspeakingHebrew.)
4. Teacherexplainsthateventhoughitwasverydifficultthroughoutourhistory,JewsconstantlytriedtogettoIsrael.TointroducetheideaofAliyah,writethewordAliyahontheboard.Giveoutthecryptogrampuzzleprovided(fromCIEIsraelCurriculum–Youmaychoosethesimplerpuzzleorthemorechallenging
one.Ifyouchoosetogivethemthechallengepuzzle,youmaywanttogiveasetamountoftimetotrytobreakthecode,andifthestudentsarenotabletodoso,thengivethemthesimplerpuzzle.)Havethestudentsdecodethecryptogram.[Theansweris-Aliyahmeans“togoup!”]
5. Nowthatyouknowwhatthewordmeans,whatisitssignificance?[goinguptoTorahormovingtoIsrael]
6. Discuss:
- Whydoyouthinkthatisthewordusedforsomeonebeingcalledtorecitetheb’rachaattheTorah?
- WhyisthiswordusedformovingtoIsrael?
- DoesitmeanthatIsraelisreallyhillyormountainous?Orsomethingelse?
7. Explain:Thewordhastwomeanings:theliteralandthespiritualorreligious.
- Literal:IntheancientworldonetravelingtoIsraelfromEgyptorother surroundingnationswouldliterallyhavetogouptoreachIsrael.Jerusalemis 823metersabovesealevel,whileCairoinEgyptisonly23metersabovesea level.
- Spiritual/Religious:Jewishtraditionteachesthatbytravelingtoorlivinginthe LandofIsraelthatoneascendstoahigherspiritualplace.Theybecomecloserto G-d.
8. Readthefollowingquoteorwriteitontheboard:In1924,ChaimWeizmann,oneoftheleadersoftheZionistMovement,wrotethefollowingletter:“Thenumberofimmigrantswhichwehavebeenabletobringintothecountryhitherto(untilnow)isnotlargeenough…unlessweareinapositionatleasttodoublethenumber,ourrealprogressinPalestinewillbeexceedinglyslow.”
Ask:
- Whatdoesthequotemean?(In1924,therestillweren’tenoughJewslivinginPalestinefortheretobeacriticalmassforahomeland.)
- WhatisWeizmann’sgoal?
- WhyisthisanimportantstepincreatingaJewishhomeland?(Withoutenoughpeople,itwillbeimpossibletocreateahomeland,developtheeconomy,andbuildinstitutions.)
9. Ifthereistime,havestudentscreateanewspaperadvertisementtoencourageJewstomovetoPalestine.ThepostershouldincludereasonswhymovingtoPalestineinthe1920sisanattractiveoptionforJews, especiallyversustheUnitedStates.Oneoptionistousetheformcreatedbyteacher,MattRosenbaum.
10. Giveout“Brief Overview of Jewish Aliyah ["Immigration"] to Pre-State Israel."[adaptedfromwww.reformjudaism.org/history-jewish-immigration-israel-aliyah]Dividethestudentsintogroupsforajigsawactivity–5groups,oneforeachAliyah.HavethemreadabouttheirAliyahandreportbacktotheclass.
Dalet/Hay IsraelProgram–Session1
Adaptedfrom“My Israel”–TheWorldwideQuizforChildren
YearningforZion
TheancientcountryofIsraelwasattackedandtheHolyTemplewasdestroyedtwotimes,andtheJewishpeopleweresentintoexile.Afterthefirstexile,manyJewsmadetheirwaybacktoIsrael,asIsraelbecameanindependentnationonceagain.ButafterthesecondexilebytheRomansin70CE,theindependentlandoftheJewishpeoplewasatanenduntiltheestablishmentoftheStateofIsraelin1948.
TheJewishprophetsviewedtheexilefromIsraelaspunishmentforthesinsofthepeople.IntheMusaf("Additional")ServiceoftheFestivals,wefindintheSiddur:“Becauseofoursinswewereexiledfromourcountry,andweweremovedfarawayfromourland.”
DespitethelongexileandthefinaldestructionofBeitHaMikdash(theHolyTemple),theJewsoftheDiasporahaveneverforgottenEretzYisraelandJerusalem.
Throughoutthelongyearsofexile,JewshaveprayedtoreturntoZion,toEretzYisrael.Threetimesaday,intheirprayers,JewsmentiontheyearningtoreturntoZionandtoseeJerusalemrebuilt.IntheweekdayAmidahwepray:“G-d,pleasereturntoJerusalemYourcityinmercy.AnddwellinitasYouhavesaid.Andbuiltitsoon,inourdays,asaneverlastingbuilding…andmayoureyesseewhenYoureturntoZioninmercy.”
ThehopeofleavingthesorrowofexileandcomingtoEretzYisraelgavetheJewsintheDiasporathestrengthtocontinueexistingasapeoplewithonereligion,aspecialculture,andcustoms.Theexilewasviewedasatemporaryperiodbeforebettertimes,torememberthelandofourancestorsandtoworktowardssettlingthelandagain.
Forthousandsofyears,AmYisraelhaskeptcustomswhichreminditeverydayofitslinkwithEretzYisraelandJerusalem.
IthasbeenthetraditionateverymarriageceremonytobreakaglassunderthechuppatorememberthefactthatJerusalemwasdestroyed.AnothercustominmemoryofJerusalemistoleaveacornerofwallunplasteredwhenbuildinganewhouse.
ManyprayershaveemphasizedourhopesforscatteredJewstobegathered,andforIsraeltoberebuilt.Anotherb’rachaoftheweekdayAmidahstates:“Soundthegreatshofarofourfreedom.Raiseaflagtogatherourexiledpeople,andgatherustogetherfromthefourcornersoftheworld.”
TheentirepeoplehashopedforthetimewhenthewordsoftheprophetJeremiahwillcometrue,andtheJewishpeoplewillreturntoitshomeland:“Andthereishopeforyourfuture,saysG-d,andchildrenwillreturntotheirborders.”(Jeremiah31:16)
6th/7thgradeIsraelProgram–Session1
BRIEFOVERVIEWOFJEWISHALIYAH(IMMIGRATION)
TOPRE-STATEISRAEL
Introduction
ThestoryofimmigrationtoIsraelorAliyahbeganwellbeforetheStatewasdeclared.Thus,itisimportanttostartwithahistoricaloverviewofJewishimmigrationtotheareaattheendofthe19thCentury.Atleastthefirstthreewavesofimmigrationcameasaresultof“pushfactors”thatcameintoplayinEasternEurope,primarilypogromsandseriouspropagandaagainsttheJews.However,mostoftheimmigrantsinthosefirstthreewaveschosetheirdestinationvoluntarily,whichisconsidered“pullfactors,”thatis,theyimmigratedtoPalestinealsobecausetheysupportedZionistphilosophyandthebeliefthattheywereabouttofulfilltheirdestiniesasJewsandasrepresentativesoftheJewishpeoplebymakingAliyah.However,thelaterwavesofimmigrationpre-state–primarilythoseescapingNazipersecution–werebasedmoreonthe“push”factors.
FirstAliyah(1882–1903)
TheFirstAliyahfollowedinthewakeofpogromsinRussiain1881/1882.Thepogromswerenotthecauseoftheimmigration,butcausedmanypeopletothinkaboutAliyah.ManyofthosewhoparticipatedinthisAliyahwereyoungJewsfromtwomajorJewish-Zionistmovements.Mostwereintheir30s,bringingtheirfamilieswiththem.Theycamemoreoutofaconnectiontothelandoftheirancestorsthanbecauseofpersecution.YemeniteJewsalsoimmigratedtoPalestineatthistime.
Thefirstgroupincludedaround30,000people,butconditionsweresodifficultthatonlyhalfofthemremainedinPalestine.ManylivedinMoshavotwhichwereagriculturalsettlementsthatoftenfailed.Sincemostpeoplewerenottrainedasfarmerstheycouldnotsustainthefarmseconomically,andmanyfellapart.
ManyoftheseimmigrantsweretraditionalintheirJudaism.TheyalsosupportedtherevivaloftheHebrewlanguageandcultureinprintandtheater.
SecondAliyah(1904–1914)
ThesecondwaveofimmigrationtookplaceduringtheheightofterriblepogromsinRussia.ItisidentifiedprimarilywiththeSocialist-Zionistmovement.Mostoftheseimmigrants,whocamefromRussiaandPoland,weresignificantlydifferentfromthoseintheFirstAliyah.Theywereyoungerandsecular(notreligious),mostweresingle,andtheycamewithoutanyfinancialresources.DavidBen-Gurion,wholaterbecamethefirstPrimeMinisterofIsrael,wasamongtheimmigrantsinthesecondwave.
Theseimmigrantsbeganorganizingthemselvesintopoliticalpartiesandbegantakingcontrolofthepre-stateinstitutions.
Sincetheyknewthatthefirsttypeofsettlementshadfailed,theydecidedtodevelopanewformofruralsettlement–theKibbutz.Thefirstsuchsettlement,namedDegania,wasestablishedin1909.MostofthenewimmigrantsfromtheSecondAliyahhadbeeninvolvedindefensegroupsinEurope,andtheywentontoestablishHa-Shomer,thefirstJewishself-defenseorganizationinPalestine.
ThegroupalsomadesignificantcontributionstotherevivaloftheHebrewlanguageandtheculturallifeofthenewsettlements.
ThirdAliyah(1919–1923)–Halutzim
ThisveryshortwaveofAliyahisconsideredadirectcontinuationoftheSecondAliyahwhichwasbrokenoffbythechallengesofWorldWarI.MostofthenewcomerscamefromRussia,PolandandHungary,andtheyweretrainedinHalutz("Pioneer")movements.
Duringthistimeperiod,astheBritishwererulingPalestine,theyissuedtheBalfourDeclaration,whichagreedtoestablishaJewishhomelandinPalestine.TheBritishstillimposedrestrictionsonJewishimmigrationtoPalestine,butevenso,almost40,000newJewishimmigrantsarrived.
ThenewcomersweredisappointedandfrustratedbythefightingbetweenthevariousJewish-ZionistpartiesandPalestine,whichcausedtensionbetweenthegroups.Nevertheless,thenewcomersstillbelievedinZionistideas.Mostofthemspreadacrossthecountry,followingtheavailabilityoflandandwork.Theybuiltroadsandagriculturalsettlements,andstrengthenedtheKibbutzmovementbyfoundingmanynewKibbutzimandstrengtheningtheKibbutzideaofcommunallife.
Unlikepreviouswaves,relativelyfewofthe40,000immigrantsthatmadeuptheThirdAliyahreturnedtotheircountriesoforigin.
FourthAliyah(1924–1929)
TheFourthAliyahhadthemostsignificantimpactonthesizeoftheJewishsettlementofPalestine.Thisperiodsawthearrivalofsome80,000newimmigrants,almostdoublethenumberofthethirdwave.Approximately55,000ofthesenewcomersstayedinPalestine,almostdoublingthenumberoftheJewishpopulation.
Thereweremajordifferencesbetweentheseimmigrantsandthosewhohadcomeearlier.Previously,manymorehadcomefromRussia,butinthiswave,50percentcamefromPoland,andonly20percentcamefromRussia(theother30percentcamefromCentralEurope).Second,theindividualsinthisnewwavewereolder,onaverage,andmanyoftheseimmigrantscameasfamilies.Third,unliketheearlierwaves,abouthalfofthenewcomerswere“capitalists,”notliketheyoungandpoorpreviousimmigrants.
ThiswaveofimmigrationhadasignificantimpactontheJewisheconomy.Muchofthemoneytheybroughtwiththemwasinvestedinconstruction,mainlyinmajorcities,andtherewasmuchinvestedinindustry.Theeconomyreceivedanenormousboost,especiallyinTelAviv,whichbecamethecentralcity.
FifthAliyah(1929–1939)
TheFifthAliyahisconsideredtobeacontinuationoftheFourth.
TheFifthAliyahwasdividedintotwowaves,from1929until1931,andfrom1932untilabout1936.Inthelatterfour-yearperiod,approximately180,000Jewsarrived.DuringthefirstperiodtherewasseriousescalationoftensionsbetweenJewsandArabs,andin1929,therewerenumerousviolentincidents,whichresultedinmanydeaths.However,asmanyoftheimmigrantsthatarrivedduringthistimewereyoung,membersofyouthmovements,andhadundergoneintensivetrainingtopreparethemforthelifeofpioneersandsettlers,theywerenotdiscouraged.
TheJewsthatarrivedinthesecondmini-wavehadseveralreasonstoimmigrate,includingtheNazis’risetopowerinGermany.AlthoughmostofthenewcomerswerefromPoland,Germanimmigrantsfiguredprominentlyinthiswave.TheGermanJewsdifferedfromalltheearliernewcomersbecausetheycamefromtheuppermiddleclassofCentralEurope,andmostofthemwerenotZionists.
Incomparisonwiththeearlierwavesofimmigration,thenumbersduringthisperiodwereenormousand,by1939,nearly250,000Jewsarrived,andveryfewreturnedhome.ThisbroughttheJewishpopulationofPalestinetoapproximately450,000.Thenewcomerscamewithmuchneededmoneyandprofessionalexpertiseinvariousareas.Industrygrewsignificantly,tradebecameasubstantialsourceofincome,andexportbecameanimportantelementintheeconomy.Membersofthisgroupalsotooktheirplacesintheacademic,social,andculturallifeofthenewsociety.
BTBJ–MINIUNITONISRAEL(LESSONONEONALIYAH) –MARCH2016–createdby7thgradeteacher,MattRosenbaum
NewspaperAdEncouragingAliyahtoPalestine
Obviously,fromwhatwereadaboutthefivedifferentperiodsofAliyottoIsrael,therewerevariousreasonstogomakeAliyah.Thisisa2,000year-oldwishthatpeopleweretryingtomakecometrue.Getourhomelandback!Ofcourse,therewereissuesaboutincreasingArabangerandthenviolence.Therewasthehardwork.ButthegoalwastogiveJewsallovertheworldarelativelysaferplacetobewheretheycouldeitherpracticeJudaismorjustlivetheirlivesand“walktheLand”asAbrahamdid.The“NewJew”didn’thavetobereligious.So,howwouldyoupromotethissothatpeoplewouldWANTtogo?
Intheboxbelowdrawwithpencil(andhopefullycolorin)apicture,symbol,orlogothatwouldencourageimmigrationtoEretz Yisrael.Ithastoappealtoeveryone–religious,secular(non-religious),Socialist(shareeverythinglikeonakibbutz),capitalist(goodplacetostartabusinessandmakemoney), etc.ThenwriteaparagraphcorrespondingtoyourpicturethatwouldappearinanewspaperwhereyouREALLYurgepeopletomovetoIsraelwithstrongreasons.
Textofyouradvertisement:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
MuchofthismaterialwasgatheredfromAYoungPerson’sHistoryofIsrael, byDavidBamberger.
TheinformationonAliyah BetwasfromaninternetarticlebyEliyhaBergman:“FacingtheBritishBlockadeWithRustyShips.”
6thand7thgrade-Session#2indepth
1. Reviewphrase:ImTirzu,EinZoAgadah.Ifyoureallywantsomething,isit enoughtojustdreamofit?Whatelsedoyouneed?
2. Inordertoworktowardsanewstate,therewasalotofhardworkrequired.
3. Distribute“WeShallBeTheGroundbreakers”–apioneersongca.1920[from CIE Sourcebook].
• Readthroughittogether.
• WhatkindsofhardworkdidthissongshowthattheHalutzimhadtoperform?[Considerthenoteaboutthedoublemeaningofthewordtzur.]
• Teacherelictsfromthestudentswordsorphrasesthatshowthekindofworkthatwasneeded.Listontheboards.
• Doesthissongcarryapositivemessage?Howso?
• WhydoyouthinktheHalutzimsangthissong?Whoistheintendedaudienceofthissong/poem?
4. WhatobstacleswerestandinginthewayoftheZionistsfromestablishingtheir ownindependentnation?(Manypossibleanswers, hereareafewtotryto elicit: CurrentlybeingruledbytheBritishundertheBritishMandate,Arab resistanceandattacks,needforunifiedlanguage,needtoestablish infrastructure–towns,settlements,watersupply,schools,etc.,needto“tame” theland,needtogetmoreimmigrationtoprovideformorecitizens.)
5. Teacherinformsstudentsthatmanyoftheseissueswereseriousobstaclesto thefoundationoftheState,andthatwewilllearnmoreaboutthemnowinour postergallery.
6. ProceedtotheSocialHall,wheresmallgroupsofstudentsshouldwork throughouttheexhibitandanswerthequestionsontheirpostergallery worksheets.Theteachershouldfloatbetweenthedifferentgroups.
7. Attheend,studentssitontheflooroftheSocialHallandsharesomethingsthey havelearned.
POSTER#1–WORKINGTOGETHER–Part1
Thebest-knownresultoftheSecondAliyahwasthecollectivefarm.Everyonesharesequallyingoverningthecommunity,indoingtheworkandinenjoyingitsbenefits.
Theideacameaboutalmostbyaccident.
In1909,aprivately-ownedfarmneartheKineret("SeaofGalilee")wasfailing.ItsJewishworkersrequestedavoiceinrunningit.
Anexperimentwastried.Sevenexcellentfarmhandsweregiven75acrestoplant.Theydidalltheirplanningtogether,andsharedallthework.
Attheendoftheyear,theyhadmadeasubstantialprofit!
In1911,anothersmallgroupdecidedtocarryontheexperiment.TheycreatedasettlementatthesouthernendoftheKineret,wheretheJordanRiverbeginsitsjourneytotheDeadSea.TheynamedthesettlementDegania(“God’sGrain”).It,too,wasasuccess.
Thefirstcollectivefarmswereverysmall.Thistypeoffarmwasactuallycalledakvutza.Eventuallyalargersettlementwasattempted.Manypredictedthatfairsharingonabiggerscalewasimpossible.However,thelargercollectivesettlementwasalsosuccessful.ThiskindofsettlementbecameknownasKibbutz.
POSTER#2–WORKINGTOGETHER–Part2
Overtheyearsthekibbutzimhavemultiplied,prospered,andadaptedthemselvestochangingrealities.Todaysome270kibbutzim,varyinginsizefrom80toover2,000people,arescatteredthroughoutIsrael.Theyrepresentabout2.8percentofIsrael’spopulation.
Intheearlydaysofthekibbutzmovement,allkibbutzimwerebasedonafoundationofagriculture.Thesedays,however,theeconomiesofkibbutzimcannotbesustainedbyagriculturealone.Mostkibbutzimhavebranchedoutintoindustrytoincreasetheirproductivity.Kibbutzfactoriesmanufactureawidevarietyofproductsfromelectronics,furniture,householdappliancesandplasticstofarmmachineryandirrigationsystems.Mostkibbutzmembersworkinsomesectionofthekibbutzeconomy:orchards,factory,dairy,fishponds,orinoneofitsmaintenanceunits.Routinejobssuchasdiningroomdutiesarerotatedamongmembers.
ChildrenoftheKibbutz
“Workingtogether.”Thatisthethemeofpeopleonakibbutz.Therefore,intheearlyyearsofthemovement,childrenweregenerallyraisedtogether.Insteadoflivingwiththeirparents,theylivedinachildren’shouse.Therethecommunityprovidedadultstotakecareofthem,aswellasplacestosleepandeat,placestostudyandtoplay.
Childrenwouldseetheirownparentsregularly,duringthedayorafterwork.Theywouldspendtimetogetherbeforethechildrenhadtogobacktothechildren’shouse.
Intoday’sIsrael,theKibbutzimdonotraisethechildreninthismanner,andtheyliveinhouseswiththeirownparents.
POSTER#3–DEFENSE–Part1
Inmanyinstances,theJewishfarmersgotalongwiththeirArabneighbors.However,thiswasnotalwaysthecase.
Havingasettlementmeantbeingwillingandabletodefenditfromattack,sometimesfromthieves,sometimesfromangryArabneighbors.
Thisideamayseemobvioustoustoday,butintheearly20thCentury,itwasquitesurprising.TherehadbeennoJewisharmedforcein1800years.
Atfirst,defensewaslefttonon-Jewswhowerepaidtodefendthesettlements.ButtenJewishmendecidedtochangethis.Theythemselveswoulddoguardduty.ButhowcouldthesevolunteersprovetheirabilitytotheJewishfarmmanagers?Inonecase,theyoungmenstoleamulefromunderthenoseofanArabguard.Theyreturneditthenextmorningtothemanager,beforeanyoneevenrealizedithadbeentaken.TheJewishguardswerehired!
In1909,JewishworkersorganizedtheirdefenseforcesundertheleadershipofIsraelShohat,ayoungRussianoftheSecondAliyah.TheorganizationwascalledHa-Shomer–“TheWatchman”or“Guard.”MembersofHaShomerwerelikeaposseofcowboys,gallopingonhorsebacktodefendtheirfellowJews.TheyoftenworeArabclothesasasignoffriendshiptoMuslimswhowishedtoliveinpeace.ButArabswhoattackedweremetwithforce.
Ha-Shomerchosetoremainsmall.YetthetinybandsuccessfullydefendedthelonelyJewishoutpostsandcreatedthebasisforwhatbecametheveryefficientIsraeliarmy.
POSTER#4–HEBREW
ThepeoplewhoarrivedintheSecondAliyahweredeterminedtomakeHebrewthelanguageoftheland.Todaythatseemslikeanaturalchoice,butnotatthattime.ThenativelanguageofmostoftheimmigrantswasRussian,Polish,orYiddish.Moreover,HebrewwastheholytongueoftheTorah,andsomeoftheOrthodoxJewsstronglyobjectedtohearingthelanguageoftheTorahusedtosay,“Gocleanthecattlebarn.”
Therewasanotherproblem.Hebrewwasanancientlanguagethathadnowordsformanyaspectsofmodernlife.Ithadnovocabularyfor“radio,”“telephone,”“babysitter”or“car.”
ThisissuewasaddressedbyasmallRussianscholarwhotooktheHebrewname,EliezerBen-Yehuda.
Ben-YehudacametoPalestinebeforetheFirstAliyah.Hewaspassionateaboutoneidea.HebelievedstronglythatHebrewwastheonlylanguagecapableofunitingtheJewishpeopleinaJewishhomeland.
Attheageof23,heandhisbridesetsailforPalestine.TheyvowedneveragaintospeakanylanguagebutHebrew.Theyhadtomaketerriblesacrificestokeepthispledge.Attimestheynearlystarved.Oftennoonewouldplaywiththeirchildren.WhenBen-Yehuda’swifedied,shewasrefusedburialinaJewishcemetery.
Despiteitall,theBen-YehudafamilyspokeonlyHebrew.AndEliezerBen-YehudacompiledabrilliantdictionarywhichincludednewwordshehadcreatedtomakeHebrewusableinallareasofmodernlife.
Ben-YehudawrotethefollowinginalettertotheeditorofaJewishnewspaperin1880:
"ButwewillbeabletorevivetheHebrewtongueonlyinacountryinwhichthenumberofHebrewinhabitantsexceedsthenumberofGentiles.Therefore,letusincreasethenumberofJewsinourdesolateland[Palestine];lettheremnantofourpeoplereturntothelandoftheirancestors;letusrevivethenationanditstonguewillberevivedtoo!"
Ben-YehudawasnottheonlypersontoworktowardimplementingHebrewasthenormallanguageoftheJewishland.Forexample,DavidShuvhelpedinthiscauseaswell.DavidShuvwasaRomanianwhoimmigratedtoPalestinein1882.HewasaleaderofthesettlersinRoshPina,oneoftheearliestMoshavot("agriculturalsettlements")inIsrael,andwasinvolvedinpurchasingandworkingtheland.In1886hewasappointedastheprincipaloftheRoshPinaSchool.BelowisanexcerptofShuv’sdiary:
"IwasthefirstintheUpperGalilithatbegantoteachinschoolaccordingtothesystemofIvrit B’Ivrit("HebrewinHebrew").Itshouldbeunderstandablehowdifficultthisworkwasformeatthetime,whenIdidnothavetheelementarytextbooks,andwas
forcedtowriteandorganizethelessonplansmyself…Ifoughtwithallmystrengththosewhosoughttoopposeme,boththosechildrenwhodisturbedmeduringthelessonsessions,andtheirparentswhorejectedthissystemtheywerenotusedtoandthelanguagetheydidn’tunderstand.Therewerethosewhomockedmeandlaughedatme."
Ben-Yehudaandotherswhosupportedhisworktriumphed.SchoolsbegantoteachHebrew.TheHalutzimoftheSecondAliyahbecamehisallies,andtheyworkedhardatlearningHebrewastheystruggledtoworktheland.Attimestheywerealmostfanatic.WhenagirlwasstrickenwithmalariaandbegantoraveinRussian,hernursecriticizedherfornotusingHebrew!
Inlateryears,Israelwasfloodedwithimmigrantswhospokedozensoflanguages.AsBen-Yehudahadpredicted,theHebrewlanguagewasanimportantforcetounitethemasonepeople.
POSTER#5–CONFLICTWITHTHEBRITISH
Inthefirsthalfofthe20thCentury,PalestinebelongedtoGreatBritain.TheJewishsettlersandtheBritishrulinginPalestinehadatumultuous(upanddown)relationship.
Attimes,therewassupportforaJewishhomelandinPalestine.Forexample,in1917,LordBalfour,thenForeignSecretaryofGreatBritain,issuedaletterwhichstated:“HisMajesty’sGovernmentviewwithfavourtheestablishmentinPalestineofanationalhomefortheJewishpeople.”Thisletterbecameknownas“TheBalfourDeclaration,”andfordecadesitwasusedasproofbytheJewsthatGreatBritainwouldsupportaJewishhomelandinPalestine.
SomeBritishpoliticianswereZionists–likeLordBalfourtheytrulysupportedthiscause.OtherssupportedtheDeclarationinordertogainJewishsupportfortheBritishcauseduringWorldWarI.
However,BritainalsowantedArabsupport,becausetheArabsmadeupsomuchofthepopulationoftheMiddleEast.TheywantedtheArabstohelpthemfightagainsttheTurks.Tosome,independenceincludedArabcontrolofPalestine.Forvariouspoliticalreasons,GreatBritainbegantohelptheArabsmoreandmore.
By1929,theArabsdecideditwastimetoshowtheirpower.TheArableaderscalledontheirfollowerstoattacktheJews.Theattackerswentwild.TheydidnotfightthearmedJewsoftheKibbutzim.Theyattackedtheold,unarmedJewswhospentmostoftheirtimeinprayer. 133Jewswerekilledandmanyhundredswerewounded.Jewishpropertywasdestroyed.TheBritishdidnothing.
POSTER#6–DEFENSE– PART2
IntheearlyyearsofthesettlementofPalestine,thecowboy-likeguardsofHa-ShomerhaddoneagreatjobprotectingJewishsettlers.By1920,however,alargerorganizationwasneededforprotection.ItwasformedwiththenameHaganah(“Defense”).
Haganahwasanunofficialarmywithtwoenemies–theArabsandtheBritish.TheArabswantedtodestroytheJewishpopulation.TheBritishwantedtodestroytheHaganah.
Intheearlyyearsofitsexistence,theHaganahshowedgreatrestraint.Theytriednottofight,evenwhenJewsweremurdered.
ButwhenJewishimmigrationtoPalestinewasgreatlyrestricted,theyfelttheyhadtoact.TheyhadtobringJewsfromEuropetoPalestine,asitbecamemoreandmoredangerousforJewstostayinGermanyandsomeoftheotherEuropeancountries.
TheHaganahsetouttorescueJewsbysmugglingthemfromEuropeintoPalestine.BythetimetheStateofIsraelwascreatedin1948,morethan100,000Jewshadbeensavedfromdeath“illegally.”
POSTER#7-ILLEGALIMMIGRATION
In1939,theworldsituationwasgrowingveryserious.Hitlerwasrisinginpower.ArabviolenceinPalestinewasincreasing.However,GreatBritaindidnotprotesttheArabviolence;rathertheygavethemeverythingtheywanted.
GreatBritainissuedadocumentcalled“TheWhitePaper.”ItstatedthatGreatBritainintendedtosetupanindependentstateinPalestinewithapermanentArabmajority.Jewishimmigrationwouldbecutbackto15,000peopleperyearforfiveyears,andthenitwouldbeentirelyshutoff.
TheZionistsinPalestineknewthatthiswasunacceptable.NotonlywouldtheynothavetheirJewishhomeland,butthesafetyofmillionsofJewishliveswasatrisk.
TheworldwasclosedtotheJews.TheycouldnotsurviveinEurope.AfewwereabletoentertheUSandCanada,andevenfar-offplaceslikeHongKongandShanghai,China,butmosthadtoremainintheirEuropeancountries.
Jewishrefugeessometimesfacedterriblefates.TheStruma,aricketyoldship,escapedfromRumaniain1941.TheBritishwouldnotpermitittolandinPalestine.ItwaskeptinaTurkishharborfortwoterriblemonthsofhungerandpanic.Atlastthe
unsafeshipwastowedouttosea–whereitsank.Morethan700men,womenandchildrendrownedbecausetheywerenotallowedtoenterPalestine.
ArescueoperationwasmountedbythePalestineJewishunderground,andconductedunderclandestine(secret)conditions.Itwascalled"illegalimmigration."Thepopularnameforthiscampaignwas"Aliya Bet"(sinceBetisthesecondletteroftheHebrewalphabet),becauseitranparalleltothe"legal"immigrationprocess(ImmigrationAlephorImmigrationA).
Alltold,afleetof68ramshackleshipstransportedmorethan73,000"illegalimmigrants"fromEuropeanportsbetween1946and1948.Amongthemwere10Americanships,acquiredaswarsurplus,andcrewedby240volunteersailorsandcontractofficers.The10Americanshipscarried31,000would-beimmigrants,or43percentofallimmigrantstoPalestineinthatperiodoftime.
Onlyahandfulofships-notoneUSvessel-penetratedtheBritishairandseablockadesetuptopreventanyarrivalsinPalestine.TheonesthatsucceededinarrivingsafelyinPalestineweremetinthedarkofnightontheMediterraneanSea.Theillegaltravelersweresmuggledofftheships,escortedthroughthewatersandwerebroughttoplacesinPalestinewheretheycouldbesafe.
UponreachingthePalestineCoast,theshipswereroutinelyapprehendedbytheRoyal(British)Navy.Withoneexception,theirpassengersweretransportedtoprisoncampsinPalestineorCyprus,wheretheyremaineduntilaftertheWarofIndependencein1948.
POSTER1–WORKINGTOGETHER
1. Whatisacollectivefarm?
2. Howdidtheideaofacollectivefarmhappen?
3. TherootofthewordsKibbutzandKvutzamean“group”or“comingtogether.”Whyaretheseappropriateterms?
POSTER#2–WORKINGTOGETHER–Part2
1. WhataresomedifferencesbetweentheearlyKibbutzandthetypicalKibbutzoftoday?
2. WhatwasunusualaboutthecareandupbringingofchildrenonearlyKibbutzim?
POSTER#3–DEFENSE–Part1
1. WhywasitsurprisingtohaveJewsfightinganddefendingthesettlements?
2. WhatwasHa-Shomer?Describetheirgroup’sactivities.
POSTER#4–HEBREW
1. WhyweresomeJewsopposedtospeakingHebrewinPalestine?
2. WhatwassoimportantaboutEliezerBen-Yehuda?
3. AccordingtoBen-Yehuda,whatwastheconnectionbetweenHebrewandJewsimmigratingtoIsrael?
4. DoyouthinkBen-Yehuda’slifewaseasy?Whyorwhynot?
5. WhatchallengesdidDavidShuvface?
6. WhyisitsoimportanttohaveHebrewbethelanguageofIsrael?
POSTER#5–CONFLICTWITHTHEBRITISH
1. WhatwastheBalfourDeclaration?DiditshowtheBritishsupportingornotsupportingaJewishhomeland?
2. InwhatwaysdidtheBritishnotsupporttheideaofaJewishhomeland?
3. Whathorribleeventhappenedin1929?
POSTER#6–DEFENSE–Part2
1. WhatwastheHaganahandwhatwasitspurpose?
2. WhatillegalactiondidtheHaganahperform?
3. Doyouthinkthatinthiscaseitisacceptabletobreakthelaw–whyorwhynot?
POSTER#7–ILLEGALIMMIGRATION
1. Whywasthe"White Paper”suchaterribleblowtotheJewishhopeforPalestine?
2. WhatwastheStrumaandwhatwasitsfate?
3. WhatwasAliyaBetandwhywasitnecessary?
4. WhathappenedtopeoplewhoseshipswerepreventedbytheBritishfromenteringPalestine?
5. Basedontheinformationinthisposter,whodoyouthinkshouldbeconsideredahero?
Session#3indepth
1. ReviewsomeoftheobstaclesdiscussedatthelastsessionpreventingIsrael frombecominganindependentnation.Onewaytodothisistolistalltheitems discussedfromlastclassontheboardandaskthestudentswhatsignificance theyhave.Youcanalsorankorderthemasmostimportanttoachieveormost difficulttoachieve.
2. ReadthroughtheoverviewaboutUnitedNationsandthePartitionplan.One suggestedinteractiveactivity:Dividetheclassintogroupsorpairs.Giveeach grouponepieceoftheoverview.Discusstheirportionwithothergroupsand seeiftheycanputthesectionstogetherinthecorrecthistoricalorder.Dates arenotalwaysgiven–theyhavetolookatcontext.[Iamprovidingtheoverview formattedtwodifferentways–withstandardspacing,andwithlargespacesfor theteachertoeasilycutupeachportionforthestudentstoputinthecorrect order.]
3. AftertheUNactivity,askthestudents: HowdoyouthinktheZionistsfeltupon learningthatthepartitionplanhadbeenpassed?Writeadiaryentry,apoem, orasongwithyourfeelings.
6thand7thgradeIsraelProgram–Session3
Adaptedfrom“MyIsrael”–TheWorldwideQuizforChildrenandAYoungPerson’sHistoryofIsraelbyDavidBamberger
BECOMINGASTATE–THEUNITEDNATIONSANDISRAEL
Bythestartof1947,thesituationinPalestinehadreachedacrisispoint.Britishsoldiersfoundthemselvesfightingagainma’apilim(illegalimmigrants)whohadsurvivedtheShoah.TheywerealsofightingJewishundergroundorganizationswhichwereresistingBritishrulemorethanever.Inaddition,theAmericanswereconstantlyputtingpressureontheBritishtosolvetheproblemofthema’apilimwhomtheBritishhadpreventedfromenteringPalestine.
InAprilof1947,theBritishgovernmentgaveup.TheycouldnotcontrolthegrowingviolenceinPalestine,andtheywereunabletodealwiththerefugeeproblem.SotheyturnedovertheresponsibilityforPalestinetotheUnitedNations.
TheUnitedNationsappointedaspecialcommitteetoinvestigatethesituationinthelandandtosuggestasolution.Themembersofthecommitteecalleda“UnitedNationsSpecialCommitteeonPalestine"(UNSCOP)traveledtoPalestinetoinvestigatetheissues.
TheZionistsmetwiththeUNSCOPrepresentativeseagerly,andexplainedtheirneeds,plansanddreamsforaJewishhomeland.TheArabsrefusedtospeaktotheUNSCOPrepresentatives.TheytoldjournaliststhatadecisiontogivetheJewslandinPalestinewouldcauseriotsagainstJewswholivedinArablands.ButtheirattempttofrightentheUNSCOPpeoplefailed.
DavidBen-GurionmadeapowerfulspeechbeforetheUNSCOPCommittee.HeclaimedthattheBiblegivesustherighttotheLandofIsrael.Hedeclared:“WhyshouldthePeopleofIsraelhavetheLandofIsrael?BecausethisistheonlylandwhichtheJewsasaPeople,notasindividuals,regardastheirhomeland.NootherpeopleintheworldviewstheLandofIsraelasitsland…”
WhileUNSCOPwasdoingitswork,anoldferryboatnamedExodus1947,jammedwith4500JewishdisplacedpeoplesailedforPalestine.ItwasattackedbyafleetofsevenBritishships.TheBritishnavycapturedtherefugeeship.
WhatwastobedonewiththerefugeesaboardtheExodus1947ship?TheBritishForeignSecretary,ErnestBevin,wasangrythatJewskeptsneakingintoPalestineagainsthisorders.HedecidedtomakeanexampleoftheJewsofExodus1947.HeorderedthemsentbacktoEurope.FirsttheshipdockedinFrance,buttheJewsrefusedtogetofftheship.TheyonlywantedtogotoPalestine.ThentheBritishsenttheshiptoGermany,wheretheBritishusedforcetogettheJewishpassengerstoreturntothecountryoftheirnightmares.
MostoftheworldwasappalledbythewaythepassengersoftheExodus1947weretreated.WorldopinionwasgrowingforaJewishstateinPalestine.TheUNSCOPCommitteerecommendedtotheUnitedNationsthatPalestineshouldbedividedintotwostates–aJewishstateandanArabstate.Jerusalem,becauseofitsimportancetothreereligionswouldbecomeinternationalterritory.Thisproposalwasknownasthe“PartitionPlan.”
TheZionistsweredisappointed,fortheywantedcontroloftheirholycity,Jerusalem.Theywereafraidthedivisionofthelandwouldnotbefair,andthattheywouldnotbeabletodefendit.ButtheywerethrilledwiththeplantohaveaJewishstateandasafeplacetowelcomeJewishrefugees.TheyacceptedtheUNSCOPrecommendation.TheArabsrejectedthereportentirely.
The“PartitionPlan”wasputtoavotetotheUnitedNations.FranticnegotiationstookplaceasArabsandZioniststriedtogetsupportfortheirsides.PresidentTrumanpledgedAmericansupportoftheUNSCOPPartitionPlan.Butstillitwasnotcertainiftheplanwouldbeaccepted.However,RussiasurprisedtheworldbycomingoutinfavorofthePartitionPlan.
EventhoughRussiaandtheUSweresupportingthepartitionplan,theoutcomewasnotguaranteed.Noonewassuretherewereenoughvotes.MostoftheEuropeannations,manyoftheLatinAmericancountriesandtheBritishCommonwealthjoinedtheUSandRussiainsupportingthepartitionplanthatwouldprovideforaJewishhomeland.AlltheArabstatesopposedit.GreatBritainabstained(didn’tvotefororagainst).
ThefinalresultoftheUNvotingwas33dividingPalestineintoalandfortheJewsandalandfortheArabs,13opposedand10abstained(didn’tvotefororagainst).TheZionistshadgottentheirtwothirdsmajority.
BECOMINGASTATE–THEUNITEDNATIONSANDISRAEL
Bythestartof1947,thesituationinPalestinehadreachedacrisispoint.Britishsoldiersfoundthemselvesfightingagainma’apilim(illegalimmigrants)whohadsurvivedtheShoah.TheywerealsofightingJewishundergroundorganizationswhichwereresistingBritishrulemorethanever.Inaddition,theAmericanswereconstantlyputtingpressureontheBritishtosolvetheproblemofthema’apilimwhomtheBritishhadpreventedfromenteringPalestine.
InAprilof1947,theBritishgovernmentgaveup.TheycouldnotcontrolthegrowingviolenceinPalestine,andtheywereunabletodealwiththerefugeeproblem.SotheyturnedovertheresponsibilityforPalestinetotheUnitedNations.
TheUnitedNationsappointedaspecialcommitteetoinvestigatethesituationinthelandandtosuggestasolution.Themembersofthecommitteecalleda“UnitedNationsSpecialCommitteeonPalestine"(UNSCOP)traveledtoPalestinetoinvestigatetheissues.
TheZionistsmetwiththeUNSCOPrepresentativeseagerlyandexplainedtheirneeds,plansanddreamsforaJewishhomeland.TheArabsrefusedtospeaktotheUNSCOPrepresentatives.TheytoldjournaliststhatadecisiontogivetheJewslandinPalestinewouldcauseriotsagainstJewswholivedinArablands.ButtheirattempttofrightentheUNSCOPpeoplefailed.
DavidBen-GurionmadeapowerfulspeechbeforetheUNSCOPCommittee.HeclaimedthattheBiblegivesustherighttothelandofIsrael.Hedeclared:“WhyshouldthePeopleofIsraelhavetheLandofIsrael?BecausethisistheonlylandwhichtheJewsasaPeople,notasindividuals,regardastheirhomeland.NootherpeopleintheworldviewstheLandofIsraelasitsland…”
WhileUNSCOPwasdoingitswork,anoldferryboatnamedExodus1947,jammedwith4500JewishdisplacedpeoplesailedforPalestine.ItwasattackedbyafleetofsevenBritishships.TheBritishnavycapturedtherefugeeship.
WhatwastobedonewiththerefugeesaboardtheExodus1947ship?TheBritishForeignSecretary,ErnestBevin,wasangrythatJewskeptsneakingintoPalestineagainsthisorders.HedecidedtomakeanexampleoftheJewsofExodus1947.HeorderedthemsentbacktoEurope.FirsttheshipdockedinFrance,buttheJewsrefusedtogetofftheship.TheyonlywantedtogotoPalestine.ThentheBritishsenttheshiptoGermany,wheretheBritishusedforcetogettheJewishpassengerstoreturntothecountryoftheirnightmares.
MostoftheworldwasappalledbythewaythepassengersoftheExodus1947weretreated.WorldopinionwasgrowingforaJewishstateinPalestine.TheUNSCOPCommitteerecommendedtotheUnitedNationsthatPalestineshouldbedividedintotwostates–aJewishstateandanArabstate.Jerusalem,becauseofitsimportancetothreereligionswouldbecomeinternationalterritory.Thisproposalwasknownasthe“PartitionPlan.”
TheZionistsweredisappointed,fortheywantedcontroloftheirholycity,Jerusalem.Theywereafraidthedivisionofthelandwouldnotbefair,andthattheywouldnotbeabletodefendit.ButtheywerethrilledwiththeplantohaveaJewishstateandasafeplacetowelcomeJewishrefugees.TheyacceptedtheUNSCOPrecommendation.TheArabsrejectedthereportentirely.
The“PartitionPlan”wasputtoavotetotheUnitedNations.FranticnegotiationstookplaceasArabsandZioniststriedtogetsupportfortheirsides.PresidentTrumanpledgedAmericansupportoftheUNSCOPPartitionPlan.Butstillitwasnotcertainiftheplanwouldbeaccepted.However,RussiasurprisedtheworldbycomingoutinfavorofthePartitionPlan.
EventhoughRussiaandtheUSweresupportingthepartitionplan,theoutcomewasnotguaranteed.Noonewassuretherewereenoughvotes.MostoftheEuropeannations,manyoftheLatinAmericancountriesandtheBritishCommonwealthjoinedtheUSandRussiainsupportingthepartitionplanthatwouldprovideforaJewishhomeland.AlltheArabstatesopposedit.GreatBritainabstained(didn’tvotefororagainst).
ThefinalresultoftheUNvotingwas33dividingPalestineintoalandfortheJewsandalandfortheArabs,13opposedand10abstained(didn’tvotefororagainst).TheZionistshadgottentheirtwothirdsmajority.
6thand7thgrade-Session#4(indepth)
Thissessionwillprobablytakeupmostoftheevening.
FirstUnit–StudyingMegillatHaAtzmaut(Israel’sDeclarationofIndependence)
Thisportionoftheprogramwillprobablytakeplaceintheclassrooms.
1. Teacherasksthestudentstoidentityfromwheretheyrecognizethesewords:
“WhenintheCourseofhumaneventsitbecomesnecessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbondswhichhaveconnectedthemwithanotherandtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,theseparateandequalstationtowhichtheLawsofNature’sG-dentitlethem...Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienableRights,thatamongthemareLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness…”
2. OncethestudentsidentifytheseremarksasTheDeclarationof(American)Independence,discussthecircumstancesofthewritingofthisdocument–whywasitneeded,whowroteit,etc.
3. RemindthestudentsthatlastweekwelearnedthattheUnitedNationshadgrantedstatehoodstatusonPalestinethroughthepartitionplan,whichbringsustotheneedforastatementfromtheZionistsdeclaringtheirvisionforthenewState.ThereforeoneoftheirfirststepswastowriteMegillatHaAtzmaut–theirDeclarationofIndependence.
4. Whatthingsneedtobedecidedatthispoint?Brainstormwiththestudents,butmakesuretheyincludethattheyneededanameforthenewcountry,andtheyneededtoincludethevaluesofthiscountry.IfitistobeaJewishstate,willreligionbeincludedinthedocument?WillideasfromtheTorahbeincluded?WillthehistoryoftheJewishpeoplebementioned?
5. TeachergivesoutabridgedversionofMegillatHaAtzmautdividedintofoursections,anddividestheclassintogroups.EachgroupisresponsibleforasectionoftheDeclaration.Eachgroupshouldcomeupwithashort“title”or“description”oftheirsectionandanswerthepertinentquestionsontheworksheet.Thencomebacktogetherasaclasstosharethetitlesandsomeoftheanswers.
6. GototheSocialHallforthesecondunitofthissession.
6thand7thgrade-IsraelProgram–Session4
Megillat HaAtzamut – Questions on the Israeli Declaration of Independence
Note:Remembertocomeupwithatitleordescriptionofthesectionyouareassigned.
Part#1
1. Whatismeantby“TheLandofIsraelwasthebirthplaceoftheJewishpeople?”
2. Whatisthe“theeternalBookofBooks?”
3. Whathistoryisbeingreferredtointheparagraphthatbegins:“Afterbeingforciblyexiledfromtheirland…?”
4. Whoarethepioneersandimmigrantstheyarereferringtoandwhatdidtheydothatwasworthincludinginthisdocument?
Part#2
1. WhyisTheodorHerzltheonlypersonmentionedbynameinthisdocument?
2. WhatistheBalfourDeclarationandwhyisitmentionedhere?
3. WhyistheHolocaustmentionedinthisdocument?
4. WhyisitimportantthattheUnitedNationsResolutionisincluded?WhatdoesitmeantosaythattherecognitionbytheUNoftherightoftheJewishpeople toestablishtheirStateis“irrevocable?”
5. WhatdoesitmeanfortheJewishpeopletobe“mastersoftheirownfate”likeallothernations?
Part#3
1. WhoismentionedasbeingassembledtodeclaretheState?
2. Whatismeantby“ournaturalandhistoricright?”
3. WhatotherjustificationisofferedfortherighttodeclaretheState?
4. Whatisthenameofthenewnation?
5. WhendoesthenewStateofficiallycomeintoexistence?
Part#4
1. WhydoyouthinkthattheauthorsoftheDeclarationofIndependencechosetomentionthattheStateofIsraelwillbe“openforJewishimmigrationandfortheIngatheringoftheExiles”asitsfirstofficialstatementoflaw?
2. Whatotherrightsarepromisedinthisdocument?
3. WithwhomaretheZionistleadershopingtomakepeace?
4. Whatisthe“Diaspora”andwhatisbeingaskedoftheworldJewishcommunity?
5. Whatismeantby“therockofIsrael?”Doyouthinkthisisareligiousdocument?
6thand7thGradeIsraelProgram–Session4
TheDeclarationoftheEstablishmentoftheStateofIsraelTelAviv,5thIyar5708–May14,1948(abridgedbyHazzanArlyneUnger)
Section1
Eretz YisraelwasthebirthplaceoftheJewishpeople.Heretheirspiritual,religiousandpoliticalidentitywasshaped.Heretheyfirstattainedstatehood,createdculturalvaluesofnationalanduniversalsignificanceandgavetotheworldtheeternalBookofBooks.
Afterbeingforciblyexiledfromtheirland,thepeoplekeptfaithwithitthroughouttheirDispersionandneverceasedtoprayandhopefortheirreturntoitandfortherestorationinitoftheirpoliticalfreedom.
Impelledbythishistoricandtraditionalattachment,Jewsstroveineverysuccessivegenerationtore-establishthemselvesintheirancienthomeland.Inrecentdecadestheyreturnedintheirmasses.Pioneers,defiantimmigrants,theymadedesertsbloom,revivedtheHebrewlanguage,builtvillagesandtowns,andcreatedathrivingcommunitycontrollingitsowneconomyandculture,lovingpeacebutknowinghowtodefenditself…
Section2
Intheyear5657(1897),atthesummonsofthespiritualfatheroftheJewishState,TheodorHerzl,theFirstZionistCongressconvenedandproclaimedtherightoftheJewishpeopletonationalrebirthinitsowncountry.
ThisrightwasrecognizedbytheBalfourDeclarationof2ndNovember,1917,andre-affirmedintheMandateoftheLeagueofNations…whichgaveinternationalsanctiontothehistoricconnectionbetweentheJewish
peopleandEretz Yisrael andtotherightoftheJewishpeopletorebuilditsNationalHome.
ThecatastrophewhichrecentlybefelltheJewishpeople–themassacreofmillionsofJewsinEurope-wasanothercleardemonstrationoftheurgencyofsolvingtheproblemofitshomelessnessbyre-establishinginEretz YisraeltheJewishState,whichwouldopenthegatesofthehomelandwidetoeveryJew…
SurvivorsoftheNaziholocaustinEurope,aswellasJewsfromotherpartsoftheworld,continuedtomigratetoEretz Yisrael,undaunted[notstopped]bydifficulties,restrictionsanddangers,andneverceasedtoasserttheirrighttoalifeofdignity,freedomandhonesttoilintheirnationalhomeland…
Onthe29thNovember,1947,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblypassedaresolutioncallingfortheestablishmentofaJewishStateinEretz Yisrael…ThisrecognitionbytheUnitedNationsoftherightoftheJewishpeopletoestablishtheirStateisirrevocable.
ThisrightisthenaturalrightoftheJewishpeopletobemastersoftheirownfate,likeallothernations,intheirownsovereignState.
Section3
ACCORDINGLYWE,MEMBERSOFTHEPEOPLE’SCOUNCIL,REPRESENTATIVESOFTHEJEWISHCOMMUNTYOFERETZ YISRAELANDOFTHEZIONISTMOVEMENT,AREHEREASSEMBLEDONTHEDAYOFTHETERMINATIONOFTHEBRITISHMANDATEOVERERETZ YISRAEL[eveofShabbat,the6thofIyar,5708–15thMay,1948)AND,BYVIRTUEOFOURNATURALANDHISTORICRIGHTANDONTHESTRENGTHOFTHERESOLUTIONOFTHEUNITEDNATIONSGENERALASSEMBLY,HEREBYDECLARETHEESTABLISHMENTOFAJEWISHSTATEINERETZ YISRAEL,TOBEKNOWNASTHESTATEOFISRAEL…
Section4
THESTATEOFISRAELwillbeopenforJewishimmigrationandfortheIngatheringoftheExiles;itwillfosterthedevelopmentofthecountryforthebenefitofallitsinhabitants;itwillbebasedonfreedom,justiceandpeaceasenvisagedbytheprophetsofIsrael;itwillensurecompleteequalityofsocialandpoliticalrightstoallitsinhabitantsirrespectiveofreligion,raceorsex;itwillguaranteefreedomofreligion,conscience,language,educationandculture;itwillsafeguardtheHolyPlacesofallreligions…
WEAPPEALtotheUnitedNationstoassisttheJewishpeopleinthebuilding-upofitsStateandtoreceivetheStateofIsraelintothecommunityofnations.
WEAPPEAL–intheverymidstoftheonslaughtlaunchedagainstusnowformonths–totheArabinhabitantsoftheStateofIsraeltopreservepeaceandparticipateintheupbuildingoftheStateonthebasisoffullandequalcitizenship…
WEEXTENDourhandtoallneighboringstatesandtheirpeoplesinanofferofpeaceandgoodneighborliness,andappealtothemtoestablishbondsofcooperationandmutualhelpwiththesovereignJewishpeoplesettledinitsownland…
WEAPPEALtotheJewishpeoplethroughouttheDiasporatorallyaroundtheJewsofEretz Yisrael inthetasksofimmigrationandupbuildingandtostandbytheminthegreatstrugglefortherealizationoftheage-olddream– theredemptionofIsrael.
PLACINGOURTRUSTINTHE“ROCKOFISRAEL,”WEAFFIXOURSIGNATURESTOTHISPROCLAMATIONATTHISSESSIONOFTHEPROVISIONALCOUNCILOFSTATE,ONTHESOILOFTHEHOMELAND,INTHECITYOFTEL AVIV,ONTHISSABBATHEVE,THE5THDAYOFIYAR,5708(14THMAY,1948).
SignedbyvariousZionistleaders,thefirstbeingDavidBen-Gurion
SecondUnit–ReenactmentofDeclaringoftheState
Allofthe6thand7thgradestudentswillmeetintheSocialHall.Variouspartswillbegivenoutforthereenactment.
NewsJournalist(Hazzan):
ThisisSimonaGideon,yourreporteronthespotinTelAviv,Palestine.ThedateisFriday,May14th,1948.Thereisexcitementintheair–Icanfeelit.Somethingisdefinitelygoingon.
Let’stakealookatwhatishappeningintheTelAvivMuseum,whereDavidBen-Gurionismeetinginsecretwithotherimportantofficials…
BenGurion:
Myfriends,todayisadayofpromiseandrisk–greatpromise,andgraverisks,thelikesofwhichwehavenotseenforgenerations:
a. TheMandateisover,theforeignregimeisgone,andwemustestablishJewishrule.
b. Warhasbeenwagedagainstus.ItispossiblethatthewarthathasbeenwagedagainstuswillintensifythroughaninvasionbyregularArabarmies.
MydearmembersofthePeople’sCouncil-Wemustfinishthisimportantdocument.HowcanwedeclareanindependentStatewithoutaDeclarationofIndependence?Wemustgetthewordingjustright.
RabbiYehudaFishman:
David,Ibelievethatwehavealmostcompletedourholytask.ButwhatremainsistoincludeTheHolyOneinourdocument.IcannotsigntheDeclarationwithoutmentioningHaShem’sinvolvementinourprocess.
AharonZisling:
Withallduerespect,Rabbi,thisisnonsense!Weachievedallofthisprogressthroughourownsweatandhardwork.Thereisnoplaceforreligiousexpressioninthisdeclaration.Idemandthattheentiresectiononreligionberemoved!
RabbiFishman:
AsIalreadystated,IwillrefusetosignandwithdrawmysupportandthatoftheotherreligiousJewsinthelandiftheG-dofIsraelisnotincluded!
Zisling:
ButIwillwalkoutifyouincludethisG-dofIsraelbusiness!
GoldaMyerson:
David,weneedyoutohavethewisdomofSolomontobridgethisdivide.Wedonotwanttoloseanyone’ssupport–everyJewinthisroommustbeunitedforourcause!
BenGurion:
Haverim–Friends–Ihavethesolution.Wewillchangethetexttoincludethephrase
TzurYisrael–therockofIsrael,tobewrittenasfollows:
“PlacingourtrustintheRockofIsrael,weaffixoursignaturestothisproclamation…”
Toyou,mydearRabbiFishman,weofcourseknowthatthe“RockofIsrael”istheAlmighty.Andtoyou,Aharonandyoursecularistfollowers,youcanunderstandthe“RockofIsrael”asthe“Strength”ofIsrael.
Doeseveryoneapprove?Ifso,let’stakeavote…
NewsJournalist:
Sotheydidvote–actuallytheyvotedtwice.Inthefirstvotetherewere8abstentions,16votedinfavor,althoughnooneopposedit.Forthesecondroundofvoting,thewordingofthedeclarationwasacceptedunanimously.
Nowlet’sgobackoutside,andseewhatishappening.
Hereissomebodyinabighurry–whyit’sBen-Gurion’ssecretary.Let’sseewheresheisoffto!
Excuseme,canyoutellmewhythebighurry?
Secretary:
IamonanimportantmissionforDavidBen-Gurion.
Journalist:
Canyoutellusaboutit?
Secretary:Myboss,DavidBen-Gurion,isaverywiseman.HeknewthatthePeople’sCouncilwouldbemeetingtodayandvotingonacceptingthisimportantdocument–theDeclarationofthenewState.Healsofearsthatassoonaswedeclareourindependence,theArabswillattackournewstate
Earlierintheday,Mr.Ben-Gurionaskedmetogoacrossthestreettothebankandrentasafedepositbox.Iwassupposedtoaskthebankmanagerforthe banktostayopenuntil7:00,eventhoughShabbatiscoming,buthedidnottellmewhyIwastodothis.
NowthattheDeclarationhasbeenreadandsigned,Ben-Gurionhasaskedmetotakethisdeclarationacrossthestreetandplaceitinasafedepositbox.HeisafraidthatotherwiseanArabattackmaydestroythisimportantdocument.Hetoldmethatinseveraldaystime,ifalliswell,thedocumentwillbetakenoutoftheboxforourpeoplewhoarecurrentlystrandedinJerusalembecauseofthefighting,tobeabletogetachancetosign.
Nowpleaseexcuseme–ImustplacethisDeclarationofIndependenceinitssafeplace.
Journalist:
Howfascinating,butIwillletyoucontinueonyourimportantmission.
NowIseesomeoneelsewhomayhaveaninterestingstorytotell.
Excuseme,sir–areyouOttoWallisch,advertisingagentandgraphicdesigner?
OttoWallisch:
Yes,Iam.
Journalist:
Canyousharewiththepublicyourroleintoday’sevents?
Wallisch:
Actually,myinvolvementstartedyesterday,aroundnoononMay13th.WhenIwalkedintomystudio,Ifoundanote:“CometoseeZeevSharefattheJewishAgencyrightaway.”
Iwasactuallyratherannoyedatthisrequest.Iwasexhausted,havingbarelysleptthenightbefore.Ihadbeengoingnon-stopforthelasttendaysdoingsomanyjobsforthenewState,includingpreparinganewsetofninestamps,bearingtheinscription,“Hebrewpost.”AllIwantedtodowastakeanap,oratleastrestinmyoffice–insteadIgetthispuzzlingsummons!
Journalist:
SowhatwassoimportantthatyouhadtodropeverythingtovisitZeevSharefattheJewishAgency?
Wallisch:
WhenIarrivedIwasdirectedtoaroomonthesecondfloor,whereIwasgreetedwithanimpatientsigh.“Finally!”Sharefsaid.Hetoldmeemphatically,“Youhave24hourstopreparethemainhalloftheTelAvivMuseumforholdingtheceremonyofthedeclarationofthestate.Andremember–thisisTOPSECRET!”
Iwasstunnedandshockedatthisnews!ButbeforeIcouldevenreactoraskasinglequestion,Sharefhadalreadylefttheroom.
Later,Ben-Gurionhimselfcalledonmyservices.Hesaidthatascribewasneededtowritethetextofthedeclarationonaparchment,whichbytheway,Ihadtofind.ItisnoteasyfindingparchmentinthemiddleofTelAvivin1948!ButsomehowImanaged.Anyway,Ben-GurionsaidthattheyfirsttriedusingaTorahscribe,butitdidn’tworkoutsowell.Soheaskedmeandmyassistanttocarryoutthedelicateworkourselves.We
choseafontfromaSephardicTorahscrollasitwaspleasantandeasytoread.Andwehadthehonorofwritingouttheentiredeclarationtobeahistoricdocumentforalltimes!
Soexcusemyrush,buttherearestillsomanypreparationstobemade–afterall,wearebecomingafreeandindependentJewishcountrytonight–andthereissomuchlefttodo.Butremember–youdidn’thearitfromme–it’sasecret!!
Journalist:
Nowyouhaveit–breakingnewsfromTelAviv!
Wait–Iseeanotherpotentialsourceofinformation.RachelCohen-Kagan,thechairpersonofWIZOIsrael(thatistheWomen’sInternationalZionistOrganization)isjustoverthere.Mrs.Kagan, canyouspeakwithusamoment?Canyoutelluswhatitwaslikeatthesigningceremony?
RachelCohen-Kagan:
Thescenefeltunreal.Wefeltlikewewereallpartofhistory.MeirGrabovskytoldmethathishandsactuallyshookwhilehewassigning; hetrembledsomuchhecouldbarelysignhisname.Whenitwasmyturntosign,Ihesitated,thinkingaboutincludingmymaidenname.Iwantedmyfather’sname,Lubarsky,tobementionedthere.HewasaveteranZionist,andIthoughtthatperhapshedeservedit…
AndnowyouaskmehowIfeel?LikeagoodJew,Iansweraquestionwithaquestion:“Howdoesabridefeelundertheweddingcanopy?”
Nowexcuseme,Ihavemoredutiestoperform,butlook, thereisGoldaMyerson,theotherwomanwhosignedthedocument.Iamsureshehasmuchtosharewithyou.
Journalist:
Mrs.Myerson, whatcanyoutellmeaboutthismomentintime?
GoldaMyerson:
Letmegiveyoualittlebackground.Firstofall,evensecularistBen-GurionwouldnotdeclarethestateonShabbat.Hesentoutsecretinvitationsto250people.ItstatedthatonMay13(thenextday)youareinvitedtoameetingatwhichwearegoingto
declareindependence,butnostatewasmentioned.Afterall,wedidn’tevenknowyetwhatthenewstatewouldbecalled.Theinvitationinvitedusfor4:00inthe afternoon,atthemuseumat16RothschildBlvd.Wewereaskedtopleasekeepsecretthisinvitationandthecircumstancesofthemeetinghere.
Everythingmovedveryquickly,andallwasdecidedintwodays'time.
Onourwaytotheceremonyweknewwhatwasabouttohappen,butitstillseemedunreal.It’sdifficulttodescribemyimpressionsofaceremonylikethat.Therewasafestivityandatensionandaspecialquiet,althoughthemuseumwasjam-packed.Iwasveryemotionalandwasn’tsureI’dmanagetoreachthedaisandsign.Also,Iwasthinkingallthetimeofthemanyfriendswhohadplayedsuchagreatpartinpavingtheroadtothatoccasion,andhadnotbeenabletoreachit.Icouldn’tbearthethoughtofour6millionmurderedpeople…
Journalist:
Thankyou,Mrs.Myerson,foryourmovingwords.
Look,thecrowdisgrowinglargerandlarger.Peoplearespillingoutfromthesquareallthroughoutthearea.Eventhoughthiseventwassupposedtobeagreatsecret,everyoneinTelAvivisturningouttobeapartofourhistory.
4:00isdrawingnear. Let’sseewhatishappening!
Look, thereareDavidBen-Gurionandhiswifearriving,followedbymanyothercouncilmembers.
Nowitisexactly4:00. Eventhoughweareoutside,ifyoulistencloselyyoucanhearthesoundofawoodengavelpoundingonthetable.
NowyoucanhearthosegatheredinsidesingingHaTikvah.
[CrowdsingsHaTikvah]
Let’strytopeakinandseewhatishappening.
Ben-Gurion(risingfromhisplace,andtakingtheScrollofIndependenceinhishand,beginstoreadinastrongvoice):
“Eretz Yisrael wasthebirthplaceoftheJewishpeople.Heretheirspiritual,religiousandpoliticalidentitywasshaped.Heretheyfirstattainedstatehood,createdculturalvaluesofnationalanduniversalsignificanceandgavetotheworldtheeternalBookofBooks.”
[Crowdcheers…]
“Accordinglywe,membersofthePeople’sCouncil,RepresentativesoftheJewishCommunityofEretz Yisrael andoftheZionistMovementarehereassembledonthedayoftheterminationoftheBritishMandateoverEretz Yisrael…[We]herebydeclaretheestablishmentofaJewishstateinEretz Yisrael,tobeknownasM’dinatYisrael–theStateofIsrael!
[Crowdcheers…]
{Play Youtube of Ben Gurion’s speech, then continue with dialogue below]
“Placingourtrustinthe‘RockofIsrael,’weaffixoursignaturestothisproclamationatthissessionoftheProvisionalStateCouncil,onthesoilofthehomeland,inthecityofTelAviv,onthisSabbatheven,the5thdayofIyar,5708,May14,1948.”
NowletallofusherestandtoreceivethefoundingCharteroftheJewishState.
[Crowd–silence,thenloudcheers…]
Andnow,theblessingofShehecheyanu,ledbyRabbiYehudaLeibFishman…
RabbiFishman:
BaruchAta…Shehecheyanu…LaZ’man HaZeh.
Journalist:Youhearditherefirst–M’dinatYisrael–theindependentStateofIsraelhasbeendeclared.AndeventhoughthereisfearandanxietythattomorrowwillbringamassiveArabattack,todaythepeopleareinthestreets,cheeringandsinginganddancingthehora.Let’senjoythemoment.
LivefromTelAviv,IamSimonaGideon–yourreporterforWorldNews.LailaTovandgoodnight!
Crowdjoinsinahora.