Education
WZO Department of Irgoon and Israelis Abroad
Israel
On October 7, 2023, at 6:30 in the morning, thousands of Hamas terrorists streamed into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Riding on vehicles and equipped with weapons, they infiltrated IDF bases, kibbutzim in the Gaza envelope, and the nearby towns. They murdered hundreds of citizens, raped women, looted and burned down homes, and kidnapped hundreds of children, women, soldiers and elderly Israelis to Gaza.
Hamas caught the State of Israel and the IDF off guard. The army pulled itself together quickly, and Israel declared war on Gaza, whose aims are to eradicate the Hamas government and its military capabilities and to bring the hostages home. Any way you look at them, the events have been unprecedented. The resulting shock waves and upheaval in Israel’s civil society and among Israelis and Jews worldwide have been some of the most difficult we have ever known.
The huge surge in antisemitic incidents, the media coverage, and the mass demonstrations against Israel across the globe have challenged everything we knew before and were familiar with. Questions relating to identity have emerged with great force.
Using videos, items from the press and websites, we have tried in this Beit Ha’am booklet to broaden the scope of the topic and raise basic and relevant questions.
We invite you to choose the sections that interest you the most and devote time and thought to them.
We also encourage you to hold a candid and open-minded discussion dealing with them.
The Jewish Agency's for Israel
Shlichut Institute
Israel
Shmini Atzert is noted in the Torah as a mitzvah – but without reason or explanation. On the eighth Shmini Shabbat, the end of the reading of the Torah (“Simchat Torah”) takes place.
The term “Atzeret” means a mass gathering of the people. We want to adopt the term “Shmini Atzeret” as the thematic Jewish framework to mark the anniversary of the October 7th Massacre: a call for a mass gathering of the entire
Jewish people in memory of the murdered and a prayer for hope and better days.
Shmini Atzeret is marked with the Kalanit or anemone; the ready-to-print sticker file is also below.
ANU: Museum of the Jewish People
ANU: Museum of the Jewish People and the Weizman National Museum of American Jewish History convened select Israeli and American Jewish thought leaders to develop insights on two questions;
- What are the principles for transforming a Jewish tragedy into a memory that others value and meaning for generations?;
- How can we mark the first yahrzeit as a global Jewish people?
The thinking group embarked on this task, acknowledging that while much of the memory work is for generations to come, the current leadership has to play a role in the present.
The Jewish Agency for Israel
The Shlichut Institute
Israel
This booklet, made by the Jewish Agency’s Shlichut Institute and translated by JReady, contains activities for commemorating the first anniversary of the Swords of Iron War to use by educators, teachers, parents, and counselors.
Spanish
WZO, JAFI, and the Ministry for Diapora Affairs
Israel
2023 began with a gradual increase in antisemitic incidents of up to 10%, compared to 2022. This trend was maintained for the first nine months of the year (January-September). However, the events of October 7th and the war that ensued saw a dramatic increase in levels of antisemitism around the world, which resulted in all-time highs. The number of antisemitic incidents for the period between October and December increased six-fold, compared to the previous nine-month period. On a yearly basis, 2023 ended with a 235% increase in antisemitic incidents, compared to 2022, with 43% of monitored events occurring in the USA and 35% in Europe. This past year, violent antisemitic incidents sharply increased by 33%, compared to 2022, with 48% of these related to the Iron Swords war. Here, 46% of all antisemitic incidents took place in the USA, followed by Britain (16%), Germany (9%), France (6%), Canada (6%), Australia (2.5%).
The Department for Combatting Antisemitism and Enhacning Resilience at the WZO
Israel
On the morning of Saturday, 7th October 2023, the State of Israel was shaken to the core when Hamas terrorists waged an unprecedented and barbaric attack. At least 1,200 people were murdered, with an estimate of 20,000 injured by the end of 2024, and 240 having been taken hostage.
From mass murder to rape, torture, mutilation, and taking of hostages, every imaginable international law was completely violated by Hamas, including war crimes, attempted genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Hamas’ actions were universally condemned, including by the United States, Europe, and many leaders around the world.
This YouTube series provides a brief overview and seeks to answer some of the most commonly asked legal questions concerning the actions of Hamas and Israel’s response to the massacre of October 7th.
The Department for Combatting Antisemitism and Enhacning Resilience at the WZO
Israel
On the morning of Saturday, 7th October 2023, the State of Israel was shaken to the core when Hamas terrorists waged an unprecedented and barbaric attack. At least 1,200 people were murdered, with an estimate of 20,000 injured by the end of 2024, and 240 having been taken hostage.
From mass murder to rape, torture, mutilation, and taking of hostages, every imaginable international law was completely violated by Hamas, including war crimes, attempted genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Hamas’ actions were universally condemned, including by the United States, Europe, and many leaders around the world.
This document provides a brief overview and seeks to answer some of the most commonly asked legal questions concerning the actions of Hamas and Israel’s response to the massacre of October 7th.
EU CARE
Learn how to identify suspicious activity and danger and how to react in dangerous situations.
EUCARE Fearless Together. www.eu-care.net https://learn.eu-care.net/
EUCARE: The Community Awareness Resilience Education (C.A.R.E.) for Europe project (EUCARE) is co-funded by the European Union through the Internal Security Fund.
CSPC
Israel
An informative one-pager about how to speak to children about traumatic events like war, and other imminent threats.
Ohel
USA
Ohel presents: Coping with Sari, Ori and Bananas! A puppet show for children to help them process their feelings about the war, in collaboration with Sari Kapnitikoff of That Jewish Moment.
Tzivy Reiter
Director of Ohel's Children's & National Trauma Services
USA
Practical suggestions to help your children cope with the war in Israel, by Ohel.
ICSPC
Israel
Discover your inner strength with the Resilience Fairy! 🧚♀️✨ Join us in this fun video for kids and adults to learn about the BASIC PH resilience model – a superpower for coping with stress and anxiety! 💪🚀 B = Belief A = Affect S = Social I = Imagination C = Cognition Ph = Physiology Unleash your inner hero now!
Natal
Israel
Especially for times of war, when in Israel and Jewish communities around the world the ongoing threats bring high levels of stress with them, Natal offers plenty of resources to cope with the stress buildup and help in relaxation.
The documents included in this Best Practice:
- How to Calm Children, and Adolescents during Times of Stress
- The Animal Superpower Game
- Self-soothing in 8 steps
- Family Relaxation Exercise
Israel Trauma Coalition
Israel
The Israel Trauma Coalition and Israeli writer Hadassah Field have written and translated a book for Ukrainian children. It has additional recommendations for parents on how best to convey to children the main messages embedded in this story.
English version: https://www.flipsnack.com/EF6DED88B7A/piece-of-home.html
Ukrainian version: https://www.flipsnack.com/EF6DED88B7A/-.html
PJ Library
It’s a rip-roaring tale. Beautiful princess saves her people! Palace intrigue! Failed assassination plots! The triumph of the underdog! So cinematic; so fun!
But the Purim story, as told in Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) also provides a great opportunity to talk seriously about modern-day antisemitism.
Rachel Fish, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism Proud PJ Library Parent Member, PJ Library Nextgen Board
Incidents of antisemitism can occur at unexpected moments and often when we least anticipate them. To experience hostility and discrimination from others because of religion, race, and/or ethnicity is traumatic for adults and children alike, and fear can make it hard to speak up and stand up for oneself. It’s a difficult topic to discuss, and for many of us, navigating this terrain feels daunting and explosive. How do we speak, whether in person or via social media, to family members, close friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and, most importantly, our children about such an ugly and painful subject? What is required for each of us to feel confident to enter this conversation and feel as if we are on sturdy ground?
PJ Library
Let’s face it, no one wants to have to tell their child that there are nasty people in the world who will try to hurt them just for being themselves. We raise our kids to be good people, mensches, to help and accept others, and to do the best they can to treat those around them fairly and with respect.
Ohel Children's Home and Family Services
Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services “My COVID-19 Resilience Workbook” is a fun workbook for children ages 5-10, designed to promote emotional well-being and resilience.
Download the PDF workbooks from Ohel’s website: https://www.ohelfamily.org/resources
Ohel Children's Home and Family Services
Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services “My COVID-19 Resilience Workbook” is a fun workbook for children ages 5-10, designed to promote emotional well-being and resilience.
Download the PDF workbooks from Ohel’s website: https://www.ohelfamily.org/resources
Ohel Children's Home and Family Services
Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services “My COVID-19 Resilience Workbook – Teachers Guide”, is a guide for teachers to implement the My COVID-19 Resilience Workbook in class.
Download the PDF workbooks from Ohel’s website: https://www.ohelfamily.org/resources
Johan Tynell
CSO
Denmark
Safety and Security Awareness for Children in Schools Presentation by the Copenhagen security experts and educational staff.
For the file in .PPT, please contact us directly at JReady@jafi.org
Johan Tynell
CSO
Denmark
The purpose of ”Alma and the Lockdown Drill” is to explain to young students why we have security at their schools in a simple way, and to explain the procedures of a lockdown. Every school is unique, but the principles of a lockdown are universal. Lockdown drills are designed to allow students and teachers to practice how to barricade themselves inside a classroom. By practicing a lockdown, the students and teachers prepare themselves, so that they would be protected if they were to face an external threat.
The book contains work material and questions that help facilitate a discussion about lockdown procedures which are specific to your school. There are guidelines, both to generate discussion with students and to direct the teacher in how to conduct the drills. Before using the book and its materials, it is important that you know the school’s lockdown procedures. If your school does not have procedures yet, we recommend that you discuss the topic with management and develop your own approach.
Hanoar Haoved Ve Halomed
Israeli Youth Movement
Israel
This prootocol deals with multiple scenarios in the daily life of youth Movements.: Outbreak of corona amongst members of the local branch ora diagnosis of corona during local activities, Infected member needing to be quarantined at the training farm or National Service, Improved regulations –possibility of national activity involving participants from different locations and others
The King David Schools
South Africa
A Phased Approach to
Resuming Schooling under COVID-19
Ipcha
The Jerusalem Educaional Administraion’s
Israel
In order to aid in the necessary, complex task of developing a school’s remote-learning
model, we prepared a number of example models that combine selected goals from within
the suggested list
Dr. Yochi Siman Tov, Riva Schechter and Rachel Moshe Avraham
Ministry of Education
Israel
“Not infrequently, we hear of cases where students and their teachers are required to quarantine in the home, following exposure to confirmed cases of the corona virus. It appears that we will be dealing with this situation for the foreseeable future. It engenders feelings of helplessness, a loss of control, and ongoing uncertainty, and as such is the cause of fears and worries. A direct and open conversation can be calming, gives security and provides a feeling that there is someone who can be relied upon.
As is always the case, but especially now, it’s very important to strengthen the connection between parents and their children, and to provide a feeling of safety and security as much as possible. Parents have a responsibility to explain the situation to their children and help them understand what is happening and the coping methods which they can use.”
Mifras
Educational Entrepreneurship Incubator
Israel
The Corona period has been an opportunity for many students, teachers, parents, members of society
and community members to initiate and change their mindset and actions within the educational
context. Case stories from the field were the initial base from which assumptions and components were
extracted, from where the innovation and operating principles arose and were observed during this
period. The picture that became clearer revealed perceptions and assumptions that are not new in their
essence. The vast majority of the assumptions revealed have been part of the accepted educational innovation
discourse in recent years. The major difference is that these new-old assumptions were now put into
practice. There was now the possibility of putting into practice the massive words which we could only dream of
in the past.
Dr. Yochi Siman Tov and Rachel Moshe Avraham
Ministry of Education
Israel
As efforts to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and stop the chain of infection continue, we are on the verge of a new year that will look different from the usual and familiar. At the same time, it is necessary to be precise with guidelines for intervening in situations of risk in general, and in situations of suicide in particular, in order to more appropriately manage the correct intervention. It is important to note that the principles of intervention are generic guidelines and each individual scenario should be evaluated individually for optimal results.
Ipcha
The Jerusalem Educaional Administraion’s center for educaional renewal
Israel
It is still unclear how long our educational system will be required to operate remotely. Thus, due consideration must be afforded to how our schools may best respond to the new circumstances created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Yochi Siman Tov and Rachel Moshe Avraham
Ministry of Education
Israel
During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as we continue to struggle with infection, there are situations where one or both parents are ill. In less severe situations, the patients are isolated at home or in a hotel, but when their condition is more serious, they may be hospitalized. In the most severe cases, they may be in intensive care, under anesthesia, on respirators, and/or at risk of death
Dr. Yochi Siman Tov and Rachel Moshe Avraham
Ministry of Education
Israel
This briefing discusses delivering difficult news to students when they cannot be gathered in person at the school and will be meeting virtually. In this case, it is recommended that parents will be the first people to deliver the difficult news to their children. Parents will receive directions (written and through a virtual meeting)1 on how to deliver difficult news in this context. Following students’ conversations with their parents, school staff will conduct a group virtual meeting with the students. It is important to choose a virtual platform that will make participants comfortable
Dr. Yochi Siman Tov and Rachel Moshe Avraham
Ministry of Education
Israel
This briefing deals with delivering difficult news to students when it is not possible to open schools and gather students together. Initially, students should receive such news from their parents, who will receive instructions for doing so1 (either in a letter or a virtual meeting). In the second stage, shortly after parents deliver the news, there should be a virtual meeting for all students in the class, using a technological platform that allows for as convenient a conversation as possible.