When the Shark and the Fish First Met The Gilad Shalit Story Educational Materials Booklet and CD Contents: <A> Introduction <B> Background <C> The Story <D> Big Jewish Ideas <E> Lesson plans <F> Articles <G> Artists for Gilad <H> Resources Compiled and written by Vavi Toran For the Israel Education Initiative Usage of the booklet and accompanying CD FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY Israel Education Initiative is a joint project of the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, and the San Francisco based Bureau of Jewish Education. The Initiative is generously supported by the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund, the Koret Foundation, the Jewish Community Federation and the Bureau of Jewish Education Booklet - Table of Contents Page <A> Introduction 4 <B> Background 5 <C> The Story 15 <D> Big Jewish Ideas 19 <E> Lesson plans 21 <F> Articles 29 <G> Artists for Gilad 37 <H> Resources 41 When The Shark and the Fish First Met The Gilad Shalit Story Educational Materials Accompanying CD - Contents File Name Type Description Duration/Length Gilad_booklet pdf document for printing in color or blk/wht 42 pages Gilad_story_Coloring pdf Coloring book 6 pages Army_sticker pdf sticker “I enlisted” as a friend of Gilad 1 page Gilad01 mp4 Children reading “When the Shark...” in English 3 min. Gilad02 mp4 People reading “When the Shark...” in many languages 3 min. Gilad03 mp4 Video message from Gilad, October 2009 (with Eng. subtitles) 3 min. Gilad04 mp4 Video clip “Singing for Gilad” (lyrics on p. 40 in this booklet) 6 min. Gilad_art ppt PowerPoint of Poster Exhibit, June 2009 3 <A> INTRODUCTION Dear Educators, We are proud to present “When the Shark and the Fish First Met” - The Gilad Shalit Story. “It’s a simple fairy tale, a story of a shark and a fish that overcome their mothers’ mutual suspicions and fears to become friends. But what makes the story even more powerful is the all-too-real and painful fact that IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas terrorists in Gaza in June 2006, is the author. Shalit wrote “When the Shark and the Fish First Met” when he was 11 years old for a fifth-grade school assignment. The story lay forgotten in his teacher’s house until she found it last spring, while cleaning her house for Pessach.”* In a volunteer endeavor, “When the Shark and the Fish First Met” has been illustrated by twenty-eight well-known Israeli artists and turned into an exhibit that traveled all over Israel last year. A book with these artists’ illustrations was published recently and already have been translated into several languages. The story sparked worldwide attention for its charm and poignant message. The story can serve as a backdrop to many potential lessons. In addition to learning about the plight of Gilad Shalit as a prisoner in Hamas’ hands and the efforts to release him, the story offers other compelling educational opportunities, among them two “big Jewish ideas” - The Mitzvah of Pidyon Shvuyim (Redeeming of Captives) and the quest for coexistence. We compiled together from many sources an educational kit for use in your school and classrooms. It includes a booklet and a CD containing background materials, lesson plans, ideas for activities, video clips, PowerPoint presentation and much more. Included in the CD is a pdf version of this booklet for color printing. You can print selected pages for display or the entire booklet. We hope that delving into some of the issues this story presents will create opportunities for students to explore their own connection to Israel and find a creative way in which to express it. The Israel Education Initiative * quoted from an article in the Jerusalem Post (see p. 33) 4 <B> BACKGROUND About Gilad Shalit Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was captured on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian militants in a cross border raid. He was abducted through the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel) and has been held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since. Shalit, a soldier of the IDF’s Armor Corps, held the rank of corporal at the time of the incident but has since been promoted to staff sergeant. He became the first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. Shalit holds French citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved to some extent in the efforts to release him. Recently, he also received Italian citizenship. Shalit is known to be alive. The Hamas authorities have refused requests from the Red Cross (ICRC) to allow visits by the ICRC. Several human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit’s detention are contrary to international humanitarian law. In exchange for his release, Hamas is demanding the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, including many convicted of what Ha’aretz described as “deadly terrorist” attacks “Shalit Now” a take off on “Peace Now” logo against Israelis. Photo by Hayim Shtayer. Copyright Hayim Shtayer 2009 Contents 1. Personal life 2. Capture 3. Rescue attempt 4. Diplomatic efforts 5. Israeli society perceptions and activities related to Gilad Shalit 6. Developments and notable events in 2008-2009 7. International law 8. Honorary citizenships 5 1. Personal Life Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, and was raised from the age of two in Mitzpe Hila in the Western Galilee. He graduated with distinction from Manor Kabri High School. Shalit began military service in the Israel Defense Forces in July 2005, and “despite a low medical profile, he preferred to serve in a combat unit, following his elder brother Yoel into the armored corps.” He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship. Gilad and his father, Noam. File photo. 2. Capture Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, Shalit specific warning on 24 June 2006, the day before was captured by Palestinian militants who Shalit was captured, about a planned abduction. ambushed an Israeli army post on the Israeli According to the report, Israeli security forces side of the southern Gaza Strip border after entered the Gaza Strip on 24 June 2006 and crossing through an underground tunnel near captured two brothers described as Hamas the Kerem Shalom border. During the morning members. The report stated that the brothers attack, two Palestinian militants and two IDF were transferred to Israel for interrogation and soldiers were killed and three others wounded, that the information extracted formed the basis aside from Shalit, who, reportedly, suffered a for the specific warning that militants would broken left hand and a light shoulder wound try to enter Israel through tunnels to capture after his tank was hit with a Rocket propelled soldiers stationed near Gaza. grenade (RPG). Shalit became the first Israeli soldier captured by Shalit’s captors issued a statement on Monday, Palestinian forces since Nachshon Wachsman 26 June 2006, offering information on Shalit if in 1994. His abduction and the following cross Israel agreed to release all female Palestinian border raid by Hezbollah, resulting in the prisoners and all Palestinian prisoners under abduction of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev the age of 18. The statement came from the into Lebanon, occurred prior to the conflicts in Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Popular Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006. Resistance Committees (which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas), Hamas high-ranking commander, Abu Jibril and a previously unknown group calling itself Shimali, whom Israel consider responsible for the Army of Islam. coordinating the capture, was killed during the violent clashes between Hamas and al-Qaida- On 14 June 2007 Israel Army Radio published affiliated Jund Ansar Allah organization in Gaza a report that said that the army had received a in August 2009. 6 3. Rescue Attempt Israeli forces entered Khan Yunis on 28 June Israel Broadcasting Authority claimed that Shalit 2006 to search for Shalit. According to David was being held captive in Rafah, and that there Siegel, a spokesman at the Israeli embassy was indication that he was still alive. However, in Washington, D.C., “Israel did everything IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Miri Regev stated, it could in exhausting all diplomatic options “we are not convinced he is being held in and gave Mahmoud Abbas the opportunity southern Gaza… (only) that he is being held in to return the captured Israeli… This operation Gaza”. can be terminated immediately, conditioned on the release of Gilad Shalit.” On the same day, On 1 July, the BBC reported that Shalit had four Israeli Air Force aircraft flew over Syrian been treated by a Palestinian doctor for a President Bashar Assad’s palace in Latakia, broken hand and a light shoulder wound. Israeli as an IDF spokesperson stated that Israel governmental authorities threatened that the views the Syrian leadership as a sponsor of “sky will fall” if Shalit is harmed. Hamas. Israeli Human rights group B’Tselem On the same day, Shalit’s captors issued has criticized Israel’s attacks on a civilian power another demand to the Israelis, asking them to plant during the June 28 mission as unnecessary free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners (in addition to and a possible war crime. The Operation was all women and young prisoners as previously unsuccessful in finding Shalit. 277 Palestinians demanded) and to end Israel’s incursions into and 5 Israeli soldiers were killed. Gaza. Two days later, the captors issued a On 29 June, the commander of the Israeli 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, Southern Command, Aluf Yoav Galant, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel confirmed that Shalit was still in Gaza.