Teaching Israel & Religious Zionism
About the Course
How do you teach the miraculous existence of the State of Israel to a generation who take it for granted? How can you convey the depth and richness of Religious Zionist thought to students living in the Diaspora?
This dynamic online course gives Jewish educators the knowledge and tools to discuss the importance of Israel in their classrooms. Led by Rabbi Dr. Yossef Slotnik, it traces the ideological roots of Religious Zionism from the Tanakh and its commentaries through to the philosophy of Rav Kook, Rav Soloveitchik, and Rav Uziel, and into the important debates of today.
Over 10 sessions, participants will explore:
- How Religious Zionism interprets God's hand in history
- The halachic and philosophical dimensions of living in and building the Land of Israel
- Key moments in Zionist history through a Religious Zionist lens: the establishment of the State, the Six-Day War, the peace process, and more
- The relationship between religious Zionism and secular Zionism, Modern Orthodoxy, and the Haredi world
- Practical pedagogical strategies for integrating these ideas into the teaching of Tanakh, Halacha, Jewish history, and Jewish thought.
Wherever you teach, this course will deepen your own understanding while expanding your pedagogical toolkit, because closing the gap between Israel and the Diaspora begins in the classroom.
