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:

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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.