I3: Israel's Birth

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Yom Ha'Atzmaut

Every year, Yom HaZikaron, the day we remember fallen Israeli soldiers is commemorated on the day before Yom Ha'Atzmaut. Following are some ideas for a special formal assembly and some other programmes and discussions.

Formal Assembly

This history and struggle for independence have been written above in short paragraphs and can be used in your assembly. Other suggestions:

1. Do some readings about Israeli soldiers and war. (Call Makor-AJY on 020 8446 8020, if you need some texts)

2. Sing Hatikvah (The Hope), the Israeli national Anthem. Read out the translation.

3. Say the "Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel and its Defence Forces" in English. (New Singer's Prayer book page 382)

4. Read from "The Declaration of Independence"

5. Give a short account of an event during a trip to Israel which made you feel part of the country.

The Story

- You could act out a scene or two from the story. e.g. the Dreyfus Affair and Herzl's reaction to it; the first "Zionist Congress"; difficulties of life in Israel before independence; the Declaration read by Ben Gurion etc...

- Discuss the role of the British in the struggle for the State of Israel. How British do the group feel? Do they read with more interest about British or Israeli news? Do you own a British or Israeli flag?

- Discuss Herzl's motivation. He was driven by a kind of "negative" Zionism, i.e. the need to find a safe place for Jews to live. Compare this to the "positive" Zionism of the "love affair". Do both kinds still exist today?

- Does the story seem like a miracle when you analyse it in detail? Are miracles hard to see when you are too close to them?

Statehood: Old or new?

- Show the group the Israeli flag. Is it modern or ancient? The "Magen David" or Shield of David in the middle of the flag is an old Jewish symbol.

- Is the idea of a State old or new? The first Jewish State existed in the time of Joshua. How different was it then as compared to now?

The Heart of Israel

- What are people's feelings towards Israel? What do they like/love/hate about it? The food? The people? The buses? The desert? The beach? Make a list of all the feelings and see if there is a common link. Is liking Israel part of being Jewish?

- Discuss and imagine what life must have been like for Jews before Israel was around. How much does the existence of the State make a difference to Jews living outside the country. Israel is more than having a nice place to visit, it is a feeling of security, a feeling that there is a place where there is a nation of Jews that will always welcome you and fight for you. What would it be like without it? How important is the Law of Return?

Collect Stories

- Talk to your friends, parents, teachers and other people and collect individual stories that are about Israel. Do you know anyone who lived through the War of Independence? Tell some of these stories in your assembly or programme. Maybe read or discuss the quote from Blu Greenberg.

Celebrating Yom Ha'Atzmaut

- If your school allows it, you could have a lunchtime party for Yom Ha'Atzmaut. Order in falafel and humus. Maybe invite someone to teach and sing some Israeli songs.

- There are many speakers who you can bring in to talk about Israel.

Israel Today

Yom Ha'Atzmaut is not really a time for politics, but the hope for peace and security in Israel is. If you can distinguish between these two then you can discuss Israel's future and how it can grow as an independent state.

Yom HaZikaron

Not only men died in the battle for Israel. There is a memorial area in the war cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem for the children who died fighting in the War of Independence. Could these kids have really understood what they were fighting for? And if they did, do you? Discuss this with the group. Could you fill their shoes?

Visiting Israel

You or your friends may have visited Israel. Telling stories about your adventure can be funny and fun. Don't tell "in" stories that only a handful will understand, but do tell stories that are memorable and worth sharing with everybody.

Invite someone in to talk about summer tours to Israel. Call Ian on 020 8446 2277

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