Big Questions and Hard Questions For whom are we responsible?” is a different question than “What does it mean to be responsible?” or “Do we have a responsibility to our particular heritage?” The latter questions are examples of what I’ve come to call Hard Questions: they matter to everyone, but they invite a response only…
I really appreciate Josh Feigelson's distinction between Big Questions and Hard Questions. I think it is so rich and helpful, and can provide us with a roadmap to more effective Peoplehood education. As he says so eloquently "If we are to renew a sense of peoplehood, we have to renew a language and ethic of responsibility.…
The Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education is delighted to welcome Tova Garr to the team. Tova is taking a new position for the Center; the Greater New York Peoplehood Educator. In this role she will be working with institutions and organizations in the New York area, introducing them to the resources of the Center for…
There are many ways in which to understand why and how Israel is significant for Jews. Some argue that it is the Promised Land; it is a refuge from persecution; it is the realization of secular Jewish nationalism; it is the hub for Jewish culture and innovation. Each of these approaches reflect a set of…
At this time of year, following Passover, the Jewish calendar is full of celebrations and commemorations that highlight the national aspects of being Jewish. Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) are powerful and rich expressions of Jewish Peoplehood, and offer many educational opportunities to explore…
“Who is really here for who?” The question resonated for the whole group, as they sat in their specially-built temporary structure (a sukkah of sorts), in the northern Negev. It was Friday night and the 41 participants in the “Tribal Fire” program (in Hebrew Medurat Hashevet) had reached a level of open communication that the…
One of the most powerful statements about the importance of Jewish Peoplehood comes to us every year through the story of the Wicked Son in the Passover Hagaddah. What does the Wicked Son (‘Ha’Rasha’) say? “What is this [Passover] to you?” To you, and not to him. And since he excludes himself from the community…
We can all imagine just how different they are. Clearly a young Jew growing up today in Paris with the anxieties we all know about, the threats we have all read about and experienced if we have done anything Jewish in Paris over the past few years, has a totally different set of formative experiences…
The Center for Jewish Peoplehood interviewed Alon Friedman, CEO of Hillel Israel about the work of his organization and why Jewish Peoplehood is so central to its mission. How did Jewish Peoplehood become so central to Hillel Israel? Choosing to focus on Jewish Peoplehood was part of a thoughtful strategic process that we went…
Come to Budapest, a re-emerging center of Jewish life in the heart of Europe, where questions of “tribal” and “global” have special significance From Me to We: Between Tribal and Global is a three day gathering which will bring together 70 Jewish social justice and environmental activists from the Siach network and around the world…
In the aftermath of Purim take a look at the new Worldwide Purim Album from Beit Hatfutsot . Here are some ideas for using the album to connect your students to Jews across time and space. These ideas would work well with younger children and teens. Have your students bring pictures of themselves in Purim…
One of the most effective, and widespread, tools for Peoplehood Education is the Mifgash – an encounter between two different populations. Interacting in a positive way with people who are different from ourselves is a powerful educational tool that helps us expand our horizons, and reflect on our own identities. But not all mifgashim are…
The CJPE is proud to introduce the Toolkit for Jewish Peoplehood Education. Building on its efforts to encourage debate about the nature of Jewish Peoplehood – what is it? – and its significance– why is it important? – the Toolkit takes the discussion one step further. Designed for educators and policy planners in a wide…
David, could you start by explaining (briefly!) the enormous growth of Limmud world-wide in the past 7 years? Limmud, for those who don’t know, is an organisation which runs Jewish educational events. These are cross-communal and non-denominational – we tend to use this word rather than pluralist to avoid giving an impression that Limmud has…
It is time for like-minded Jewish peoplehood educators and activists to share a common platform for discourse and mutual enrichment. We live in times when Jewish peoplehood can be a practice and an active experience, so let's celebrate this opportunity. In ancient times, the notion of Jewish Peoplehood was primarily a conceptual framework reflected in…