“Israeli Culture and Society: 1880-Present” Eli Sperling, Emory University, Spring/Fall 2019 Upon its inception, Zionism needed more than political and financial solutions to actualize a Jewish home in Palestine. It was necessary for the architects…
“Zionism: Ideology and Practice in the Making of a Jewish State” Scott Abramson, UCLA, Winter 2020 This course tells the biography of Zionism. Uniting social, intellectual, cultural and political history, it exhibits its subject in…
Pressman Academy in Los Angeles, part of CIE’s Day School Initiative, has graciously shared its Megillat HaAtzmaut and accompanying, grade-specific lesson plans for exploring Israel’s Declaration of Independence at Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Reading of Megillat HaAtzmaut:…
This video, prepared as Israel approached its 73rd birthday in 2021, incorporates multiple perspectives on the previous year. Have members of your class, in small groups or collectively, create a similar video addressing the highs…
CIE asked friends and experts in the field of Israel Studies to discuss the challenges and successes of the State of Israel in this past year, and to reflect on the coming year. Below, we…
Elections, Parliament, Political Culture, Prime Ministers, Parties and the Voting Public Israel has a parliamentary system of government with some unusual features in the elections and the creation of multiparty ruling coalitions, as explained by…
Integrating Israeli culture into your Hebrew learning and practice is not something we need to abandon in this time of social distancing. Here are several resources and suggestions for learners to keep Hebrew language skills sharp while exploring a variety of aspects of Israeli society.
Games and activities are great tools for learning about Israel which can be fun for the whole family. The games we present here touch on a number of different topic areas: Geography, Tanakh, history, politics,…
As schools and organizations are being forced to rethink their Israel travel programs, CIE is here to help with this set of resources that will bring Israel to your learners.
“Israeli Political Institutions: Formation and Dilemmas” Dr. Reda Mansour, Emory University, Spring 2018 This course explores the Israeli political system, its institutional characteristics and components, and its main political dilemmas. The course aims to provide…
“Israel: Religion, Society, Culture, and Identity” Dr. Reda Mansour, Emory University, Fall 2017 This course explores the issues of religion, society, culture and identity in Israel. Israel is an emergent society composed of Jewish immigrants…
In November 2012, the Bank of Israel announced that a new series of banknotes was in the final stages of design. The first new banknote since 1999, the NIS (New Israeli Shekel) 50 was put…
“History of Modern Israel” Kenneth W. Stein, Introductory Level (Seminar or General), Emory University, Spring 2016 This undergraduate lecture course focuses on the history, politics, society, economics and culture of modern Israel. It traces the…
“The Struggle for Israeli Identity” Nahum Karlinsky, Graduate Seminar, Ben-Gurion University, Spring 2016 We start by outlining the construction of Israel’s collective identity during the state’s formative years. We then discuss the shattering of that…
The following items are lesson plans on specific areas related to Israel, all of which were shared by participants in CIE’s educator workshops from 2012 to 2014. “Hatikvah” — Background/History of “Hatikvah” The creation of…
For educators or program planners, this section provides engaging programs for enhancing Israel learning for different age groups and audience sizes. They can be adapted for use at home or as part of a family…
Background/History of HatikvaThe creation of the State of Israel must be understood in the context of Jewish history Building the State Before the State: Keren Hayseed Posters, 1942Participation in community requires certain obligations and duties….
“Jews and Judaism in Modern Times” Michael Berger, Undergraduate Lecture Course, Emory University, Fall 2013 The aim of this course in terms of content is to enable students to understand how Judaism in the modern…
“Sephardic Jews in the Diaspora and Israel” Yaron Ayalon, Undergraduate Lecture Course, Emory University, Spring 2013 Aiming to survey the history of Sephardic Jews, this course begins with a brief discussion of the formative Middle…
“Arabs in a Jewish State: The Arab Minority in Israel — Between Integration and Alienation” Eli Rekhess, Undergraduate Seminar, Northwestern University, Fall 2012 This seminar focuses on minority-majority relations in Israel, with special emphasis on…
“Israeli Society and Politics” Yaron Ayalon, Junior/Senior Lecture, Emory University, Spring 2012 The State of Israel was founded in 1948. For Jews, it was the fulfillment of a 2,000-year-long dream to return to their ancestral…
“The History of the Modern State of Israel” David Mendelsson, Undergraduate Course, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Spring 2012 This course begins with an examination of the Zionist idea, its common denominators and its variegated factions….
“The Jews of Arab Lands” Yaron Ayalon, All Levels, Emory University, Fall 2011 Topics covered include the absorption of Middle Eastern Jews in Israel; the socioeconomic status of Jews from Arab lands in Israel and…
“Contemporary Issues in Israeli Politics and Society” Doron Shultziner, Junior/Senior Seminar, Emory University, Spring 2009 This colloquium looks at developments in Israeli politics, society and constitutional arrangements from the 1990s until present day. We explore…
