Naches from my students

My sixth graders at Congregation Etz Chayim, in Palo Alto, blew me away this past month.  As part of my teaching on Israel, I gave them a quiz on Ancient Israel and the beginnings of Modern Zionism.  It was similar to quizzes I had given in the past two years, but I raised the stakes... I offered an "extra-awesome bonus" which would give them automatic full-credit on the quiz plus a prize if they could give a well-conceived, thorough answer to the following question: What were the differences between traditional Jewish yearnings for a return the the Land of Israel and Theodor Herzl's Zionism? It was a serious question which I thought would allow one or two kids to show their deep understanding of the material we had covered.  One or two, AT MOST, I thought could synthesize relevant answers.

I was wrong.

Five kids--eleven-year-old, mind you--gave AWESOME answers!  So, I'm honoring them by sharing their responses to you.  You'll see some recurrent themes.  Other possible answers could have mentioned messianic beliefs about the connection between returning to the Land of Israel and the end of days, or traditional desires for a Davidic monarchy versus Herzl's ideas about more modern, European-style political structures, or traditional theological arguments versus cultural, pragmatic arguments for a Jewish homeland.

 Answer 1, from E.
The difference between Herzl's Zionism and traditional Zionism is that Herzl wanted to just get the Jews away from the pogroms and other events; he wanted to bring them to another country/state (Uganda), even if it wasn't Israel.  He wanted to get the Jews away from harm, even if it made it harder to get them back into Eretz Yisrael.  Traditional the Jews thought only Israel was fit for the Jewish homeland and that any other place would be almost against God's will.

Answer 2, from M.
The difference between Theodor Herzl's Zionism and traditional yearnings to return Jews to Israel was the fact that Herzl's idea was Political Zionism.  Herzl was willing to negotiate with other world leaders to set up a political State of Israel.  He knew Jews would need a place to live, and fast.  Anti-Semitism was growing around the world, in the form of pogroms, and the Jewish people needed shelter.  Herzl continuously stressed the fact that the Jewish State could be anywhere; he even suggested Argentina.  The difference of Herzl's Zionism is to set up a political Jewish country as opposed to be able to specifically in Palestine.  The traditional yearning was the hope to live in Palestine as a culture. 

Answer 3, from D.
Theodor Herzl, unlike traditional Jewish nationalism, believed that this Jewish safe haven could be anywhere and that getting land in Israel was less important than having a Jewish country run by Jews, with Jews in control of the government and in the majority.  He wanted eventually to settle in Israel, but he knew anywhere would do temporarily.  Traditional nationalism was that this place needed to be in Israel--the Promised Land.


Answer 4, from O.
Herzl's Zionism was more to protect his people and have a place where they could fit in than was traditional yearnings for Israel.  The traditional yearnings were people wanting God to let them go back to their Promised Land, where they belong.  Herzl became a Zionist because he gave up hope of Jews ever being able to fit in.  That fact made him stand out.  When the other Zionists heard the Uganda plan, many of them were too traditional to accept it.  They said that they would only accept the Promised Land, not some random part of Africa.  Herzl was all for the plan, hoping it would build a safe haven for Jewish and stop our people's suffering.


Answer 5, from V.
Herzl's Zionism was the belief that Jews should have their own state where they don't have to deal with pogroms and other antisemitic attacks.  On the other hand, returning to the Land of Israel as the "Promised Land" will not cease the antisemitic attacks, it will only fulfill the Jews' spiritual beliefs.

Matisyahu: Light A Fire For Hanukkah Music : All Songs Considered Blog : NPR

Matisyahu: Light A Fire For Hanukkah Music : All Songs Considered Blog : NPR

Hanukkah celebrations and stories from around the world

Be'chol Lashon/In Every Tongue is an organization offering educational resources and programs highlighting the diversity of Jewish customs and practices around the world. They offer here eight bits about Hanukkah as it is practiced by diverse Jewish communities: Chanukah around the World: 8 Ways to Celebrate.

Another custom is practiced in Italy and Yemen--reading a book called Megillat Antiochus.

For more resources on Hanukkah around the world:
Be'chol Lashon: Educational Resources: Holidays: Chanukah

Miracle - Matisyahu Hanukkah Song Music Video

Recent destinations in our travels to Jewish communities around the world...

Last week's destination in our Etz Chayim seventh graders' travels to Jewish communities around the world was VENICE, ITALY, home of the first ghetto.  For more on the topic (or to catch up), check out
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Venice.html
Jewish Ghetto of Venice.
 
We'll be continuing our studies with a discussion of whether there is anything good about living in a ghetto.  Any thoughts on the topic?

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Recently, we also shared an awesome lesson (designed by Jen) on the Jews of Ethiopia, also known as Beta Israel or Falasha.  We featured this lesson about one of the largest communities of non-Rabbinic Jews (Jews who were isolated from the Jewish community from a point in time previous to the destruction of the Second Temple) in order to commemorate their festival of Sigd.  For more details on the Beta Israel and Sigd, check these sites:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ejtoc.html
http://www.iaej.org.il/index.htm
http://www.pbase.com/yalop/sigd
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3562939,00.html

NOVA | Quest for Solomon's Mines

During Thanksgiving break, I watched a terrific episode of NOVA, cosponsored by National Geographic, which showed the latest evidence supporting the existence of Israelite David and Solomon. I totally recommend this episode, available streaming online: NOVA | Quest for Solomon's Mines. On the same page, you can also find links to other Nova resources discussing various aspects of biblical archaeology (including its purpose) and topics related to Ancient Israel, including how NOVA has recreated the First Temple and claims about finding King David's palace.

HadassahMagazine.org on this year's Jewish children's books

If you are looking for Hanukkah gifts, you might just find some here:
Books: Children Reading Our Stories - Hadassah Magazine | HadassahMagazine.org

Actual color photo of Bukharan Jews from a Century Ago

A hundred years ago, a color photo was almost always one that had been hand-tinted (painted). I said "almost always" for a reason. In August, the Boston Globe published an amazing series of actual color photos taken between 1909 and 1912, surveying the Russian Empire. They are truly amazing. Image 16 of the ones published by the Globe shows a rabbi and students in Samarkand, the heart of the Bukharan Jewish community.

A group of Jewish children with a teacher in Samarkand, (in modern Uzbekistan), ca. 1910. Google Map, (Prokudin-Gorskii Collection/LOC) #

To see the rest of the photos, click here:
Russia in color, a century ago - The Big Picture - Boston.com

To learn more about the Uzbek, or Bukharan Jews, see: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Bukharan_Jews.html.

Thanks to Jodi Paley for bringing these amazing photos to my attention!

New Novel about the Jewish-British Experience

The Finkler Question a new novel about the Jewish-British experience just won the coveted Booker Prize.
Howard Jacobson on His Booker Prize - NYTimes.com

Walking the Bible (children's edition) on sale

Walking the Bible: An Illustrated Journey for Kids Through the Greatest Stories Ever Told, by Bruce Feiler and Sasha Meret, is a terrific illustrated (with historic maps and contemporary photos) book that would be a wonderful complement to my sixth graders' study of Biblical Israel. It's currently on huge discount at Amazon.

PA adopts textbook, banned in Israel, offering both sides' narratives - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

PA adopts textbook, banned in Israel, offering both sides' narratives - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Keith Kahn-Harris: Let's hear it for Jewish metal music | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

During my sixth grade class this past Sunday, one of the students mentioned that Gene Simmons is Jewish. (BTW This comment was actually on topic.) My sister then mentioned how one of her neighborhood carpool moms was wearing a "Heavy Shtetl" (vs. "Heavy Metal") t-shirt. I WANT that shirt. I Googled "Heavy Shtetl" and discovered two things: a really cool article about Jews and metal music (Keith Kahn-Harris: Let's hear it for Jewish metal music | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk) and the My Space page of an actual band called Heavy Shtetl (http://www.myspace.com/heavyshtetl). Still no "Heavy Shtetl" t-shirt, though.

New and Notable Books for Children Spring 2010

From the Association of Jewish Libraries... new_and_notable_books_children2010.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Recommended Reading Lists

One of the sixth grade parents at Etz Chayim asked the other day whether I had a recommended reading list for students. Although I'd love to put one together, I sadly just don't have the time these days to keep as on-top of new releases in Jewish children's and young adult literature. On the other hand, I do know where to find a treasure trove of such lists (and many more, on almost every imaginable Jewish topic): the Association of Jewish Libraries' website. Each list is described, along with the date it was posted and its length in pages. Not only that, but it's well-maintained. The last update was this August. Bibliography Bank

How to Talk to Kids About Brit Milah - My Jewish Learning

In the coming weeks, my Kol Emeth 4ht grade students and I will be studying birth and covenant rituals, including brit milah (ritual circumcision). For those parents looking for a little guidance regarding how to discuss this potentially awkward topic with their kids, you might take a look at the following article: How to Talk to Kids About Brit Milah - My Jewish Learning

Jewish Parenting, Jewish Kids, Interfaith and Jewish Families - Kveller

A new Jewish parenting website was launched this month. Check it out: Jewish Parenting, Jewish Kids, Interfaith and Jewish Families - Kveller

The Jewish Traveler: Rome - Hadassah Magazine | HadassahMagazine.org

Hadassah Magazine is consistently one of the best Jewish periodicals around. My favorite ongoing feature is The Jewish Traveler. Every month, Hadassah profiles the Jewish community of a city in North America or an international destination. Not only does it inspire dreams of travel, but it also describes the history and culture of the Jews in that area. The Jewish Traveler: Rome - Hadassah Magazine | HadassahMagazine.org

Canadian TV Blasted for Fake Gaza Mortality Rate - Defense/Middle East - Israel News - Israel National News

Canadian TV Blasted for Fake Gaza Mortality Rate - Defense/Middle East - Israel News - Israel National News

Jewish National Fund�|�Herzl was a Zionist. I am too.

Jewish National Fund�|�Herzl was a Zionist. I am too.

22 Women Visionaries Get the Recognition they Deserve | Jewesses With Attitude

22 Women Visionaries Get the Recognition they Deserve | Jewesses With Attitude

Ice Cream Sundaes, Cheesecake, and Shavuot

Yesterday, while eating ice cream sundaes with my It's a Girl Thing group to celebrate the month of Sivan and Shavuot, I found myself talking to the girls about why we eat dairy on Shavuot. This year, I spoke from a new perspective, though--the one of a nursing mother.

Among the numerous reasons for eating dairy on Shavuot, when Jews celebrate receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai, is that Torah can be compared to mother's milk. If mother's milk is the perfect physical food, then Torah is the perfect spiritual food. Just as mother's milk is custom-created for each baby, changing its quantity and composition based on each child's developmental needs, each reading of Torah contains a new lesson, perfect for a specific reader at that moment of his or her life. Just as a mother feels compelled to feed her child, God is driven to give humanity--God's children--Torah.

I could probably go on for a while on this tangent, as it combines two of my most fervent enthusiasms of the moment: breastfeeding and Torah.

Inspired by my dairy ruminations, I will be marking Shavuot with a custom-created cheesecake--I'm going to experiment with a ginger-dark-chocolate chunk cheesecake. Wish me luck.

For more explanations (traditional and otherwise) of eating dairy on Shavuot and other Shavuot customs, see the following links:
http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=43636
http://www.aish.com/h/sh/r/48969771.html
http://www.jewishsantabarbara.org/page.aspx?id=130669
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Shavuot/At_Home/Foods.shtml
http://www.amotherinisrael.com/shavuot-cheese-cake/

For my favorite cheesecake (with thanks to Erica):
Maple Cheesecake with Maple-Cranberry Compote

Parents & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation - My Jewish Learning

Parents & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation - My Jewish Learning

American Thinker Blog: Israel's Disproportionate Response

American Thinker Blog: Israel's Disproportionate Response