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Annual CIE/ISMI Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel (Virtual)
The CIE educator workshop offers a comprehensive understanding of modern Israel and provides a wide array of tools for curriculum development and teaching. Workshop sessions are designed to reflect the needs of our participants, whether adding content or providing additional teaching ideas for curriculum and lesson plan development. The workshop is led by experienced curriculum, academic, and content specialists. Sessions are conducted via zoom from 12:00pm (ET) until 3:30pm (ET) on Sunday through Tuesday, and 7:00pm (ET) until 8:30pm (ET), on Sunday and Monday, with optional pedagogy sessions offered in between. Each day is filled with content, curriculum development sessions, and time for reflecting and processing ideas culled. We anticipate that each participant will complete the workshop with newly developed Israel curriculum materials. We recognize that there are limitations and circumstances that may prevent participants from attending all sessions live. For maximum benefit, we strongly recommend attending all sessions at their scheduled times in order to participate in discussions and collaborate with fellow educators. However, all sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants, accessible through the workshop app.
We encourage staffs of national Jewish organizations and educators who have a direct impact on students to apply for the limited number of available positions. The workshop is geared for educators working with students in upper elementary through adult education, though teachers of younger students are encouraged to apply. Where possible, we encourage two or more members from an institution to apply.
Interested participants should apply by July 5, 2023. Applications are accepted on a first come/first considered basis. Applicants must submit a $150 application fee, however we are offering 50% off for those that register before the July 5th deadline. The application fee is waived for cohorts of three or more.
Complete and submit the Application Form.
Acceptance notifications will begin May 30, 2023.
In 1998 at the request of the headmaster of the Greenfield Hebrew Academy in Atlanta, CIE/ISMI workshop Director Prof. Ken Stein was asked to assist in the construction of a course on modern Zionism/Israel for the graduating seventh grade. Over time the one-time engagement evolved into several day workshops about modern Israel’s formation, provided initially to Atlanta area Jewish teachers. By 2003, it had expanded to include teachers from around North America. In 2000, with his typical eager enthusiasm, Paul Reisman provided our initial grant for the first Israel education workshop. The workshops were organized by the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI) with all funding coming from private donors, including the Zedeck Family Foundation, Schusterman Foundation, Blank Family Foundation and Marcus Family Foundation. By July 2008, the Center for Israel Education (CIE) was created as a separate 501c3 entity primarily to choreograph the one-week workshops and engage in other Israel education outreach activity beyond ISMI.
In 2003, The AVI CHAI Foundation, under the distinguished leadership of Yossi Prager, approached ISMI/CIE to underwrite the funding of the workshops on the condition that half of the teachers attending the annual workshops were from day school settings. The Board of The AVI CHAI Foundation is thanked for the faith they had in our undertaking to increase Israel education. Thanks are offered to the innovative skills and collective educational guidance provided by Sally Levine, Tziona Zalkow, Abby Chill, Anna Hartman, Tal Grinfas-David and Rich Walter. Their classroom expertise was carefully blended with the incisive annual presentations by scholars from Israel and the US, which included Asher Susser, Reuven Hazan, Uri Bialer, Paul Rivlin, Michael Berger and David Menashri. Prof. Stein continues to anchor the modern history and international relations portions of the annual workshops. Throughout our broadening excursions into pre-collegiate and collegiate Israel education, ISMI and CIE were fortunate to have the unwavering support of the Marcus Family Foundation, and particularly its Executive Director, Jay Kaiman. Private donors and foundations that seek to retain their anonymity were zealous in their support of our work. These donors provided the means to travel across North America providing professional development days and congregational workshops. Through these experiences we listened to what teachers wanted and needed, which in turn helped shape portions of this website and constantly revise our annual one-week workshop.
For more information, contact workshop coordinator Heather Waters: Click Here
Digital Workshop | July 23 – July 25, 2023
History, Politics and Society of Modern Israel
The 22nd annual Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel held virtually by CIE and the Emory University Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI). It drew 57 Israel educators to more 14 hours of online sessions and discussions from July 23 to 25, 2023.
The workshop originally initiated by Ken Stein at ISMI, continued by CIE, was graciously funded primarily for 16 years by The Avi Chai Foundation of North America. The workshop attendees came from 11 states and four countries — Colombia, Mexico and Canada in addition to the United States — and represent 27 entities, from day schools and synagogues to Jewish Federations and national educational organizations, an Israeli consulate and a Catholic university. Once again, CIE drew some of the world’s leading experts on Israel’s international relations, economy, art, history, civil society and much more. It provided, as it has in the past, innovative enhancement for teaching and valuable content to tell the dynamic stories of Zionism and Israel.
In addition to Ken Stein’s session covering the context, concepts and content for Israel’s successes and challenges and a look to the future, this year’s workshop offers new sessions and presenters, including “Israel Between East and West- the Changing Nature of Relationships with Countries and Superpowers,” with Aviv Ezra, Eran Lerman and Alan Dowty; “More Ways to Tell Our Stories and Shared Histories Using Oral Interviews and Biographies,” with Adina Karpuj and Tal Grinfas-David and an analysis of protests and responses to the judicial overhaul with Doron Shultziner. A new session on fall semester plans for teaching 50 Years Since the Yom Kippur War was offered as was an insightful panel of journalists who provided their viewpoints on how Israeli news is presented, and what skills to apply in evaluating unbiased reporting.
Digital Workshop | July 24 – July 26, 2022
History, Politics and Society of Modern Israel
(Successfully Completed)
The annual Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel held by CIE and the Emory University Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI) drew 57 Israel educators to more than 12 hours of online sessions July 24 to 26. This was the 21st workshop originally initiated by Ken Stein at ISMI and graciously funded for 16 years by The Avi Chai Foundation of North America. The conference attendees came from 11 states and four countries — Colombia, Mexico and Canada in addition to the United States — and represent 27 entities, from day schools and synagogues to Jewish Federations and national educational organizations, an Israeli consulate and a Catholic university.
The workshop, like all CIE programs for educators, focused on engaging students in learning about Israel and finding their place in Israel’s story. The three goals of the three days were to help educators teach with depth and rigor, provide them support with original sources and best practices, and guide them in becoming ambassadors for nuanced, unbiased Israel education.
Some workshop sessions focused on practical classroom guidance, such as using video clips, Israeli stamps or contemporary art to teach about Israeli society’s complexity and diversity. Other sessions addressed such vital issues as the Jewish people’s connections to the Land of Israel, how the early Zionists succeeded in building a state, the common roots connecting Israeli and Diaspora Jews, and what Israel education even means.
A recurring theme was how to use the State of Israel’s 75th birthday to help students gain deeper understanding and appreciation of Israel. Conference attendees also were continually reminded of the need to keep their biases and opinions out of the classroom and to provide a clear separation at school between Israel education and Israel advocacy.
2021 EDUCATOR WORKSHOP
Digital Workshop | June 13 – June 17, 2021
History, Politics and Society of Modern Israel
(Successfully Completed)
Fifty-eight educators gained insights into teaching about Israel, the Middle East and the U.S.-Israel relationship during the 20th annual Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel from June 13 to 17. The workshop applied best practices in remote learning, including the use of the flipped classroom, in which students study materials in advance, then participate in an active discussion rather than just sit through a lecture. The virtual nature of the conference enabled participants to attend not only from 10 U.S. states, but also from eight countries. Roughly a quarter of the attendees Zoomed in from outside the United States.
Read how past participants continue to benefit from their experiences at the CIE/ISMI Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel on the The AviChai Foundation Blog.