Israel Independence Activity - Website TEACHERS
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This document provides a lesson plan about Israel's Declaration of Independence. The lesson introduces students to the Declaration and has them participate in an interactive activity where they put together a puzzle of the Declaration and discuss the challenges facing Israel's leaders at the time. Students role-play as Israeli leaders in 1947 to discuss questions around whether they should declare independence, including what type of state and democracy they would establish and how they would relate to Arab and Jewish populations. The goal is for students to gain insight into the situation and choices around Israel declaring independence.
![decl2.qxd 04/01/2006 17:17 Page 1
THE DECLARATION
TE OF ISRAEL -
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STA
May 14, 1948
Activity 2
ERETZ-ISRAEL [(Hebrew) - the Land of
of Israel, Palestine] was the birthplace Declaration of Independence puzzle
the Jewish people. Here their spiritual,
religious and political identity was
shaped. Here they first attained to state-
nal
hood, created cultural values of natio the
to Each group receives a Declaration of Independence
and universal significance and gave
world the eternal Book of Books. puzzle and asked to put the pieces of the puzzle
After being forcibly exiled from their together in an order that makes sense to them.
land, the people kept faith with it r
throughout their Dispersion and neve n
ceased to pray and hope for their retur
to it and for the restoration in it of their Students return to the large group and together with the
political freedom.
group leader, assemble the Declaration on the board.
Impelled by this historic and traditional s-
attachment, Jews strove in every succe s As each piece is placed in its correct spot, students are
sive generation to re-establish themselve
is an Israel based educational endeavor offering innovative activities with a hands-on approach, specifically tailored
in their ancient homeland. In recen t asked whether they came up with the same order and
decades they returned in their masses.
for your group: summer-programs, educational travel, professional development, seminars, workshops and more.
Pioneers, ma’pilim [(Hebrew) - immi nce
- why each piece belongs where it does.
grants coming to Eretz-Israel in defia
of restrictive legislation] and defenders,
they made deserts bloom, revived the
Hebrew language, built villages and Conclusion / Wrap Up
towns, and created a thriving community re,
controlling its own economy and cultu d Ask students why they believe the Declaration of
loving peace but knowing how to defen
itself, bringing the blessings of progr
ess
-
Independence was and is important for the Jewish
to all the country’s inhabitants, and aspir
ing towards independent nationhood. of
In people. Discuss whether all the segments of the
the year 5657 (1897), at the summons,
the spiritual father of the Jewish State Declaration still apply today and whether or not they
Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist the
Congress convened and proclaimed believe changes should be made. Conclude by asking
right of the Jewish people to national students what they learned in this lesson and what
rebirth in its own country.
This right was recognized in the Balfo ,
ur they will take home with them.
Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917
and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the
League of Nations which, in particular,ric
gave international sanction to the histo Reading and resources suggested
le
connection between the Jewish peop
and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
Jewish people to rebuild its National
Home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/
l the Sachar, H. M., 2002 (second ed.). A history of
The catastrophe which recently befel ons
Jewish people - the massacre of milli Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time. New
IsraelExperts - Initiatives in Education, Ltd.
of Jews in Europe - was another clearng
demonstration of the urgency of solvi York: Alfred A. Knopf
the problem of its homelessness by h Alon, A., 1971. The Israelis. New York: Holt,
re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewis
the
State, which would open the gates of r Rinehart and Winston
homeland wide to every Jew and confe a
upon the Jewish people the status of ty of
fully privileged member of the comi
nations... For extensions, additional ideas, resources
and information please enter our site at
www.israelexperts.com or call us at
1-800-772-2452
972-8-867-4343.
Department of School Programs and Israel Education](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/israelindependenceactivity-111215190840-phpapp01/85/Israel-Independence-Activity-Website-TEACHERS-1-320.jpg)
Israel Independence Activity - Website TEACHERS
- 1. decl2.qxd 04/01/2006 17:17 Page 1 THE DECLARATION TE OF ISRAEL - OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STA May 14, 1948 Activity 2 ERETZ-ISRAEL [(Hebrew) - the Land of of Israel, Palestine] was the birthplace Declaration of Independence puzzle the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to state- nal hood, created cultural values of natio the to Each group receives a Declaration of Independence and universal significance and gave world the eternal Book of Books. puzzle and asked to put the pieces of the puzzle After being forcibly exiled from their together in an order that makes sense to them. land, the people kept faith with it r throughout their Dispersion and neve n ceased to pray and hope for their retur to it and for the restoration in it of their Students return to the large group and together with the political freedom. group leader, assemble the Declaration on the board. Impelled by this historic and traditional s- attachment, Jews strove in every succe s As each piece is placed in its correct spot, students are sive generation to re-establish themselve is an Israel based educational endeavor offering innovative activities with a hands-on approach, specifically tailored in their ancient homeland. In recen t asked whether they came up with the same order and decades they returned in their masses. for your group: summer-programs, educational travel, professional development, seminars, workshops and more. Pioneers, ma’pilim [(Hebrew) - immi nce - why each piece belongs where it does. grants coming to Eretz-Israel in defia of restrictive legislation] and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and Conclusion / Wrap Up towns, and created a thriving community re, controlling its own economy and cultu d Ask students why they believe the Declaration of loving peace but knowing how to defen itself, bringing the blessings of progr ess - Independence was and is important for the Jewish to all the country’s inhabitants, and aspir ing towards independent nationhood. of In people. Discuss whether all the segments of the the year 5657 (1897), at the summons, the spiritual father of the Jewish State Declaration still apply today and whether or not they Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist the Congress convened and proclaimed believe changes should be made. Conclude by asking right of the Jewish people to national students what they learned in this lesson and what rebirth in its own country. This right was recognized in the Balfo , ur they will take home with them. Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917 and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular,ric gave international sanction to the histo Reading and resources suggested le connection between the Jewish peop and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Jewish people to rebuild its National Home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/ l the Sachar, H. M., 2002 (second ed.). A history of The catastrophe which recently befel ons Jewish people - the massacre of milli Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time. New IsraelExperts - Initiatives in Education, Ltd. of Jews in Europe - was another clearng demonstration of the urgency of solvi York: Alfred A. Knopf the problem of its homelessness by h Alon, A., 1971. The Israelis. New York: Holt, re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewis the State, which would open the gates of r Rinehart and Winston homeland wide to every Jew and confe a upon the Jewish people the status of ty of fully privileged member of the comi nations... For extensions, additional ideas, resources and information please enter our site at www.israelexperts.com or call us at 1-800-772-2452 972-8-867-4343. Department of School Programs and Israel Education
- 2. decl2.qxd 04/01/2006 17:17 Page 2 Lesson Plan: Israel’s Declaration of Independence Activity 1 Overview “Should we proceed ?” 1. Ask students to go back in time to 1947 and put This lesson introduces students to Israel’s Declaration themselves in the footsteps of leaders. of Independence. Through an interactive session and Present the following questions for class discussion: discussion, students will gain insight into the delicate situation facing the Jewish people as Israel’s inde- What would be the declared character of this State? pendence was about to be declared. This activity Would this be a religious State or a secular State? gives students the chance to “walk in the footsteps” of leaders, thus developing an understanding of the How would we relate to the Arab population living in dilemmas and choices our leaders made that in turn, our midst? have shaped the course of history. How could we appeal to the Arab states around us to Target age group: Grade 9 – 12 (can be stop the war and violence and insure them that we adjusted to other grades). only want peace? Connection to curriculum: Geography, social What kind of democracy would we establish? studies, world history, Jewish history, Jewish studies. What would be our relationship with the Jewish Time required: Approx. 2 hours. Diaspora? Materials Required: Declaration of Independence (English translation), 5 sets of 2. Divide the class into five groups. Remind the groups Declaration of Independence puzzle (10 index that there are many questions, risks, difficulties and cards, each card featuring a different paragraph fears facing the Jewish people, yet the question from the Declaration), teacher set of the Declaration remains – “should we proceed ?” of Independence puzzle, 5 index cards with one challenge written on each. Each group is asked to role play this dilemma. Objectives Each group is given a challenge card and asked to Gain insight into the general atmosphere in Israel read the question and discuss whether or not they feel prior to signing the Declaration of Independence. this is the right time to act. Challenge card questions: Discuss the content, purpose, and order of each The British mandate will be ending soon. section of the Declaration of Independence. The Arab populations in the surrounding States have called for war against us. Determine the importance and necessity of the The U.S. has become frightened that we will not be able Declaration of Independence for the Jewish to stand up to the challenge. people in the past, present and future. Truman is urging us not to declare the State for fear of the consequences. We are a small and not strongly armed nation at this point. Procedure In discussion of their challenge card, students should consider the following questions (to be written on the board) - Opening - Begin by giving students background Should we wait for a better time? Should we postpone information of the atmosphere in Israel just before the until we are ready to meet all the challenges? signing of the Declaration of Independence. Is it now o r never? Background Information - On May 14, 1948, corresponding to the 5th of Iyar of that year, David Ben Gurion called together the Provisional Council of the emerging 3. Each group presents their challenge and conclusions State in order to formally declare the State of Israel. to the class. This act reflects, without a doubt, the most significant declaration in Jewish history in 2000 years. For 2,000 years the Jewish people had dreamed of, and waited impatiently for this moment. Now the moment of truth is before us. The opportunity has finally come for us to achieve the dream of generations. However there are many problems. The question that stands before the nation now is whether or not to proceed, knowing all the risks. It is clear however, that if we don’t act now, we could miss this amazing historical opportunity. As David Ben Gurion assembles the Provisional Council, these are the issues he must deal with. www.IsraelExperts.com