How to Talk with Your Kids About Israel

A GUIDE to How to TALK with your CHILDREN about ISRAEL RESOURCES READING LIST DISCUSSION GUIDE

Prepared by Rabbi Susan Grossman Beth Shalom Congregation Columbia, Maryland www.beth-shalom.net 410-531-5115 Caring, Creative, Conservative

Photo credit: infoisrael.com HOW DO WE START A CONVERSATION ABOUT ISRAEL: EXPLORE THE ANCIENT & MODERN HISTORY OF JEWISH LIFE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL

TALK ABOUT ISRAEL IN THE NEWS DINNER TIME · SHABBAT · ANY TIME READ BOOKS ABOUT ISRAEL TOGETHER

CELEBRATE ISRAELI SHARE YOUR STORIES: INVENTIONS & WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO VISIT OR LIVE IN ISRAEL? INNOVATION SHARE FAMILY STORIES ABOUT LIVING IN THE US OR HELPING THE WORLD ELSEWHERE BEFORE ISRAEL BECAME A STATE

WHEN ISRAEL SEEMS TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT CONTRADICTS OUR JEWISH VALUES OF KINDNESS & JUSTICE:  EXPLORE THE CONTEXT AND HISTORY OF THE SITUATION  ALLOW SPACE FOR CRITICISM, DISCOMFORT, AND EMPATHY  DISCUSS HOW SOMEONE CAN LOVE A COUNTRY, EVEN BE PROUD OF A COUNTRY, AND AT THE SAME TIME DISAGREE WITH SOME OF ITS POLICIES  EXPLORE MEANINGFUL WAYS TO SUPPORT THE BEST ISRAEL CAN BE

·Hadassah brings healing to the world (Hadassah.org). ·Jewish Federation of Howard Countydedicates 1/3 of its campaign to Israel. Find out where the money goes. (jewishhowardcounty.org). DISCUSS AS A FAMILY ·Jewish National Funddoes more than plant trees (jnf.org). WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ·Magen David Adom saves lives as Israel’s Red Cross (afmda.org). TO SUPPORT. Here are ·Masorti(the Conservative Movement in Israel) supports diversity some places to start: and civil society in Israel (Masorti.org). ·New Israel Fund (nif.org) supports organizations promoting civil rights & social justice in Israel. ·Peace Now is an Israeli organization that supports a two state solution to the Arab-Israeli Conflict (peacenow.org.il). Israel means different, sometimes contradictory, things, to different people. Israel is the home land of the Jewish People and a modern democratic nation composed of a complex society facing complicated challenges. Different perspectives, and the ability to talk together civilly about them, is one of the great strengths of Jewish tradition and the Jewish People. Below are some TOOLS for adults and children to help understand the facts, sort through different perspectives, and explore one’s own feelings, concerns, and perspectives about the complex history and current events concerning Israel and its neighbors. Like many things, life attitudes about Israel are formed in the home.

CRITICISM OF ISRAEL GOVERNMENT POLICIES OR ACTIONS IS HEALTHY AND APPROPRIATE. ISRAELIS AND THE ISRAELI PRESS ARE OFTEN CRITICAL OF THEIR HOW DO WE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS ONE OF ISRAEL’S STRENGTHS KNOW WHEN AS A DEMOCRACY, THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. CRITICISM OF ISRAEL IS FAIR OR

NATAN SCHRANSKY’S 3 D TEST: UNFAIR? CRITICISM OF ISRAEL IS UNFAIR AND ANTI-SEMITIC WHEN ISRAEL IS: Demonized · Delegitimized · Held to a Double Standard

1. Israel is Demonized when Israel is made to look so totally bad and evil that it must be destroyed. Calling Israel or Israelis names such as Nazis, Genocidal (trying to destroy the Palestinian people and their culture) or an Apartheid State (that completely separates people based on race) unfairly demonizes Israel. 3 RULES FOR DISCUSSING DIFFERENCES: Such name calling plays on emotions by mixing truths, half-truths, and lies, and omitting information.  LISTEN WITH EMPATHY

2. Israel is Delegitimized when someone says Israel  ASK QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND should not exist at all or should not be a Jewish State. Calling for Israel to be a Bi-national State means  SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO BE Delegitimizing Israel as a Jewish State. UNDERSTOOD 3. Israel is held to a Double Standard when Israel is criticized more harshly than and out of proportion to the way other nations are criticized. The BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement THOUGHT QUESTIONS: against Israel) holds Israel to a double standard. Many What moments of modern Israel’s history BDS supporters also demonize and delegitimize Israel. stand out for you?

Learn more about Natan Sharansky and his 3D’s: https:// Which modern Israelis have made an forward.com/n/4184/antisemitism-in-3-d/ impression on you?

STAYING ON TOP OF THE NEWS: Israeli Newspapers Online In English

haaretz.com jpost.com timesofisrael.com ynetnews.com Israel21C.org RECOMMENDED BOOKS: For Adults (alphabetized by author): Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Mitchell Bard. Reliable review of the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict from before the founding of the State to the present by a former AIPAC staffer.

The Crisis of Zionism, Peter Beinart. Journalist explores clash between radical settlers and more liberal elements on the Israeli political spectrum and their impact on the culture, politics, and future of the Jewish State.

The Case for Israel, Alan Dershowitz. Renown lawyer evaluates what Israel's detractors say, accusing them of bigotry.

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, Daniel Gordis. Conservative Rabbi and social commentator sheds light on the Israel’s past cultural, economic, and political history to understand its future.

To the End of the Land, David Grossman. This novel captures the reality and surreality of daily life in Israel in the ambivalence about war and the burdens that fall on each generation anew.

Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, Michael B. Oren. Historian explores how every Middle East crises a direct consequence of the six tense days of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war that never really ended.

Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, Dan Senor & Saul Singer. The lessons the world can learn from how Israel, a young nation in a constant state of war, can produce more start-up companies than larger, peaceful nations..

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, Ari Shavit. Israeli journalist examines the complexities and contradictions of modern Israel and within his own family story. A sober assessment of how the vibrant society of Israel came to be and the threats it currently faces.

For Children: (alphabetized by author) For Ages 12 and Up:

Checkpoints, Marilyn Levy. Two girls confront politics and prejudice in this testament to love and friendship. (Novel)

Yoni Netanyahu: Commando at Entebbe, Devra Newberger Speregen. Biography of young man who led the 1976 Israeli rescue of 105 hijacked Jewish passengers held captive in Uganda’s Entebbe Airport.

Teddy Kollek: Builder of Jerusalem by Abraham Rabinovich. Biography of Jerusalem mayor and nation builder whose vision of peace made him one of the most famous mayors in the world.

Sara’s Journey by David Shapiro. A brave girl’s journey from Russia to help create the State of Israel. (Novel)

Ilan Ramon by Devra Newberger Speregen. Biography of Israel’s first astronaut who lifted spirits and introduced Jewish tradition, and history to the millions who followed the space mission that ended in tragedy.

For Younger Children (Recommended by pjlibrary.org): Snow in Jerusalem, Deborah da Costa. Jewish and an Arab boy discover they are caring for the same stray cat. (Ages 5-

6)

Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom and Salaam, Fawzia Gilani-Williams. Difficult times test friendship of two friends. (Ages 5-6)

Ella's Trip to Israel, Vivian Newman. Ella’s trip to Israel with her family contains a warm surprise. (Ages 2-3)

3 Falafels in My Pita, Maya Friedman. Count how many ways do we love Israel. (Ages 2-3)

Everybody Says Shalom, Leslie Zimmerman. A little word that means so many things in so many places to visit. (Ages 4-5)

(Order any of the books listed in this guide through Amazon Smile at www.beth-shalom.net to support the educational programming of the Beth Shalom Religious School.)