What Is Zionism and How Do You Teach It?

AJN OCTOBER 19, 2018 18 CHESHVAN 10, 5779 COMMENT A Jewish cemetery in the foreground and the Dome of the Rock in the background. It’s important to understand, and teach students about, the complexities of Israel. EDUCATION What is Zionism and how do you teach it? HE Australian Jewish community is But in my opinion these are distrac- We learned about the wars Israel has often referred to as one of the more JEREMY tions. Healthy distractions, but distrac- faced – and losing just one of them would strongly Zionistic communities in the STOWELINDNER tions nevertheless. have resulted in its annihilation. And we Diaspora. A previous Israeli ambas- So what is Zionism? Again, it is the learnt about rival claims to Jerusalem and sador to Australia once told me that belief and identification with Israel as a the land. when he “got the Australia gig”, his homeland for the Jewish people. No more Israel is a land of milk and honey, and T appointment was met with envy among principalship was of a Jewish high school and no less. it is also a land of complexity. As educa- his diplomatic colleagues. in London, and as a new school, it was an Now within that framework, how do tors we have a responsibility to embrace Australian Jews wear this badge with especial and unique opportunity to set a we as educators teach Zionism? How do that complexity and prepare our students pride. We identify with Israel as the school’s ethos. I was determined that in we do this uniquely at a school such as for that complexity as they grow older. national homeland of the Jewish people, the school’s reception there should be Bialik College in Melbourne, or our plu- Do we get it right all of the time? Who as a democracy in a troubled region, as a two giant flags intertwined – the Union ralistic partner JCoSS in London? If to be can make such a claim? Not so long ago constitutional and parliamentary demo- (British) Flag and the Israeli flag. a pluralist is to embrace, teach and respect I faced criticism for exposing our senior cratic state in which all citizens have equal When I mentioned what we were diverse views, what are the boundaries of students to a speaker from the right wing, rights under the law. going to do in a meeting, there was an our Zionistic pluralism? and in the same year from a speaker from But what does it mean to be a Zionist, opinion – a minority opinion, but an Well, with younger children, it is rather the left wing. My conclusion was that and what does it mean to be an educator opinion expressed nevertheless – that it different than it is with older ones. For getting some criticism from the right and in such a community? would be inappropriate to put a flag that younger children, we do want to wave the the left in equal measure probably meant To put it in context, it is important outwardly expressed Zionism in a public flag, eat the falafel, sing the songs. We that we had it about right. to note that the use of the Z word is an setting. People might question our stu- want to establish a love and identification. And in any case, personally, I quite like accepted term here in Australia, without dents’ commitment as British citizens, it But at the same time, Israel is not hearing from people I disagree with, and criticism or judgement in many corners. I was suggested, and what if some people heaven. It is not a Garden of Eden. And our senior students are similarly able to am sorry to say that in other parts of the did not identify with Zionism? while we leave politics to a later stage in think and react critically to all sides of a Jewish world, it is not so accepted. Nonsense, I said. Schools cannot be all their education, we also want to normal- debate. And just as we hug and struggle things to all people – we stand for certain ise Israel. Alongside its many wonderful with our Australian identities – so is it things, and we are proud to stand for features, like any other country Israel has healthy as older students and as young Anyone who does not believe those things. a sustainability and recycling challenge, adults to struggle with our belief in God ‘ Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish And more than that, words can be a water problem – which country in a – whatever you may conceive Him (or hijacked. There are people out there who desert does not? And in common with Her) to be – or struggle with, and hug, homeland … does not fit into our choose to attach false meanings to words. the rest of the developed world, Israel has our Jewish practice, or our lifestyles. Zionist pluralism. Using the word “Jewish” to mean stingy challenges with affordable housing, cost But does that mean anything goes? ’ with money, or “Muslim” to mean terror- of living, transport and all those other Absolutely not. Pluralism is not anar- ist for example. The same is true for those challenges that a normal country faces. chy. Anyone who does not believe, and To have Zionism Victoria and the who wish to discredit the word Zionism We also teach this. espouse, Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish Zionist Federation of Australia among by insisting it means something violent Last term I had the privilege of attend- homeland for the Jewish people does not our leading communal bodies is unusual or colonialist. It is important as Jews that ing a year 9 Zionist seminar, a year before fit into our Zionistic pluralism. in global Jewish communities. we don’t buy into this subversive shaming those students go on their life-changing Educators must not just teach about Last month I attended a wonderful and be proud of our values and identity. Chavayah experience to China and Israel. Israel’s complexities because it is the edu- event organised by CSG, our community And in any case, what is Zionism? The love of Israel, the strengths of Israel, cationally responsible thing to do. They security group, which was a joint event Zionism is quite simply this. The belief and its spiritual and practical place in the must do so to ensure that our students with Victoria Police, thanking them for identification with Israel as a homeland for Jewish world is central to the seminar. develop a mature, honest and loving their support of our community. The the Jewish people. No more and no less. And so are some of the political relationship with Israel, much like the Deputy Commissioner himself used the We can add in extras, such as compar- nuances. Two peoples on one land is dis- unquestionable love we have for a family Z word proudly, and without fear of con- ing to other faiths and groups who have cussed. We heard first hand from a Jewish member, warts and all. troversy or condemnation. their own countries and why can’t we? educator who grew up in Gaza before his It’s a love with depth, respect and This was refreshing. We can look at Israel as a lone democratic family was forced to withdraw along with realism. In the community I come from, such state in a dangerous neighbourhood. We all the other Jews in 2005, and we strug- use of the term, and such proud owner- can look at Israel’s freedom of religion, of gled with both the Israeli and Palestinian Jeremy Stowe-Lindner is principal of Bialik ship of the word is unusual. My previous speech and so forth. narratives around that. College, and a teacher of history and philosophy..

Load more